Beara Peninsular 27 Sept - 3 October 2009

Frequent visitor to the site here, but very infrequent poster, so go easy on me. For the past eight or nine years I have managed to travel over from the UK with my wife to the Beara peninsular for a weeks fishing, walking and drinking.

We arrived on the Saturday, and after the obligatory stop at MacCarthy's in Castletownbere, had my first session on the Sunday, spinning for pollack at the rocks at Dursey using red jellyworms. Pretty disappointing by it's usual high standards, with only around half a dozen mackerel and pollack, the largest weighing only about 1.5 lb. Similar results a day later, with the added woes of losing the top section of my spinning rod which loosened free during a cast. I didn't fancy my chances of retrieving it from the tide rip running through the channel! That left me with two beachcasters to fish with. I suspect that the headland is getting popular as it has featured in Sea Angler magazines in the UK, plus there was netting in the bay to the left as you look out to Dursey Island.

Much better results followed when I took the call to travel further afield on the peninsular for some less tapped ground. After a long walk I came across a decent shoal of mullet, ranging from just a pound or so up to six pounds, which were feeding on plankton or maggots on the surface. It took a while, but I eventually got a few to take some bread, and managed my first decent fish of the week, a mullet of 4-2. I wouldn't recommend a beachcaster as a suitable mullet rod, but needs must.

As is often the case, the fish then disappeared, so I put out a mackerel fillet on the bottom. Immediately rewarded with a good solid run, and a heavy fish was on, only to take me into the rocks. I couldn't tempt him out, so reverted back to spinning on the other rod whilst I left free line out to see if he would swim out. The next hour was fantastic, with pollack on every cast, ranging from half a pound up to 3-4. After that died down I pulled for a break on the bottom rod, and sent out another cast. This resulted in another take, and a strap conger of around 4lb or so. He was a lot more combative on land than off it...

The next two cast resulted in lost gear, so I switched back to the spinning at a different spot with even more pollack. By the end of the day I reckon I must have landed well over a hundred fish. No real monsters, but great sport nonetheless. Topped off the day with some mackerel on feathers for bait and food.

After a day off from the fishing I managed a swift session in the Thursday evening bottom fishing in the main bay at Dursey onto sand. Only one fish, but a good one by my standards - a mackerel of 1-9. Picture attached with a more normal sized mackie to give it some perspective.

I normally find the best fishing on my holidays on the last day, and this year was no exception. The mullet had returned to my spot from before and I tempted 3 of them out up to 3-10 before they went off the feed. Another trudge along the coastline and I encountered some good size pollack on the jellyworms, taking several up to 5-4, whilst being smashed by two better fish. Finished the trip off by getting a further three mullet up to 3-4. Managed to lose another three, two of which of better size. Some pictures attached.

All in all, a great trip to a fantastic country. Stunning countryside, superb fishing and friendly people. The red jellyworm lures were lethal for the spinning. All the fish were returned alive apart from three pollack and a dozen or so mackerel. Just wish I could have longer. My only gripe was my continued failure to catch a bull huss. No joy fishing the sand, and the rocky bottom just seemed to eat up my gear. Not sure where I am going wrong, and I am determined to track one down eventually.

Finally, thanks for a great site. It spurred me on no end to pack my gear in good time before travelling over.

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sounds like a good trip especially the mullet pity about your spinning rod you could`ve had great craic with them

Shame about the rod tip Some nice fish there Well done Glad you enjoyed your trip and theres always next year for the huss.

Good haul of fish, well done Some nice mullet there and a good sixed mackerel

nice to see you came good in the end man, some lovely fish there just a pity about the rod section hope it was'nt too expensive

Well done, hope you enjoyed your week on Beara - it is a great spot for fishing.

had my first session on the Sunday, spinning for pollack at the rocks at Dursey using red jellyworms. Pretty disappointing by it's usual high standards,

I spent a weekend on Beara in August and had a session at Dursey - that was very poor too. I had fished there several times last year and had plenty of big wrasse, a few pollocks and lots of mackerel, but this time I just had one small pollock - I thought had something to do with the weather but maybe it has been overfished

some nice fish there sorry about your rod
was down there in early september but unluckily for us a storm moved in from the atlantic
the day we arrived wind and rain nearly all week
but we managed to notch up a few spieces ray ,conger, pollock,flounder,plaice ,macks,dogs ,dabs,whiting
we only managed a very short session at dursey due to the conditions safety first ,but fishing was very poor
would love to get down there with some real settled weather , there are so many marks its just endless

give me a call next time you are down this way and I will try and put you on to that elusive huss

Well done Bearafisher , I am staying in Castletown Bere the last few weeks and have been mostly spinning and have had a pollack and wrasse around Dursey, I guess it must be hit and miss around there .
Unlucky on loosing the tip of your rod