Elusive Kerry Sea Trout 06/07 June

People: me and Tim

Duration: 6th - 22:00 00:00, 7th 10:00-14:30

Tide: LW around 11-12?

Weather: NE breeze, cloudy, bit of sunshine

Bait:

Rigs: selection of spinners

Results: 4 dropped sea trout , 4 schoolie bass (all caught inadvertently and returned safe and well)




Report: Headed down to Kerry with tales of lots of big seatrout following almost every cast in the calm clear condtions of last week ringing in my ears. Got my licence Saturday just before I headed down.
Got out to the spot in the evening full of good food and wine, but the fish weren't playing ball and not a whisper of a take. Bit chilly with the NE breeze which looked like force 4-5?
Went out next morning with a bit more hope, wind had dropped a bit although still kind of cool and coming from NE, but it was warm out of it in the breaks of sunshine.
After flogging the water for an hour, saw our first signs of sea trout with one or two leaping clear of the water. Tried out all my lures and was back onto my original one when I hooked up, played it for about 30seconds before it got off. As we went beyond low tide and the start of the fill we saw a few more trout jumping and Tim managed two hook ups with sea trout that he managed to play to shore only to have them do their signature jump and head shake throwing the hook in the process. He lost another one further out soon afterwards. We decided to change tactics after this and jumped in his small inflatable (should I put this part in the boat angling section ) and trolled and spun back towards the shore. Almost immediately I was into a fish which turned out to be a small bass when I got it in. Moved out of that area and first cast Tim was into another small bass. Moved again and I had another one five minutes later. We moved back towards our original spot and drifted and spun again with yet another bass coming in. All these bass when we didn't want one and were trying our best (save giving up fishing) to avoid them
Gave up soon after as the water was getting a bit choppy as it filled.

So bit disappointing on the old sea trout front. Last week, very clam, sunny and clear and they were following the lures - if not taking them - possibly because it was so clear. This weekend with more coloured water, but a cool NE, not so many signs of fish, but at least we got takes. Any tips on keeping them on the hook once you snag them?

To compound my misery, left most of my lures and licence in a pack below the HW water mark. Needless to say they were washed away. Anyone know can you get a salmon.seat trout licence reissued?

The joys of sea trout fishing!! They jump about more than most fish when theyre hooked, one thing you can do is drop your rod close to the water as soon as they start to jump. I try to side strain them back under the water. Ive been fishing for them for years and this works very well. Bad one about the lures and licence though!! You can get a copy of your licence so at least its not all bad news. If you get onto the shop that sold it to you they will have your details and they will be able to sort out a copy for you

awhh man,,,,,,, getting them in close only for them to throw the hook that must have been soul destroying. and there was me thinking it's only the mullet who melt your head doing stuff like that . but at least you got a few takes anyway loosing the gear must have been the icing on the cake think i would have made a strategic withdrawll to the nearest pub to drown my sorrows

Any tips on keeping them on the hook once you snag them?

They don't half wriggle all right, have you added the extra ring on the treble? it does help.

Any tips on keeping them on the hook once you snag them?

They don't half wriggle all right, have you added the extra ring on the treble? it does help.

Hi Sean, I hadn't the extra ring but Tim had, in fairness he got them closer to shore than me, so maybe it does help. Had heard the theory though (albeit on Sunday ).

You could try using assist hooks instead of the treble. Attach one or two to the top split ring and the fish won't be able to use the weight of the spoon to leaver the hook out of his mouth. I have used it in pike fishing with good results and they are notorious "headbangers" when it comes to landing them. Also keep your rod low or even submerge the rodtip when they are attempting to jump, works a treat.

assist hook.png

How to make your own assist hook assembly: http://www.sportfishingmag.com/techniqu ... age-2.html
Remember, it's important to use tubing on the so your hooks are not in danger of getting entangled with the mainline. It's not necessary to go for the heatshrink tubing, any plastic tubing will do, just make the hooklink stiffer.
Tight lines!

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Sea trout are hard buggers to keep on the hook.

I lost 18 plus 4 salmon on a toby spoon one day. Before I heard about the extra split ring.

This will go against all your better judgement. But the solution is to give them a bloody hard time when they are first hooked. Then you can relax a little.

hard luck mate but well done on the catch and relese of the bass fair play

Any tips on keeping them on the hook once you snag them?


They don't half wriggle all right, have you added the extra ring on the treble? it does help.

While you are at it add an extra treble. Met some "auld fellas" out in Greystones once spinning for (and catching) and they all swore by the extra treble. Either get a bigger treble that can slide down over the existing one (after you take it off the split ring) or slide a swivel then ring the extra treble on. As far as I know "its allowed", depends on how you feel about it really

"A day spent fishing is a day added on..............."