Co Waterford Bass & the one that got away - 18th April 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 7.30 pm - 2.00 am

Tide: HW at 1.10 am

Weather: Mild, clear, light southeasterly breeze

Bait: Lug, carb, mussel

Rigs: 4/0 and 3/0 pennel pulley, two hook flapper, single hook flapper

Results: 4 bass, 1 flounder, 1 dogfish, 1 Five Bearded Rockling




Report: There was a fairly weak surf when I arrived so I wasn't too hopeful of catching much especially with the weak tides. But at least the beach was weed free. I set up two rods, one with the 4/0 pennel the other with the two hook flapper (size 2/0) hooks all baited with lug.

After about 40 minutes, while I was baiting a spare rig I looked up and saw a strong knock on the rod with the two hook flapper. I grabbed the rod but the fish was gone

Just as the light was beginning to go I had another knock on the same rod - I was quicker off the mark this time, struck and hooked a fish. It was putting up a reasonable fight so I reckoned it was a bass. Sure enough it turned out to be a 45 cm bass So I was delighted with that I as I wasn't to optimistic when I arrived. However, as the tide was rising the surf was getting better, although still fairly weak.

I had another missed bite about half an hour after that. There was a strong tug on the line but the fish wasn't hooked. Probably about half an hour later there was massive knock on the rod with the two hook flapper. I grabbed it and struck, hooking a big fish. It was putting up a very strong fight. I presumed it was another bass and felt to be the heaviest and strongest I have ever hooked. Eventually I had it in close, I could see its head and see its back twisting in the shallows, it was only about 3 or 4 meters out at this stage - it looked to be a massive bass - honesty no exaggeration to say it was well above the 10 pound mark. Then diaster - the like went slack and it was gone If it hadn't been dark the air would have turned blue !!!

I retireved the line and found a small 19 cm flounder on the lower hook. I then looked at the upper hook - the hook had broken - all that was left was the shank the bend was gone. That made it even worse If the fish managed to shake itself off the hook then I would blame myself for not striking hard enough to properly set the hook, or if a knot had come undone then I would be at fault for poor knots but to have the hook break was damn annoying - I guess thats what I get for buying cheap hooks in bulk

I replaced the rig with a single hook flapper with a stronger 4/0 hook. A little later I noticed the line on the other rod had gone slack - I reeled in a lot of slack line but there was nothing on the end. I must have missed a bite. Probably while I was uttering a string of foul language after loosing the big bass.

Shortly after I had a small knock on the same rod - I struck and could feel a fish on the end but it wasn't putting up much of a fight so I didn't think it was a bass. It turned out to be a dogfish.

About half an hour after that I had another slack line bite on the first rod. There was just a small tap on the rod but then the line went slack. I quickly reeled in the line until I connected with the fish - struck and this was putting up a better fight. It was a 46 cm bass It was quite deeply hooked. The lower hook of the pennel was hooked into the gut - so this was one for Sunday's dinner.

Close to high tide there was another strong knock on the second rod. I struck and could feel a reasonable sized fish on the end (but nothing like the one I lost). It was a 57 cm bass, 4 lb exactly

I was beginning to run low on lugs at this stage, so put a lug/mussel cocktail on one rod and lug/frozen crab on the other. 25-30 minutes later I had a knock on the rod with the lug/mussel bait - a 47 cm bass

A little later when reeling in the same rod I found I had hooked a five bearded rockling.

I packed up at 2.00 am when all the lug was used up. So despite the disappointment of loosing the big bass, with 4 bass I did much better than I expected so I went home reasonably happy. But the job for tonight is to make up some new rigs with strong 4/0 or larger hooks before I have another crack at that beach and getting that bass with the bend of a hook in its mouth

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Last edited by RockHunter on Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:49 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Some more photos

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Hard luck missing the big fella....4 bass is still a great session though,well done

nice Bass lovely flounder

Nice fishing Frank unlucky with the big one.... next time

99 times out of 100 cheap hooks will be ok but when tested to the limit they usually fail! Hard lesson to learn but at least now you have! Hard luck, hope you get him again!

A great nights fishing even though you lost the big fella but no doubt hes still around, hope you catch him!!!

Bummer. And you would probably have returned it.

Have lost a few biggies over the years, its the way of it. Doesnt make it any easier though.
One cracker I lost in Kerry due to a multiplier tangling up. Never used em since...!
Think I gave the mag elite away for nothing I was so angry...!

cracking session there frank some lovely fish there man. it's just a pity that the biggie got away . but it would'nt be a good session with at least one tale of "the one that got away" . not to worry frank, he just wanted to put on a bit more weight before he let's you catch him again in the future . well done man

Thanks guys,

99 times out of 100 cheap hooks will be ok but when tested to the limit they usually fail! Hard lesson to learn but at least now you have!

I guess it never occurred to me that I would be lucky enough to hook as bass of that size. The pennel rig on the other rod had a big bait on a good quality 4/0 hook. Just bad luck the big bass found the smaller bait with the smaller weaker hooks first.

Bummer. And you would probably have returned it.

Bummer is right - I would have released it alright - a fish like that would be too good to keep (besides it would have taken me a couple of weeks to eat it all)

he just wanted to put on a bit more weight before he let's you catch him again

I will definitely have to upgrade my hooks then

Hi Frank,
that sounds like a heaven and hell session.Fairplay to you for sticking at it,i know many other anglers including myself that would have chucked the rod away and headed for home.A friend of mine always used to say to me when after losing a big hurling match that you have to lose a big game in order to win the next one and guess what he was always right .I guess the same can apply to fishing and in this case it definately applies,don't give up on the biggie you are going to get her sooner rather than later and just think of what the buzz you'll get and better still what the photos will look like when you post them up here,keep at it my friend your nearly there .
Just out of curiousity don't be afraid to name and shame the hook model,i may need to do a bit of clearing out myself if the offending model is on my traces .
Tight lines

Thanks Mike,
The offending hook was Gerrys Black Aberdeens

OH OH,
guess what all my 3/0 pennels are made up with,out with the wallet AGAIN for varivas big mouths.
Tight lines

Frank I hope your not haunted by the one that got away too long! Still a great nights fishing there and plenty of nice size bass too.

Great report Frank ,hard luck with the monster Bass, but shes out there somewhere still . Still,,,,,, 4 Bass ,,,,and 3 other species too ,,,,that helped to soften the blow,well done

fair play to you for sticking it out after the big one. id probably have chucked all the gear in the boot and went home. at least you still had a good session afterwards.
its still out there for you.

well done frank, unlucky on the biggie but thats the way it goes, it must have been some fish to even break a cheap hook. if i catch it will return the hook part to ya

Good fishing,nice report and unlucky on the big one that you lost.

Tightline's
KC

Thanks guys,

hard luck with the monster Bass, but shes out there somewhere still

Yes so I am heading out tonight for another crack at catching it. I made up some new rigs last night, with heavy duty 4/0 hooks - if these break then I will have to get a harpoon gun

t must have been some fish to even break a cheap hook. if i catch it will return the hook part to ya

Thanks Seanie, that is very thoughful of you

great report pal, really good reading. unlucky in losing such a fish but you have now got a proper 'the fish that got away story' still a hell of a session regardless of the lost fish fella. well done