East Cork bass - 29th November 2008

People: Me

Duration: 10.20 pm - 2.00 am

Tide: LW at 12.30 am

Weather: Very cold, clear, cold northerly wind

Bait: Black lug, razor

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulleys

Results: 4 bass




Report: I dug some big juicy black lug in the afternoon at low tide, tough going but it kept me warm. Although I knew it was going to be a very cold night I was determined to get out as I had some stuff on Sunday and wouldn't be able to go fishing. As I was leaving the house there was already a layer of frost on the car windows. But I had plenty of layers of warm clothing.

I decided to try a beach I haven't fished much over the last 6 months but one that would be a bit more sheltered from the northerly winds. I got set up at about 10.20 pm on the falling tide. I used two rods both with 3/0 pennels baited with lug/razor, I used a gripper on one and a 3 oz non-gripper weight on the other. Despite the northerly wind there was a bit of a surf. It wasn't too cold - the wind seemed to die down for a while.

About 20 minutes later I got a strong bite on the rod with the 3 oz weight but it managed to shake itself off the hook about 10 m out From the fight it had been putting up I presume it could only have been a bass. I checked the hook and found that the bait had slid down around the bend on the hook preventing the fish been properly hooked.

A little later I got a knock on the other rod - and another missed bite - I thought it was going to be one of those nights

But shortly afterwards I got another bite on the same rod - I struck this one well and there was no escaping this time. It was a 44 cm bass

Maybe 20 minutes later there was a small twitch on the other rod - I picked it up and waited until I felt a stronger pull - struck and had another fish on the line. This one was a 46 cm bass

About half an hour later I got a third bass - a smaller one at 40 cm.

At about 1.30 am I got another bite, this one was not putting up such a strong fight and turned out to be the smallest bass of the night at 38 cm.

Two of the bass were taken on the rod with the gripper weight, I had more bites on the other rod but only managed to land two of the fish. I was more than happy with the nights fishing - 4 bass - that is the most I have ever caught in one session. I was also delighted to get them off that beach - I had fished it a lot earlier in the year but had more or less given up on it after a string of poor results.

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nice nights fishin there rockhunter, fair play to you for braving that weather.

Cheers Red, I wasn't too cold, there was a bit of shelter so I wasn't getting the full blast of the bitter northerly wind and I was well wrapped up. I felt a lot colder on Thursday night when I fished the Dungarvan area.

Another nice session RockHunter your clocking up the Bass now Interesting you were getting more bits on the 3oz presumably more movement attracting the fish, just wondering if circle hooks would've made any difference on the missed bites?

Howre tricks,
great result frank,they look like well conditioned fish,they obviously were'nt feeling the cold,just asked santa for a decent pair of thermals and just in case your feet are still getting cold take a trip to the army surplus across from tesco,they have neoprene socks that will keep your toes nice and toasty,so there will be no need to be running up and down the beach missing the slack liners.
Anyway brill fishing as usual
Tight lines.

Thanks guys,

Another nice session RockHunter your clocking up the Bass now

Yeah I have had a good week - eleven bass from Saturday to Saturday - got a least one every time I went out

Interesting you were getting more bits on the 3oz presumably more movement attracting the fish

In a reply to my post on fishing in the Dungarvan area last Thursday theshoreking recommended using bombs rather than gripper weights for the present relatively calm conditions. So I tested it out on Saturday night - cast both rods to about the same distance, with identical rigs and bait, one with a gripper and the other with the non-grip weight - I would have got more fish on the latter if I hadn't screwed up the retrieve so many times

just wondering if circle hooks would've made any difference on the missed bites

I have never used circle hooks - are they OK for bass fishing?

just in case your feet are still getting cold take a trip to the army surplus across from tesco,they have neoprene socks that will keep your toes nice and toasty

Thanks for the tip Mike, heading up there now

Well done Rockhunter, some fine bass there,

"eleven Bass from Saturday to Saturday "

Sure puts my whiting bonanza in perspective

I have never used circle hooks - are they OK for Bass fishing?

Yeah they're good hooks for bass i use circle / wide gape hooks by sakuma good for holding soft baits like peeler, razor etc ... worth a try tight lines

hi rockhunter can i pick ur brians about bass fishing just started beach fishing what beaches r best for bass. trying to catch a bass for about a year no joy from piers so decided beach fishing is the answer is it? is it best to fish at night time ? ill take any info i could prob do with a couple of marks to try know most of the marks the lads on forum seem to get bass but never even got a run of a fish. planning a session sat delighted with any info i could get might save me blanking again cheers

Well done Rockhunter. Consistency is the key thing in successful angling and you seem to be on the way.

good going frank, 11bass in a week not to sniffed at. Swap ya 2 good dogfish marks for a bass mark

[RockHunter]

Thanks lads,

Sure puts my whiting bonanza in perspective

It is any consolation I can't catch whiting to save my life. I wouldn't mind getting a few good size whiting for the dinner but about all I can manage most nights is one small guy hardly bigger than the bait. Although I guess if I went to Cork Harbour or Youghal I would get plenty but then probably wouldn't get any bass

Swap ya 2 good dogfish marks for a Bass mark

I have enough dogfish marks, there was a period over the summer when all I could catch were dogfish

Consistency is the key thing in successful angling and you seem to be on the way

Consistancy or maybe just a lucky streak - perhaps I should go and do the lotto

Last edited by RockHunter on Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

i pick ur brians about Bass fishing just started beach fishing

I might not be the best person to give advise - I was in the same position as you a year ago - I only started fishing in June 2007, just spinning and catching pollock and mackerel. It was only last winter that I got more into bait fishing and wasn't doing that well until I discovered the SAI site and began to pick up lots of tips.
I will send you a PM later giving you a few pointers.

cherrs thanks rockhunter

Darren - I sent you a second PM