West Waterford - 25th October 2009

People: Me & Melissa

Duration: 4.00 - 7.30 pm

Tide: HW at 10 pm

Weather: Light northwest breeze, partly overcast, dry

Bait: Lug, razor

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys

Results: 1 bass, 3 Flounder, 1 Coalfish




Report: After a failed attempt to fish on Friday night due to weed I decided to try a beach in West Waterford that I hoped would not be so bad. We got there at about low tide and had a look at the beach before setting up - it looked clean, not a single strand of weed on the sand at all and there was a nice surf rolling in

I set up two rods, both with 4/0 pennel pulleys initially baited with just lug. From past experience on this beach I know that bass often appear just as the tide begins to push forward but this time it was quite - no bites at all.

At about 5.00 pm as the tide was beginning to surge forward I spotted a knock on one of the rods - I was unsure if it was just the effect of wave action so I picked up the rod - and then felt some small tugs, I struck and reeled in a 33 cm flounder. It was hooked in the smaller upper hook of the pennel.

There were no more bites until after dark. I switched to using lug/razor baits. At about 6.30 pm I thought there was a small knock on one of the rods - I picked it up but could feel nothing - I held it for a few minutes and was just putting it back on the rod stand when there was a sudden sharp tug. As I was about to put the rod back on the stand I was holding it arkwardly but managed to strike and could feel a very strong fish on the end. As I reeled it in the fish was putting up a strong fight and managed to cross the line from the other rod. I eventually hauled it out of the surf and on to the beach - it was a nice plump bass, 65 cm and about 6.25 lb

I continued fishing for another hour. Not long afterwards I had another bite but this did not feel very big - it was a 35 cm coalfish - my first of the season - Winter is definitely here. About 20 minutes later I got another flounder, 31 cm.

I promised I would finish up at 7.30 pm and take Melissa for an Indian meal in Youghal on the way home. I began to pack up and as I reeled in the line on the first rod it felt as if there was something on the end - it turned out to be 30 cm flounder.

So not a bad session - rather slow at the beginning but after dark it picked up. It was also the first bait fishing session that I have had since the beginning of September as I had concentrated on lure fishing during the calm weather. It was hard to get use to the heavy beach casters again after using a light spinning rod for so long.

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Nice session Frank, capped off with a 65cm bass , well done

Nice session, a few decent fish and an indian meal on the way home my idea of heaven

great session Frank thats a fine bass well done
that indian must have tasted even better after a session like that

Good wee session great Bass hope ya sent him up to Sligo

nice one frank the west waterford bass are definatly bigger than the rebel ones

nice fish there

my god that must have been a real comedown frank only one 6lb bass lol well done great report as usual your a lucky guy
loads of bass and a woman that loves fishing some guys do have all the luck

Good fishing again Frank,you have had a few cracking sessions recently,i know what you mean about finding it strange holding the beachcasters again,and for me having smelly razorfish smells from my hands again reminds me that winter is on the way.
Seanie i would'nt be to sure on the bigger bass down in deise land,a certain member of the site from back this way has had more doubles this year than i've had hot dinners recently,although his latest catch was nearly landed by a waterford man a few days previously on live pollack ,you know who you are
Seriously though some very big fish have been landed back this way this year but overall the general size has been a bit on the small size,guess i too will be heading to enemy teritory very soon once these winds abate
Happy days

Thanks guys,

a few decent fish and an indian meal on the way home my idea of heaven

hat indian must have tasted even better after a session like that

It tasted good alright - I was starving but the time the food arrived.

hope ya sent him up to Sligo

No, I thought he would be too lonely up there without all his mates

nice one frank the west waterford Bass are definatly bigger than the rebel ones

As Marlinman says there a few biggies knocking around Cork - they seem to be following Pat around.

,i know what you mean about finding it strange holding the beachcasters again,and for me having smelly razorfish smells from my hands again reminds me that winter is on the way.

It took me a while to get used to casting a beachcaster again. I had almost got the smell of bait out of the car too while I was lure fishing - but it is back again

another fine Bass Frank well done mate, nice report and pic's.
and then to round the day off with an indian great stuff

Well done Frank 3 good Flounders and a corker of a Bass sweet

what a day's fishing frank it don't get much better than than that. well done man

Thanks guys,

what a day's fishing frank it don't get much better than than that. well done man

It does sometimes - like the session I had a couple of weeks ago with 12 bass on lures - that was better

Well done Frank 3 good Flounders and a corker of a Bass sweet

If I had been using smaller hooks I would probably had have a lot more flounder, I could feel lots of little nibbles whic were probably small flounder pulling at the bait, but bass were what I was after.