Cork Harbour Codling - 13th January 2009

People: Me

Duration: 6.00 - 11.00 pm

Tide: HW at 7.00 pm

Weather: Cold, clear, calm

Bait: Lug, razor, mackerel, prawn

Rigs: 3/0 and 4/0 pennel pulleys, 2 and 3 hook flappers, single hook (size 4) trace

Results: 2 codling, 6 whiting, 1 shore rockling




Report: The weather forecast for Tuesday was for about the best weather for the week so I decided to head out. Got to the beach just after 6.00 pm. Pat was already there. There was a good surf so we were hopeful of a good session. The first half an hour was OK then the weed arrived. I lost two rigs as did Pat. A couple of other anglers arrived just before the weed got bad - they said that they had spent a few hours fishing another beach without a single bite. But it was one of the beaches that got netted in December. By about 7.00 pm we packed it in as weed was snagging up every cast within seconds.

By the way Pat thanks for the live razor and your left over lug.

Pat headed for the warmth at home but I decided to go to a Cork Harbour mark. I got set up about 8.00 pm. I had a 4/0 pulley rig on one rod baited with lug/razor and a three hook flapper baited with mackerel and lug on a second rod. On the second cast with the rod with the 4/0 pulley I saw a small tap - struck and could feel a fish on the line. It didn't feel too big - I presumed it was a whiting, but when I landed it I was surprized to see a small codling - all of 30 cm. I had caught bigger whiting at the weekend. But a new species for 2009 and my first codling of the season

Shortly afterwards I decided to upsize the hooks on the second rod in the hope of a few more codling. I retrived the line and found a tiny whiting on one of the hooks. Maybe 20 minutes later I spotted another knock on the first rod - another huge codling of 29 cm

But I was hopeful that there might be a few bigger ones out there. However, all I got were more whiting - it is amazing how a 25 cm whiting can get its mouth around a 4/0 hook and completely swallow it along with a big bait. I did have a few missed bite alright which looked to be something bigger than whiting.

Close to 11 pm with the tide well on the ebb I decided to pack up. But as I was packing my gear I baited a size 4 hook with a mackerel sliver and dropped it in close in the hope of a mini species - a few minutes later I had a tap on the rod and hauled it in - a small shore rockling - another new species for 2009

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Fair play, persistence paid off for ya in the end

That's it, I have to meet up with you again Frank, you're picking up a nice selection of fish at the moment and I seem to be finding it hard going. 9 species already this year is pretty good going, I'll have to pick up the pace

Frank,
as the saying goes it ain't over till the fat lady sings .Fair play to you for going all the way to the whistle.Got out to the mark i was telling you about near where you were fishing on monday oops forgot my box of leads so i had to pack up,but all i can say is DOH .Maybe next week things will go a bit better.
Tight lines

Thanks guys,

That's it, I have to meet up with you again Frank, y

Definitely - give me a PM when you are thinking of heading out.

9 species already this year is pretty good going

Well its better than last year - all I had last January were coalfish, coalfish and more coalfish. It think it was about June before I got to 9 species last year - but I was only a fishing novice then

Got out to the mark i was telling you about near where you were fishing on monday oops forgot my box of leads so i had to pack up

I've done that - I cleaned out my tackle box and sorted out the leads I needed to bring, set off, about 3/4 of the way there it occurred to me that I had forgotten my lamp, drove back home, got the lamp, headed back out. Got to the beach, as I was carrying my tackle box I was thinking that clearing it out had been a great idea as it was now so light. Set the rods up, baited up a rig and went to pick out a weight - then I realized why the box had felt so light
But not deterred I went back up to the foreshore and picked out some blocky looking stones. I got one good one with a crude hourglass shape that worked really well but for the second rod the stones kept slipping out when I cast so I attached the rig to a pliers - that worked fine - but just as well I was alone on the beach.

it is amazing how a 25 cm whiting can get its mouth around a 4/0 hook

I had a little fella about 20cms the other night on a 3/0. Those fish need help I tell ya. Another great session there RockHunter fair play.

it is amazing how a 25 cm whiting can get its mouth around a 4/0 hook

I had a little fella about 20cms the other night on a 3/0. Those fish need help I tell ya. Another great session there RockHunter fair play.

Iv have had them deeply hooked on a size 6/0

Fair play Frank you did it again

Pity my Gillie didn't stay with you but i suppose he was afraid of you beating him again

Danny

nice session lads

Well done Frank, youre racking up the species for the new year,good improvisation skills on the weights by the way

good job.

Thanks lads,

good improvisation skills on the weights by the way

I am just glad it was at night - and nobody was around to see what I was using for weights.

Well its better than last year - all I had last January were coalfish, coalfish and more coalfish

I checked my 2008 fishing diary - I was wrong - all I caught in January 2008 for the entire month was one solitary coalfish

well done frank, it's good to see someone is catching codling. all the ones we're getting on the co. antrim/down coast are all under 20cms