First ever Turbot - 17th November 2009

People: Me

Duration: 10.00 - 11.55 pm

Tide: LW at 12.05 am

Weather: Terrible, westerly gales, heavy horizontal rain

Bait: Lug

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley

Results: 1 turbot




Report: Having been abroad with work for the last couple of weeks I was very keen to get out fishing again. It was three weeks since I was last out. I had intended to head out on Monday night but couldn't face the cold after a couple of weeks in West Africa. But on Tuesday night I made a more determined effort to get out. I reckoned that the East Cork beaches were going to be choked with weed so I decided to try a West Waterford beach that I thought might not be too bad.

I arrived and set up one rod in a gale that was blowing parallel to the beach. It was difficult to stay standing never mind stop the rod stand blowing over. I decided that one rod would be enough in those conditions. I baited a 4/0 pennel pulley with a bunch of big juicy lug and cast out into a good surf. I was using 6 oz grippers but they were pulled up in minutes and dragged parallel along the beach It was impossible to detect bites. Although on the positive side it was totally weed free However, after about the third cast I thought I spotted some tugs on the rod tip but it was far from clear. I struck and retrieved. At first I thought there was nothing there, until I had the rig in sight and realized something was trailing behind the gripper. It was a turbot - the first I have ever caught

I continued fishing for another hour or so but the conditions were abysmal - heavy horizontal rain whipping across the beach - so close to midnight I decided I had enough.

On the way home I went through Yougal and had a look at Green Park - I thought I might fish the rising tide there to target Cod as it would be a bit more sheltered, but the weed was stacked high on the beach and extended to the water line - that would have been a waste of time so I continued on my way home.

At least I had caught my first ever turbot so the night was not a total diaster. Although not quite the first night back fishing that I had been dreaming about while roaming around the Sahara in mid-30 C temperatures

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well done on getting out, and well done on your first turbot!

youd think you would be sick of sand by now well done frank nice fish would love to get 1 of those for the pan

Well done and welcome back Frank ,,,,,,,,the Sahara,all that sand and no fishing you sure get around.Nice one on the turbot,havent caught one yet myself

Nice one on the turbo and im sure youll be back haressing them bass in no time

Congrats on your first Turbot Frank

and people say you need flat calm for em

Nice reward for braving the elements lovely Turbot

well done thats a good size turbot

nice turbot very well done.

nice 1 frank, good to see em, , in the last 3 years i had a good few and know other lads that have had em, 4+ years back they were as scarce as hens teeth in west waterford, theres been a good few got off that beach were i met you a while back.

Well done Frank thats a nice looking turbot and welcome back its a pity you couldn't
have brought back some of that weather with you

well done on your first turbot,lovely fish

congrats on your 1st turbot Frank and many more to catch

Thanks guys,

oud think you would be sick of sand by now well done frank nice fish would love to get 1 of those for the pan

The sand the other night was rather different - it had a sheet of rain water running across it - not much chance of that in Mauritania

Well done and welcome back Frank ,,,,,,,,the Sahara,all that sand and no fishing you sure get around.Nice one on the turbot,havent caught one yet myself

Worst thing was I had a couple of free days at the end of trip in Nouakchott (the capital of Mauritania) while waiting for the flight home - Nouakchott is on the coast - I should have brought a fishing rod and some tackle - there wasn't much chance of buying any there

Nice one on the turbo and im sure youll be back haressing them Bass in no time

I will once this stormy weather calms down a bit.

and people say you need flat calm for em 8)

That's what I thought too - but nobody told the turbot. I guess I hooked it in the shallows - the grippers were being pulled up and dragged in an arc in towards the shore. As the wind was blowing almost parallel to the beach it was flattening out the waves close to shore so there was about a 30 m wide area of very shallow water without big waves along the shore - the turbot was in that shallow zone.

ice 1 frank, good to see em, , in the last 3 years i had a good few and know other lads that have had em, 4+ years back they were as scarce as hens teeth in west waterford, theres been a good few got off that beach were i met you a while back.

Thanks Art, it was a surprise to get the turbot - but hopefully they are becoming more plentiful and bigger too

Well done Frank thats a nice looking turbot and welcome back its a pity you couldn't
have brought back some of that weather with you

Wish I had - normally I don't have any hesitation about heading out fishing but with this weather it makes me wish I was back in the desert.

Well done on your first turbot. Just reward for braving the elements!

Welldone mate, you gota love the turbot, such a nice looking fish, and what a gob on 'em - reminds me of an ex not that she was a fish,,,before you start with the wise cracks

welcome home frank lovely turbot i told you it was freezing ass

Thanks guys,

Welldone mate, you gota love the turbot, such a nice looking fish, and what a gob on 'em -

They have big mouths alright - it managed to swallow a 4/0 pennel and most of a large bait composed of about 5 good sized lug

welcome home frank lovely turbot i told you it was freezing ass

I don't mind the cold - it's this damn wind and rain that's the problem

well done on the new species frank and no tiddler either good to see you got a reward for sticking out this terrible weather.