Co. Waterford - 30th April 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 7.30 pm to 2.00 am

Tide: HW at 10.30 pm

Weather: Clear, mild, no wind at first, southerly breeze increasing later and becoming cloudy

Bait: Lug

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley, two hook flapper (4/0 hooks)

Results: 2 bass, 1 Whiting, 1 Dogfish




Report: As it was a lovely sunny evening I decided to head out fishing. I went to the beach where I lost the monster bass a couple of weeks ago for another attempt at catching it. When I arrived there was quite a lot of weed but mostly concentrated in the eastern corner of the beach. I walked down close to midway and set up two rods. There was a weakish surf, but about the same as the night I lost the big bass.

Close to dusk I had a strong knock on the rod with the two hook flapper. I struck and could feel a strong pull on the line so I thought it likely to be a bass. But as I began to retrieve the fish came in quickly so I reckoned it was fairly small. It was a 42 cm bass

I was hopeful of getting a few more after dark. But there wasn't another bass bite for a long time. I noticed gentle knocks on one of the rods - something small nibbling on the bait. The bait was getting chewed up alright but I couldn't hook whatever it was with the 4/0 hooks. However, I eventually did manage to connect with one of the subtle bites - turned out to be a small whiting. I thought they had cleared off the beaches by now.

I had intended to quit shortly after high tide but I had a lot of lugs left so I decided to continue fishing until they were all used up. About two hours after high tide I had a small knock on the rod with the 4/0 pennel. I picked up the rod and then felt another small pull - I struck but from the fight I knew it wasn't a bass - turned out to be a dogfish.

At about 1.00 am I noticed some more small taps on the same rod. I picked it up again and waited - I could feel a series of small tugs but waited until I felt a stronger pull before striking. This time I could feel a stronger, heavier fish. It then charged in towards the beach. I quickly reeled in the slack line until I connected again. It put up a bit of a fight before I hauled it through the surf. This time is was a much better bass, close to 60 cm and almost 5 lb

As I was unhooking the fish there was a strong knock on the second rod but by the time I dropped the fish and grabbed the other rod the fish was gone. I stayed on for about another hour until all the lugs were used up but there were no more bites.

So I was happy with that session - it was worth perservering to get that last good size bass and a good way to end the month. April was a quite a productive month - 20 bass
Seven of the bass were caught on Cork beaches the remainder were from West Waterford.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Fri May 01, 2009 1:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

some nice fishing again frank.
dont worry, you'll get that big fella again sometime. maybe not today, maybe not tomorrorow....................

good fishing frank, weed avoidance is becoming a big part of the fishing

well done on catching some nice fish we were to the right of ya with everything except lug in our bait bucket and not a bite a bumper april for ya 20 bass nice 1

Seven of the Bass were caught on Cork beaches the remainder were from West Waterford.

I suppose its a reflection of the impact the netters have had. Great fishing btw Frank.

Thanks guys,

you'll get that big fella again sometime. maybe not today, maybe not tomorrorow

I am going to keep trying - it is out there somewhere

weed avoidance is becoming a big part of the fishing

It is nuisance alright - it has been fairly calm all week so you would expect the weed to have cleared.

well done on catching some nice fish we were to the right of ya with everything except lug in our bait bucket and not a bite

Ok so you were one of the three anglers - what bait were you using?
I have found big lug baits to be working well at the moment.

I suppose its a reflection of the impact the netters have had.

Definitely - over the last month I had only one session in Waterford where I didn't catch a bass (practically no surf that night) - but they seem a lot scarser in East Cork. The East Cork bass that I have caught are smaller too - most of the bigger ones have probably been netted, maybe many of the smaller ones are those that got through the nets last winter.

we had peeler crab mac sandeel mussel and squid and not a touch had 5 crab left so i went to the quay in youghal this morn and fished for 45mins landed 4 flounder biggest was 48cm

we had peeler crab mac sandeel mussel and squid and not a touch had 5 crab left so i went to the quay in youghal this morn and fished for 45mins landed 4 flounder biggest was 48cm

talking to ya as you set up, well done on the flounder

Where in Waterford was this?

Thats for you to guess

Nice session Frank your clocking up a serious ammount of Bass fair play

nice fishing as usual frank that biggie is out there waiting for ya man . continue putting in the hours and it will only be a matter of time man