Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:36 pm

People: Me and Melissa

Duration: 12.15 pm - 4.15 pm

Tide: LW at 3.00 pm

Weather: Dreadful

Bait: Lug

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys

Results: 2 bass, 1 flounder




Report: When I awoke on Saturday morning the sun was shining so I hoped that the weather might not be as bad as forecast. However, by the time I started to pack the car a light drizzle has started. The rain got heavier as we drove towards the beach but I was hoping that it might east off :roll: :roll: But at least it would be a good test of my new light weight summer raincoat.

Got to the beach where I caught 7 bass in one session last week. There was a nice surf and the beach was deserted :D :D I had the two rods cast out by 12.15 pm but right away I started having problems with weed. But it was fishable - I just needed to recast about every 10 minutes to keep the tackle clear of too much weed. The rain was showing no sign of easing off - it was getting heavier.

There was not much happening apart from clumps of kelp getting snagged. Then close to low tide I got a 25 cm flounder. The weed did begin to clear and was more or less gone by low tide.

The wind was picking up and the rain getting even heavier so Melissa headed back to the car and I said I would fish on for about another 45 minutes until 3.45 pm.

With the strengthening wind the rain was becoming horizontal and even heavier - I began questioning my sanity :roll: :roll: At 3.25 I reeled in the rods and changed the bait for the last casts. A few minutes later there was a strong pull on one of the rods - although I wasn't convinced it was a fish until I held the rod and felt a sharp tug. i struck and began to retrieve. It was putting up a good struggle so I knew it wasn't a clump of kelp this time. Eventually I pulled a 55 cm bass out of the surf :D :D :D :P :P :P

As the bass had finally appeared I couldn't pack up right away after enduring a couple of hours of the worst weather I have ever fished in. So I had a few more casts. On the next cast I had another bite. This time it was putting up a much weaker fight and turned out to be a small bass just about 40 cm. Looking at the size of it made me think that the minimum retention size should be at least 45 cm if not 50 cm. I wouldn't dream of keeping a bass that small.

I had one or two more casts after that and then with no let up in the rain and wind decided pack up. My new raincoat performed remarkable well. Unfortunately I still managed to get soaked while I was getting out of my waders back at the car :twisted: :twisted:

As I had a bunch of big lugs left over I tried the same beach last night but the weed was dreadful. Sometimes the rod buckled over with the weight of weed within seconds of the tackle hitting the water, although it did lessen a little closer to low tide but there was not a bite despite a nice surf as the bait was draped in weed most of the time.
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Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:41 pm

Well done rockhunter 2 nice looking bass,

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:58 pm

My new raincoat performed remarkable
it wont be to long before its like the auld one :lol: :lol: :lol: well done on the fishies frank and for putting up with that rain

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:18 pm

well done for sticking it out in that weather, and you got a nice reward for it, two nice Bass great stuff!!!! well done...

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:11 pm

Good reward for sticking it out Frank. Don't think the weather was nice anywhere this weekend.

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:41 am

well done,lovely bass and flounder

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:16 am

nice one on the 3 fish in bad conditions.
as for the light rain gear, i got some about a year ago in lidl as i wanted something light for when it was warm and wet in work. it cost E23 for pants and jacket and it turned out to be the best rain gear i ever had. unfortunatly i ripped the pants after a few months so that was binned but the jacket is still going strong. if its warm and wet not on the beach i just wear that with waders and its as good as the Mustad 4 season suit for keeping the rain out :D

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:27 am

Well done for catching amongst all the weed nice result :)

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:36 pm

nice session well done

Re: Co Cork - 11th July 2009

Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:04 pm

Thanks guys,
It was good to get a couple of bass at the end of that session after perservering through the wind and rain.

red wrote:as for the light rain gear, i got some about a year ago in lidl as i wanted something light for when it was warm and wet in work. it cost E23 for pants and jacket and it turned out to be the best rain gear i ever had.

I got a good deal on my jacket €29 - reduced from €75 - the recession to thank for that. I got it in Blarney Woollen Mills a few months ago but Saturday was the first time I used it and it was certainly put to the test then.