Waterford Friday 13th 2009

People:Myself

Duration:3pm~6

Tide:LW around 3

Weather:sunny

Bait:lug

Rigs:2 hook flapper

Results:1Bass




Report:Was mad to get out for a session wasnt out in three weeks or so . Headed out to dig a few lug first then went straight to the mark , there was a small surf on the beach that went from two breakers to 6 or 7 and then died down again only to build again mins later .
Second cast the bait was only in the water and started getting small bites I picked up the rod felt the taps and struck into a fish a bass around 2lbs . I had hin in the shallows and he spat the hook and swam off Unlucky but it was a good sign and set the heart racing for a bit .
I cast again same place , set the rod next thing the tide flooded in hit the rod stand and it started to rattle and kept on rattling so I picked it up and started reeling , with that the tide rolled back out and swept the tripod away with it . Not wanting to loose this fish by running to get the tripod I left it off and landed the fish(48cm bass) , dropped the rod and then ran for the tripod and back in before the tide had my rod and reel too. If anyone had seen me full sprint in waders
After gutting it I found some hardback crabs , they must eat anything !

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Always nice to know what the fish are eating, and just goes to show that we can be a bit narrow minded when it comes to what bait we'd usually fish with. I know the lads in the UK would use hardbacks for the bass quite often.

I had fished a beach in north wicklow for the first time back in november, my fishing buddy had been chopping up the mack heads from his bait supplies and throwing them out in front of him. I got a 4lb bass, when gutted he had most of the chopped up mack heads in his stomach. Needless to say I got the bass on a small strip of mack 10 yards out.

Anyway, nice fish for your first time out in a while, welldone.

nice one craig i've found a few hardbacks in some of mine, also pipefish and bits of spider crab to name but a few bits and pieces.

im sure they would eat hard backs when they come by them, but i recon the hard backs dont have the same scent values.

nice fish well done hope he tasted nice to

Well done, craigo....

I'm curious to know - did you use them 2 hardbacks to bait up again??

Hi Guys what about catch and release ???????

Always nice to know what the fish are eating, and just goes to show that we can be a bit narrow minded when it comes to what bait we'd usually fish with. I know the lads in the UK would use hardbacks for the Bass quite often.

I had fished a beach in north wicklow for the first time back in november, my fishing buddy had been chopping up the mack heads from his bait supplies and throwing them out in front of him. I got a 4lb Bass, when gutted he had most of the chopped up mack heads in his stomach. Needless to say I got the Bass on a small strip of mack 10 yards out.

Anyway, nice fish for your first time out in a while, welldone.

I cant see how hard crabs would would be anyones first choice of baits , being there wouldn't be much scent trail from them but they obviously do eat them . I'd have no faith in them as a Bass bait , but thats just my opinion

nice one craig i've found a few hardbacks in some of mine, also pipefish and bits of spider crab to name but a few bits and pieces.

Ive heard of bass with stones like golf balls in their stomachs !

im sure they would eat hard backs when they come by them, but i recon the hard backs dont have the same scent values.

nice fish well done hope he tasted nice to

I agree with you dbrock they must have a go at eating whatever they see .
( it was delicious )

Hi Guys what about catch and release ???????

Hello Roadrunner . I have no problem with c&r and usually do return most of the bass I catch , But I felt like bass for my dinner and the law is 2 bass per angler per day @40cm , Its not like I catch and eat them every day .
I did not break the law and it was only 1 fish .

Well done, craigo....

I'm curious to know - did you use them 2 hardbacks to bait up again??

I didnt use them because I wouldnt think there would be a scent trail from them
I was packing up when I gutted it anyway , had I been staying longer I probably would have used them .

Just a general note to people-

Keeping one bass is quite legal. It is up to each individual whether he or she wants to practice C&R.

Catch and release debates are to be kept out of people's reports. If you have an issue with the legality etc of what someone posts, click the (!) button and let the mods deal with it.

fair play nice bass ,if you scale them before you gut them it makes it quicker and also saves your back yard from being littered with scales ,thank god all the cod i,m getting dont have scales its lookin like they have forgotten where wicklow is this year ,roll on april and the summer fish

Ive heard of Bass with stones like golf balls in their stomachs !

How do you get those on a hook then??

nice bass
i must admit they must be the nicest fish ive ever eaten

Ha ha,
is someone trying to stir it up a bit[childish],everyone knows bass are very tasty even us c+r anglers.If someone wants to keep a few bass after a hard earned session then fair enough especially if its within the boundaries of the rules.Some people like to keep what they catch for the table and that will always be the way and understandable to a certain extent when you hear of the majority of law abiding anglers been laughed at by the unscrupolous netsmen.
Personally i have no problem with people keeping a few for the table but as for me i prefer to let my fish swim away to run the gauntlet in the hope of been lucky to catch the fish when they may be a lot bigger.So in summary lets all get along.
Tight lines

Ha ha,
is someone trying to stir it up a bit[childish],everyone knows Bass are very tasty even us c+r anglers.If someone wants to keep a few Bass after a hard earned session then fair enough especially if its within the boundaries of the rules.Some people like to keep what they catch for the table and that will always be the way and understandable to a certain extent when you hear of the majority of law abiding anglers been laughed at by the unscrupolous netsmen.
Personally i have no problem with people keeping a few for the table but as for me i prefer to let my fish swim away to run the gauntlet in the hope of been lucky to catch the fish when they may be a lot bigger.So in summary lets all get along.
Tight lines

Marlinman I could not agrree more with you , Tight lines to Everyboby and happy Fishing

[quote="kenf41"]nice Bass
i must admit they must be the nicest fish ive ever eaten[/quo

I didn't try one until I caught my first one . It took me 18months from when I started targeting them until I landed 1 a 3lbr
I was extatic and the fish was delicious

Hi Guys what about catch and release ???????

Danny, you're only winding it up boy . You've been known to have one or two yourself and I bet they tasted nice.

Hi Guys what about catch and release ???????

Danny, you're only winding it up boy . You've been known to have one or two yourself and I bet they tasted nice.

would i do such a thing.............................