First cod of the season - 6th December 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 5.00 - 9.50 pm

Tide: HW at 8.30 pm

Weather: Strong SW wind, mostly dry with one very heavy shower

Bait: Lug, razor, mussel

Rigs: 3/0 and 4/0 pennel pulleys, two hook flapper (1/0 hooks)

Results: 2 codling




Report: I dug some lug in the afternoon which was very tough going - but I got a few big juicy ones after a lot of digging. As there was a very strong southwesterly wind I reckoned my usual East Cork bass marks would be almost unfishable so I decided to try for cod on a beach that I hadn't fished at all this year.

I got there just before dusk and set up. There was quite a big surf so it looked good for cod. I set up two rods both with pennel pulleys baited with lug and razor and cast one in close and the other out as far as I could reach. The wind increased and when the tide reaches the steeper foreshore spray from the waves crashing on the rocks was blowing up the shore - it was like standing in a heavy rain shower. It was very quite for a long time. It didn't look good and the baits were coming back untouched. I eventually switched one of the pulley rigs for a two hook flapper with 1/0 hooks in the hope of avoiding a blank and baited it with lug on the lower hook and mussel on the upper hook and cast out. Not long afterwards the other rod with the 3/0 pennel pulley cast in close suddenly started bouncing - I grabbed and struck - I could feel a strong fish on the end - I reeled it in, reckoned it had to be a cod, as the fight didn't feel like a bass. Sure enough it was a 3.5 lb coding - my first of the season

As soon as I got the hook out I cast out again. Then reeled in the other rod and changed it back to a proper size hook - a 4/0 pennel pulley.

However, nothing was biting immediately - maybe an hour later I had another strong bite on the rod cast out farthest. As I hauled it in it felt a good bit lighter than the first - this was a 2 lb codling It had managed to swallow the entire bait and was hooked with both hooks of the pennel. Later when cleaning it out I found it was stuffed with small fish including a tiny scorpion fish.

Not long afterwards I had another bite, this felt to be about the same size as the first - but I lost it about 10 m from the shore

I had one more bite after that - something took a chunk out of the bait but was not hooked. May not have been a cod - a bass??

So I was happy enough with that - and both fish were bigger than any codling I got last winter.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

well done! nice cod there!

Nice cod you have there. Made the wet and windy session worthwile I bet. Well done

nice cod well done few nice cod starting to show now lets hope the sizes keep increasing

nice cod well done. have to get a cod session soon

they're really nice fish. Fair play to ya!

Couple of nice codling Frank well done good start to the season
going to have a crack at them tommorow night, had a couple of 40 cm plus codling 2 weeks ago
on local mark so going to give it another go



LIFE IS FOR FISHING

those are beauts well done filleted and in to a nice beer batter wont taste anything like it yummmmm

Congratulations! These are nice fish.

Nice

Well done Frank, nice codling,had a few wet and windy ones myself in the last week, but unfortunately no codling of any size

Well done Frank...couple of nice fish there...off out myself tomorrow night...now, do I recognise those stones

Enjoyable report, Frank, nice fish, hope they're an omen for a good winter season.

Nice going Frank some nice fish there .The lug are very scarce alright but worth looking for .Rory id say you should try that spot that you were at recently managed a decent session from there last night with the codmaster Pat,a bit of weed though on the flood.Bhoy32 those crab went down a treat as well
Tight lines

WELL DONE LAD , TOP MARKS .

well done frank, some great fish there. Raging i didnt go now. Headed to monkstown myself got 4 codling on crab,lug and razor cocktails, few whiting also. But nothing sizeable!! Fair play.

Thanks guys,

Nice going Frank some nice fish there .The lug are very scarce alright but worth looking for .Rory id say you should try that spot that you were at recently managed a decent session from there last night with the codmaster Pat

Saw Pat's post - looks like you had a great session. Wonder was it the same bay?

Nice Codling

Nice going Frank some nice fish there .The lug are very scarce alright but worth looking for .Rory id say you should try that spot that you were at recently managed a decent session from there last night with the codmaster Pat,a bit of weed though on the flood.Bhoy32 those crab went down a treat as well
Tight lines

Just saw your post Mike....must have read your mind as I was down there earlier. Had a couple around the 2.5-3lb mark and loads of smaller ones...happy days
We must organise a meet sometime