Bray Harbour 26_4

Me

Blinged out Flattie Rigs, 2 hook flappers, pulley rigs, mini rigs

5.30 - 9.50

Flooding tide full at 11pm

Rag, Mack

Lovely and sunny, calm water

Results: 1 Dab (First ever after 3 years fishing!) Multiple rockling, scorpion fish, gobies, mini whiting.

Set up just before the railings, Had two rods out on the sand hoping for flatties. Absolutely nothing going on for first two hours, not a bite. Boredom got the better of me so got the pen-fishing rod out and kept myself busy with minis and crabs down the pier wall. At least I was catching something.

Went to re-bait the big rods only to find a postage stamp Dab, but I was happy enough because I had never actually caught one. Also I managed to use one of those little plastic disgorgers correctly for the first time and the Dab swam off. From bout 8 on as the tide was 2/3 in was getting minis practically as soon as the bits of mack hit the water.

The pen rod nearly bent over on itself I thought I was snagged but I managed to get a large shore rockling to the surface, but I couldn't get it up the wall the line snapped. Looked like it could've been the biggest I would've ever caught. I decided then to target big rockling down the wall so I got my spinning rod from the car and stuck a pulley with a big lump of mack. Dropped that down the wall and packed up the rest of my stuff (had to get home to catch the Pacific on +1) Huge bend on the rod, I thought I was into a big rockling. I couldn't budge it so I figured it was a snag, but snags don't generally pull back, so I figured I was into a conger so I just kept tension on the line, my rod or line didn't have the back bone so I let the line to go slack to see if whatever had me would relax,5 minutes later I gave it another heave and got the black shape of a conger to the surface, I was delighted, but in my haste I'd pretty much wrecked the drag on my reel (for spinning for trout). Decided to hand line it in, no option, wrapped the line around my left wrist, went to grab the line with my right hand then, TWITST, SPLASH, SNAP! The loud crack of a broken line and I nearly went back on my arse. Not the right tackle for the job and Im left with a deep red line from my middle knuckle down the back of my hand and around my wrist!

I'm tempted to go back with my boat rod tonight, the conditions were right, almost full tide, just turned dark, Ill have a think about it!

Anyways, havn't been out in a while good to get a few fish in, Was in Dalkey on Thursday night, fished ok, doubles of small codling, pin whiting, gobies and to my delight three doggies. And Tuesday, fished Sorrento Point and float fished inside the West Pier DL - Zilch!

One other thing, Rag I bought on Sat was completely dead yesterday, but some nice chap gave me a rake of great rag he too had bought on Sat, the difference is, paper always over plastic! His were in perfect condition. Ive bought rag in paper live a week just left in a cool spot. Dalkey was destroyed with those plastic tubs, I brought home as many as I could find. At least paper if discarded will break up fairly rapidly. I know this topic has been discussed before, Im going to mention it to the guys who use plastic and see what they say, would be no harm in as many as us mention it to bait suppliers.

And hello to the nice Polish fellah who had the chats on the pier with me, he was telling me about the "trip" to Old Bawn with ECRSAC! What happened!!!!!!!!

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Well done on the Dab, unlucky with the Conger, as regards the Rag which tackle dealer in Dublin sells their Rag in paper? they should, getting good Rag in tackle shops in Dublin is just as hard as getting a good pint of Guinness

Good report well done on picking up other (anglers) mess ,did the same a few nights ago in conemara fishing from a private field .Im sure if it keeps hapening access will be restricted to anglers

Well technically (actually) It's Wicklow, Viking Tackle use paper. Mikes Bikes in Dunlaoire sell their rag in plastic but their lug in paper??? Different diggers I guess! Rorys and Tallaght R&G both use plastic too, surely old newspaper would be cheaper. Thing is paper or plastic we would all take it home regardless, but they're better condition in paper.

well done on the dab,always lovely when you catch something different or new as for the plastic containers verus paper,the bait wrapped in paper always seems to last longer,and it toughens up the lug as well,but i don't understand anyone who discards the tubs after their fishing trip,i mean if you can carry it down to your mark then surely you can carry it back,and find a bin,or just bring it home!well done on picking them up.

ive been getting rag lately from henrys tackle an although they come in plastic boxes they have been huge an really lively

Well done Cormdogg and congrats on the new species,Dab,,,,I got a shore rockling there myself(Bray) last week,lovely fish .Nice to know the minis are back around again ,hard luck on the conger but I think i'd be just as glad just to get it to the surface,,,,,,,,landing and unhooking it would be a daunting prospect for me

the rag out of henrys are lunatics very lively