Co.Kerry - Christmas 2009 & the New Year

[KERRY1]

People: Myself, K2, Al & Jordan

Weather: Freezing!! (with snow, a heavy frost and lots of ice!)

Tide: Mixed

Methods used: Bait fishing

Bait: Razorfish & lugworm

Results: Bass, dogfish, flounder, pollock & 3 bearded-rockling (& frostbite! )


Report:

On Sunday 27th December 2009, myself, K2 along with Al & Jordan set off early full of excitement on the long drive down to Co.Kerry for a week of fishing.
Initially when K2 and I asked Al & Jordan if they would like to join us for the week we had no idea that the weather was going to be as bad and as cold as it ended up but that’s part of fishing in this country. You can never depend on the weather and with the accommodation booked and paid for we all just had to go and make the most of it, which is what we did.
Bass was the main target species for us all and it was mission accomplished with us all catching them during our time there.
We planned our fishing sessions around the tides (as you do) to maximise our chances of catching, organising our trips so that we where fishing into dark as this is when k2 and I have had most success in the past and this proved to be the case again with all of our bass we caught being when it was dark.
The extremely cold weather did make the fishing harder than usual with our feet and hands becoming so cold that after a while you could hardly feel them!
Despite the cold however, we where rewarded for our efforts with all of us catching several different species from a number of different venues.
K2 and I haven’t been very lucky with the weather of late as our previous trip down to Co.Kerry before this one, which was in November, was during the time when the whole country had the really bad floods and rain but that’s the way it goes!
No such weather was seen like the last time Al was down with us in October when we all got sunburned!
The first night when we all went out fishing together for me was the most memorable and the reason for this was that I caught my biggest ever bass to date. A nice fish weighing at least 5lb and a new personal best for me – I was so happy!
A quick picture was taken and it was released.
Another highlight of the trip for me was K2 and I beating our previous year’s record of 96 bass for the season reaching the milestone of 100 bass for the year.
It was great to see everyone catching over the whole week, especially wee Jordan. His face when he caught his first bass of the year was priceless!
We all went out fishing on New Year’s Eve and fished right through into the New Year and K2 was the one who caught the first bass of 2010 landing it at 01.16am on 01/01/10, which was great. The rest of us blanked that night but it didn’t matter, it was still great to be out fishing, what a great way to bring in the New Year. We all went back to the house after that for a glass of champagne and then bed as we where all knackered!
It was my 30th birthday as well when we where down but for me I don’t know whether it was a case of celebrating or commiserating being another year older!!
The best day’s fishing for K2 and I was on New Year’s Day when we along with a friend of ours who lives down there went out to one of our favourite marks and ended up with seven bass between us.
Al & Jordan where down in Cork at this stage hoping to catch a cod or two but the weather ruined their trip which was very disappointing but at least they tried.
I’m not sure what day would count as Al & Jordan’s best but I would guess it as being the first night when they both caught their bass.
I can speak for us all when I say that we all had a great time but as usual the time flew in far too quickly.
K2 and I just want to say that it was a pleasure having you both (Al & Jordan) down with us and it was a pleasure showing you's about the places we fish. We are just so glad that the marks we took you’s too produced the goods and that you both caught bass, as we knew that’s what you’s wanted to catch most of all.
Below are some of my favourite pictures of our trip to Co.Kerry over Christmas and the New Year for you to have a look at as well as previously unseen pictures of my and K2’s trip in November which at the time I never got around to writing a report on.

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Last edited by KERRY1 on Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

More pictures..............

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some nice bass and flounder there people well done

ARGH

Very nice paula

going back down to cork again this year for more specimen Mullet

Well done on the bass - that first one is a nice fish.
You did well to get a few more after the cold weather set in.

cracker of a report paula, some nice bass in the pic's and them flounder are thumper's

well done! Some extreamly nice fish there! Cant deny it...jealous haha

great report as usual paula,those bass are lovely, but the flounder are crackers!! any chance for an invite on ye're next trip!!

Cacking bass paula well done !

Thats a nice bass K1, and them floundes are crackers also.The weather may have been against yis but yis made the most of it

soooo jealous...

nice flounder

I'm glad that you all enjoyed your Christmas holiday down here in Kerry,it truly is beautiful to visit
and is excellent place to fish.
Even with the awful weather that you had the results you that you achieved very good.
Just think what it would fish like in perfect conditions!!
I enjoyed reading both reports, which were both reported and written to a high standard
thanks
Pete

some really fine fish there guys well done again

cracking report paula and congrats on your pb bass, sounds like you all had a ball and did not let the weather put a dampener on the trip well done to all.

and happy belated 30th its not all that bad wait till you hit 40

some nice Bass and flounder there people well done

Thanks Jimmy It was hard fishing in such cold weather but we done our best despite it being so cold!

ARGH

Very nice paula

going back down to cork again this year for more specimen Mullet

Thanks Jonny specimen mullet in Cork...........sounds good, maybe we'll join you this time since we didn't go with you last year after you invited us
There's no need to go so far though! There's plenty of good mullet fishing right on your door step in both Strangford & Belfast Lough. You are very welcome to join me and K2 this year if you fancy it That goes for anyone else as well, you would be very welcome to join us. Just drop me a PM and we'll take it from there.

WOW! crackin Bass, and some serious monster flounder. gruesome weather and conditions you all did well to stick it out

Well done!!!! Very nice Bass
Regards Tomek

nice one paula me and jordan had a blast. cheers for taking us around the place and showing us a few marks. just a pity we happend to pick the coldest week in 50 years to go on . i thought you were gonna show me up by putting up the pic of your bass and my one on the measure togeather . despite all the disasters (and strange lights in the sky above us )we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat . jordan's already asking me when are we going down in the summer to hit the rock marks for wrasse, rays and pollack .

Super picture of the bass swimming away! Congrats on your pb. Some nice plump flounder too. I'm extremely envious of you.

All the best,
John D.

Well done on the Bass - that first one is a nice fish.
You did well to get a few more after the cold weather set in.

Thanks Frank I'm well happy with catching my biggest ever Bass.
The cold weather did make the fishing alot harder but you just have to get on with it. If you worried about the weather in this country and you let it put you off fishing you'd never be out!
I wouldn't mind fishing in Cork sometime, it's somewhere I've never been and would love to try for the Bass there. Maybe even plugging for them, that would be good. Perhaps I'll bump into you sometime when I'm down there.

cracker of a report paula, some nice Bass in the pic's and them flounder are thumper's

Cheers Don The flounder aren't bad at all, it was just a pity we couldn't get fishing the place we got them from in November when we had Al & Jordan down with us but the weather put a stop to those plans.
Are you still going up to Donegal at the weekend? Al had invited myself and K2 up for the run but we're weren't too keen because of the weather. If we don't get up this time with them, we'll try and get up again when they are going, it would be nice to meet you and out a face to the name.

well done! Some extreamly nice fish there! Cant deny it...jealous haha

Thanks Chris, it was good but what would have made it even better is a nice warm Pizza to eat!!! I don't know anyone who would deliver one down for me, do you?