South Coast Bass - 5th April 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 5 hours

Tide: LW at 9.30 pm

Weather: Strong southerly breeze, changing to very strong southeasterly later, mostly cloudy, dry.

Bait: Lug, razor, crab

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulley, 2/0 two hook flappers

Results: 5 bass, 1 flounder




Report: As the weather forcast was for southerly winds to pick up on Sunday evening I decided to restrict my weekend fishing to Sunday evening/Sunday night. On Saturday I did some reconnaissance and checked out a few marks that I had never fished before. Similarly on Sunday afternoon I took a long hike across country to check on some rock marks and found a few places that looked to have potential for pollock and wrasse in the summer. Then on Sunday evening I got to the beach and was set up by 7 pm. There was a good surf, there wasn't any big breakers but lots of closely spaced waves rolling in so I reckoned it looked good for bass. I was going to fish three rods again with the third in close to target flat fish. It was a couple of hours before dusk so I wasn't expecting too much until after dark.

I baited the 3/0 pennel and the two hook flapper with lug and cast the first two rods. While I was setting up the third rod there was a strong knock on the rod with the pennel. I struck and could feel a reasonable fish on the end. It was a 46 cm bass Unfortunately it was very deeply hooked. It took a bit of time to remove the hook. I put the fish in to a nearby rockpool, it flapped around a bit but was floating on its side. So that was one for dinner.

I rebaited and cast out and then returned to setting up the third rod - but I had only started threading the line through the eyes when there was another strong knock, this time on the rod with the two hook flapper - I struck and felt similar size fish on the end - it was another 46 cm bass
I could hardly believe it - two bass within 15 minutes of setting up, on the first cast on each rod

I had intended to fish the third rod with a three hook flapper with small hooks. but decided sod that - the bass were on the feed - and put on another 2/0 two hook flapper. However, before I got the chance to bait it there was good knock on the first rod with the pennel - another 46 cm bass

It quitened down after that - I had two missed bites - struck too early with one and the other managed to shake itself free before I got to the rod. At about 8.45 pm I got another very strong knock on the second rod - this time the fish was putting up a stronger fight than the previous three - and when I hauled the bass through the surf it looked a bit bigger - it was 49 cm

It got quite after that - I got another bass at about 10 pm - the smallest of the evening at 45 cm - caught on the two hook flapper on the second rod again baited with just lug.

A little later I got a 25 cm flounder on the third rod.

The bites stopped - the bass had moved on. I stuck it out for a few more hours, tried different baits, I had a few peeler crabs and tried razor/lug but there were no more bites. The wind was picking up and changed to a more southeastely. The gripper weights were been ripped up and I was starting to snag a lot of weed so I decided it was time to pack up.

I was delighted with that session, 5 bass in the most I have ever got on one session, and interesting that I got 4 of them during daylight. Definitely a beach I will be returning to.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:20 pm, edited 4 times in total.

well done mate cracker lookin fish

Excellent fishing there...congrats on all those bass...itchin' to get back out now

Cracking session Frank your becoming quite the Bass Pro now kepp up the good work!!

great result frank , conditions look excellent for the week

wow thats a great session frank, its great to catch the fish early in a session, the auld confidence skyrockets

Well done Frank thats a great result! Pity about the first one but sure it did not go to waste.

fantastic fishing well done

Excellent fishing Frank (anytime you have more than two bass is an excellent session ).

fair play to ya frank, looks like it's all finally coming togeather for you man. well done

Looks liek a few of the fish are bleeding a bit. Were they slack liner bites and deeply hooked..


I hate what that happens. Some bass take a bait without you knowing it. (Not many)
Those are usually deep hooked a result.

Thanks guys, It was great to have a good session after the lean months of February and March.

Looks liek a few of the fish are bleeding a bit. Were they slack liner bites and deeply hooked..

The first one was very deeply hooked.
The others were hooked around the mouth - the third bass was the most lively fish - when I was placing him on the ruler he arched his back and got me across the fingers with his dorsal spines - most of the blood on the photo is probably mine My fingers are still sore.

Great stuff, I can only dream of a session like that

great session there frank indeed the fishing was good last night had similar results myself

luckily we weren't adhering to the "best times" to fish

fantastic result i have to get down again soon
dyin to get another one

Great session Frank,
only wish i could get a result like that at the moment any chance of a few lessons,need help urgently .
Tight lines

Thanks guys,

indeed the fishing was good last night had similar results myself

Well done yourself Danny.

only wish i could get a result like that at the moment any chance of a few lessons,need help urgently

Thanks Mike, I am sure you know a lot more about bass fishing than I do.

With the results you have been getting i still stand by what i said,LESSONS URGENTLY REQUIRED.
Tight lines

I fished the same beach last night, at the same stage of the tide. It was overcast when arrived and there was a nice surf. However, almost immediately after the first cast the rain started - heavy persistent rain, the wind picked up and I was facing into horizontal rain - almost the worst weather I have fished in Too bad even for the fish to be out - not a bite, although with the wind rattling the rods and the weed pulling on the line it was difficult to tell

great result frank some session well done on the bass any fishing down east cork beaches at the mo could nt get out the last couple of months broke the ankle over the xmas taking down lights came down the ladder alot faster than i went up it itching to continue trying for the bass cheers