Co. Antrim beach big trout and specimen 3 beards 16.03.10

People: me and belfast dan

Duration: 5pm to midnight

Tide: HW 7pm

Weather: 15mph southerly, dry and not too cold

Bait: rag, mack, razor and sand eel

Rigs: 2 up 1 down, flappers and wishbones

Results: ME: sea trout new p.b. 3lb 10oz and a 3 bearded rockling 1lb 14ozs DAN: 1 flounder and 2, 3 bearded rockling. largest 1lb 13oz




Report: after being stuck in bed all weekend loaded with the flu i could take no more and arranged a run up the coast with dan. i got a text telling me about the surf beach to the right of our rockling mark where 2 bass had been caught at the weekend, so that was our intended plan. we got set up fishing 2 rods each and things looked good as there was a nice surf on the beach that would hopefully bring the bass in. i was the first to get a bite on my rod at distance, and a cracking bite it was i quickly grabbed the rod and waited for the next tug and struck hard as it felt to be a pretty heavy fish. but disaster,,,, while i was laid up unwell i had stripped and oiled this reel and forgot to tighten the drag down properly . so needless to say my strike resulted in a load of line being payed out and the fish was gone i was sick. but i quickly rebaited and lumped it back out to the same spot and within seconds of setting the rod back onto the tripod it was bouncing away like a mad thing. i had'nt noticed as i was still setting up my second rod. but dan shouted and i hit it as quick as i could,,,, but not quick enough... the fish and my sand eel was gone again . so third time lucky. i replaced the eel on the top hook again and hammered it back out 120 yards or so to the same spot. but this time i was determined not to loose the fish again and stood with one hand on the rod waiting for the bite. within seconds the rod buckled again and i struck hard and had him well and truely hooked this time third time's the charm . he fought well and dan ran into the surf to get behind him in case he threw the hook. at first glance it looked like i had got my bass, but as i reeled him furthur up the beach and out of the surf we saw it was a big sea trout i was chuffed and we got him quickly unhooked, photographed, weighed and returned. i was a bit worried that he might not go back too well as he was bleeding heavily. but as soon as his belly felt the sea bed he gave a big splash of his tail and took off like a streamlined rocket . i was beaming from ear to ear as he was a new PB. sadly i only had the wee cheap scales out with me and he was weighing between 3 1/2 lbs and 4lb. so i reckoned i'd split the difference and call it 3lb 10oz. at least i'll stand a chance of beating it again in the future other than that it was a pretty slow session, dan got a flounder and by 10pm we decided to move to the extreme left side of the beach which is only across from my rockling mark. you're into rough ground away from the clean sand and dan was first to get a bite. he landed a nice 3 beardy of 32cms and our hopes were raised again . we both lost about 6 rigs between us before dan got a good knock. when he started to reel in he thought it might be a wee doggie or a strap conger. but he was elated to see a big 3 beardy come out of the kelp and onto the beach we got him onto the scales and he was bouncing between 1lb 8oz and 2lb, so yet again we split the difference and called it 1lb 13oz. dan was made up and i was glad to see him get a decent fish. it also opens up another spot to target them from my last cast produced a 3 beardy for me to the same size as the one dan got . in fact we did a few close up inspections of him in case it was the same fish . but when we looked closer we noticed dan's one had a semi circle missing from it's tail and my one's tail was complete . so 2 very similar yet different fish . 2 specimens was a good way to round the trip off
god,, i hope our luck holds out for next week again

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Nice session Al. Sounds like it was miles better than ours.

well done lads.. great report

Another good session fellas, lovely colour off those rockling and at least somewhere is still throwing up a few fish on the antrim coast

great session lads. great report

nice one lads,thats some sweet fishing,see al,once ya got the first seatrout they get easy to catch! jordan will kill ya though! and well done dan thats a sweet rockling.

Well done lads! seriously nice seatrout and great pics too

well done all, nice sea trout!

Well done lad's that's a nice session.Some nice fish there and well done on that sea trout Al lovely fish

peacher of a trout al' and nice 3 beardy dan, well done guys.
good reading again an nice pic's too!!!!

Cracking Trout Al! Shame about the lost fish, gutted for you mate.

Well done Al,thats great getting decent fish like those,youre on a great roll at the moment,,,,,,love those rockling,lovely fish,(and the sea trout aint bad either!!

well done lads some nice fish

Epic Lads. Epic.

Thats a good night by any standards. All you needed was a bass to top it off!

Well done lads & thats a fine Trout Al must give them a shot myself soon haven't been out in two weeks

a lads your kiiling me,, with those sea trout,, still on my wish list.. weldone...

Well done on the sea trout

great to see you back in action Al,chicken soup nice sea trout and well done Dan on your muscle rockling