Whiterock, Co Dublin, 28/01/09

People: Just me

Duration: 15.30-17.30

Tide: LW @ 18.30

Weather: sunny, fine, getting cooler as the sun dropped.

Bait: Lug, Mack

Rigs: Flapper

Results: 2 flounder, biggest 28cm




Report:

With the sun shining I was tempted out of work a little early and as the tide times suited this venue decided to give it a couple of hours, with a bit of bait left over from Monday evening.

Arrived to park the car and I could see a large vessel stationary around the back of Dalkey Island, not sure what it was, didnt look too much like a trawler to me, maybe a fisheries boat or something. Did anybody else see it, or know what it is I took a photo of it, but my laptop is out of action, so I'll upload the pic when I can.

There was loads of weed in the surf when I got setup, and I did question whether I should bother fishing here at all, the weed was out from the shoreline to around 15 yards out, but it wasnt the really thick kelpy stuff. Anyway, decided I'd chance my arm.

Fished a 3 hook flapper from 50 yards to 100 yards out and saw no action for the next hour and 1/2. Baits came back untouched, and didnt get a single bite.

As the tide had nearly receded to full out by 5pm, the weed in the surf had subsided enough to allow me to fish where I wanted to, which was in the suds. Anyone who knows this beach will know that it levels out to flat around the low water mark. I then chucked my rig out to 5 yards and was fishing in around a foot of water. I had actually meant to put it another 5 yards out, but hey, dont they say never reel in a miscast

BINGO......a few mintues later I got the tell tale rattle of a flounder, and sure enough I beached him, measuring 28cm, he took the mackerel strip.

By no means a monster, but a fish all the same

Next cast, same tactics, rig was put 5 yards out. Another flounder rattle, another flounder caught. Smaller this time at 24cm.

Tried another 2 casts, but nothing, so decided to call it a day here, and moved on to Bray Harbour to meet up with a Eyesreilly, Fishface and BIG Mick to use up my remaining bait.

Eyesreilly will have the report up for that soon I'm sure.

God the walk back up from this mark is a killer

but hey, dont they say never reel in a miscast

I never heard that one. Must pay more attention in fish class now!

Nice couple of flatties well done.

Nice one Shamoo. I've caught a couple of flatties on the beach, never anywhere near as close as that though. Must try it next time.

Well done on the flounder, I've heard about using the ultra close range tactic for the flatties on Whiterock, haven't tried it myself but I must try is next time I fish there. Those steps are a killer alright

never reel in the miscast its true - particularly when your planned casts arent doing you any favours

The steps are not so bad after a good session. They're all the more painful after a blank though!

We were there over Christmas and were approached by a shadowy figure who asked us if it was Whiterock beach and then having said he was early to meet someone, slunked off to the shadows. A short while later a group of 10-15 shadowy figures arrived. Given the only way out is up the steps it can be a little disconcerting.

However, what followed was an hour of fire juggling entertainment. A gang of kids came down to the beach in the dark with fire juggling equipment (sticks etc.) and juggled fire for an hour or so. It was probably down the list of things I had expected to happen upon seeing a gang of shadows appear. They were nice kids too, they came down to us after they were finished/ had run out of petrol to say hello.

When I was a teenager, if I found myself on a beach at 11pm, it wouldn't have been fire juggling I'd have been up to!

I never heard that one. Must pay more attention in fish class now!

Extra homework and detention for you then dfella , and no more gold stars

I've heard about using the ultra close range tactic for the flatties on Whiterock, haven't tried it myself but I must try is next time I fish there

I've caught a couple of flatties on the beach, never anywhere near as close as that though. Must try it next time.

Flounder and turbot can be caught in inches of water, its always worth chucking a bait in by your feet. I even got a suprise 55cm Bass on the north beach in Greystones a few months ago on a strip on mack on a 3 hook flapper 10 yards out, hey you never know what will pop up.

I would try ultra close in on almost any venue if I'm not getting many fish further out. It pays to vary your distance I've found.

I have also seen a pal of mine catch 2 flounder (a double), one over 40cm in Arklow, fishing only a few feet out.

It defo works at times

Nice report Mark, well done on the flounder,,,or was it a fluke

Probably both Dave

you are right about the miscast i got a nice turbot on a miscast a while back and nothing else all day

Extra homework and detention for you then dfella , and no more gold stars

Just like the old days so

I have to ask. Where is whiterock?

The steps down to whiterock are on the Vico road in Killiney. Over the dart line and down, down, down. Nice little sandy cove. Seems to fish better on the drop. keep an eye out for the naked swimmers! two hook flappers and all of that....

Ive had some nice coalies along there and killiney (not recently though) with the leader knot bearly off the reel. all to often good fish are over cast it pays to vary casts and not be afraid to fish under your feet. good fishing mate.

Arrived to park the car and I could see a large vessel stationary around the back of Dalkey Island, not sure what it was, didnt look too much like a trawler to me, maybe a fisheries boat or something. Did anybody else see it, or know what it is I took a photo of it, but my laptop is out of action, so I'll upload the pic when I can.

I seen it on my walk from bray to greystones like yourself was wondering what it was

it didn't have a lorry hanging out the back of it by any chance

it didn't have a lorry hanging out the back of it by any chance

You must have excellent eyesight

The steps down to whiterock are on the Vico road in Killiney. Over the dart line and down, down, down. Nice little sandy cove. Seems to fish better on the drop. keep an eye out for the naked swimmers! two hook flappers and all of that....

it probably one of dublins most underrated flattie venues, ive had some great sessions there,

nice sesh mark when we fish for flatties on the beach any cast over 20 foot usually puts you beyond the fish. it's amazing just how close they will come in on a shallow beach to feed just wish it had'nt have taken us 3 poor sessions fishing to figure it out in the beginning

last time i fished it the flounders where 50yards out, nothing in close after an hour of trying... 2 biggest i ever had off here too.

they tend to sit at the end of bank and around the flattening off mark, at high tide, around low water they have no where to go but sit and wait for the water to flood again. thats why is a better time to fish for em, their more concentrated and closer in