Ballygally beach, Co Antrim 24/10/09

People: Me and Jonny

Duration: 16:30 to 22:30

Tide: falling, high water approx 16:20

Weather: blustery wsw winds, some gusts to 50-60 mph, and showers

Bait: rag, mackeral, squid and sandeel

Rigs: Jonny 3 hook flappers, me 2/0 and 4/0 pennel clipped

Results:Jonny 6 dogs 2 small codling 4 small whiting, me 6 dogs




Report: Wanted to fish Ballygally beach again as we havent fished it since last winter. I had a cracking bite that night which pulled the rod and stand right over but we hadn't been back since that. With the strong winds we thought we would get some shelter from the high wall there.

We arrived at high water so we were fishing a falling tide which wasn't ideal and to be honest we didn't have much hope for the place.

Both set up with two rods and got our baits out. Jonny using flappers with small hooks and baits and me using squid on 4/0 pennel and large rag tipped with mackeral on 2/0 pennel rigs. I was fishing at range while Jonny was fishing closer in.

We had bites almost instantly though it was sometimes hard to see them with the blustery conditions but i managed a dog on my first cast so things were definately looking up.

The bites and fish continued all through the session. We had a couple of nice sized dogs though most other fish were on the small side. Best round fish was a 20cm codling.

Decided to call it a day when the wind changed direction and was coming along the beach. This made the conditions almost unbearable and the fishing had eased off toward low water but we had finished up with a reasonable tally of fish which was unexpected at the start of the session.

Cant wait to fish this beach in better conditions with a high tide somewhere between 22:00 and midnight.

good going mate thats nice session for that beach!!! fished it last week and blanked it the place was riddled with weed!! what end a the beach did yas fish ive always thought it looked really fishy with the rough ground either side of it and it usually throws a good surf on it 2!!! yous ever have any flats of it???

We fished just beside the slipway but dont think it would matter where you were there mate. Thats only the second time i've fished this beach. Had loads of flats coalies and dogs last time and a great bite from something decent.

Was surprised that we didn't get any flats last night as i'd have said we were a cert for those if nothing else there.

There were loads of dogs and whiting about so the dogs must have been feeding on them.

Will def be spending more time on this beach!

Nice session- I have only fished that beach once and was from the same place as you... the slipway. Managed a nice wrasse but that was it. Did you guys loose much gear? I had a nightmare with lost gear at that mark. Will probably try the beach itself (opposite the hotel) next time.

Anyway good session, well done.

Cheers mate. Really enjoyed the fishing tho with the wind it was hard work. I didn't loose any gear. Seems to be pretty clear although i did snag a couple of times and bent a hook so there must be something out there. Jonny lost a set of gear when he had a crack off. He's only started using a multipier and thinks he can cast like me lol

yea mate a know what your saying the wee flats can be very easily put of the feed if theres something bigger about!! the beach is quite handy too saves the big drive to waterfoot whitch is just full of tiddlers lol

nice fishing lads . that's a wee beach we always drive past on the way to other marks. always wondered what it would fish like. are the 2 nets still on the surface as you come into ballygally from the larne side? saw them there most of the summer and wondered what they were for?

Cheers mate. Didn't notice any nets but we were so keen to get set up as we had already missed the flood tide so we didnt want to miss any more fishing time. They may still be there.

Didnt seem to matter if they are or not, the fishing was great. Will be going there on Sunday afternoon / evening as we cant get out on Saturday. High water is quite late this week so we'll be fishing the flood. Will be interesting to see what that throws up!

those nets are not fishing nets but to stop jet ski from lanch there was told that from the house facing it.
nets or lines are still there al

nice fishing lads . that's a wee beach we always drive past on the way to other marks. always wondered what it would fish like. are the 2 nets still on the surface as you come into ballygally from the larne side? saw them there most of the summer and wondered what they were for?

Me and doggydave fished the rocks just right of the slipway a few months ago on an incoming tide, useing mack and sandeel. Caught some good heavy dogs, and lost lots of rigs in the kelp and rocks, but better than a blank.

A friend of mine had a few small schoolies of ballygally last autumn/winter I actually thought his post was on here but I cant seem to find it, although ive never fished it personally.

well done,
it also throws up a few turbot ,usually lotsa dogs and rockling with some coalies, flounder , cod , whiting and a stray bass when conditions perfect , cant ever remember any dabs of it , i wonder why.