Wexford 23rd 24th 25th 26th April 2010

People: stevecrow74 & Myself

Duration: 3 pleasure sessions, 2 comps (only 1 for the crow)& 1 boat trip

Tide: all stages

Weather: twas like summer

Bait: every conceivable worm bait, peeler crab, hermit crab, squid, mackerel, whiting

Rigs: various

Results: Starry Smooth Hound, Cod(ling just to keep everyone happy)Long Spined Sea Scorpion, Flounder, Dabs, Whiting, Dogs, Bass, Turbot.




Report: I was heading over to fish the SAI comp in Tinnebearna i'd mentioned to Steve that i was gonna try for an early smut to add to the species list. This was met with a i've no gig this weekend right come on so i said

Friday session: Arrived over and after the usual mix of necessity and impulse buying in Courtown Angling Centre and a big juicy steak and creamy pint in the Orphan we went on the hunt for a smut.... Pulled in at a mark that was good to me last year to see a few beach buddies set up.... as only one spot on this beach fishes we moved on. I brought Steve down a little boreen to another mark which doesn't get as much attention and also produced some nice smuts previously. We set up one rod each and launched out some small juicy peeler baits to try and tempt a pup or two. Steve got the target species for the weekend with a small starry pup while I had to content myself with small cod(ling )with final preparations to be made for the following day we cut short the session and headed back to base around 1.30am

Saturday sessions: Fished the SAI comp in Tinnebearna which was good craic nice to meet up with the lads and well done again beelo on the win.... i finished up with Turbot & Bass Steve who declined to fish the comp and was fishing adjacent to the end peg had flounder.... quick pit stop in Courtown to collect some peeler and grab a bite to eat then it was off to try for more Smuts we arrived at the mark and the smell of rain was in the air so beach buddy in hand we walked down the beach and got setup two rods this time one in close with lug for any Bass that might be patrolling and one at distance with crab... we'd more small cod and a pup starry for myself target species acquired... we fished on but it was slow we had a heavy downpour for an hour or so and took refuge in the beach buddy (very handy this side where the tide doesn't move)we called it a day around 2am as we'd agreed to fish a fund raiser that Courtown SAA were holding the following day.

Sunday Session:After tucking into a fry and collecting some bait we headed for Ballyconnigar for the check in... bumped into a few familiar faces myself and Steve both drew pegs in the 50's so back into the car for a short spin down to Ballynaclash beach. Lines in the water at 2pm Steve who was 5 pegs down from me had a flounder early on and it was evident from the adjoining pegs that this was gonna be a tough one. A few singles came in around me of turbot flounder dab with one fine Bass of 50cm which took the biggest round pool Kris Burness won the biggest flat pool with a Flounder in the mid 30's... Steve managed another Flounder with myself registering with 1 flounder the lad on the peg beside Steve had 3 Flounder giving him 3rd place in the comp overall which was won by Adam O'Neill (adam2040 of the site) congrats again Adam on Peg 2. with 8 fish all schoolies i think. Back to Blackwater for the result and a couple of pints and pool... then it was decision time food and more pints, Wexford for pints, or head to fish a beach which had some nice Bass running on it... taking our bait situation into account and the fact that we'd possibly only have enough for an hours fishing we declined the Bass fest and headed back towards base for pints.. phone calls were made to free up Monday so pints could be enjoyed without the hassle of a dawn start to get back West and also allow one last afternoon session.

Mondays session:Stopped in Courtown for some more impulse purchases and bait and headed off to kill a couple of hours before we hit the road... We weren't expecting much a few flats maybe... Steve got a few Long Spinded Sea Scorpions including the biggest and the smallest i've seen & flounder i was fishing fresh hermit crab at distance in a vain attempt to land a more substantial smut but it wasn't to be... Joe Byrne of Courtown Angling Centre had told me to give him a bell before we left as if the wind settled down he kindly offered to give us a run out on his boat for a couple of hours.... the wind duly obliged and we left port around 17:30 we dropped down some mackerel baits for Ray and Tope and also long flowing traces which produced small cod, whiting, dogs Steve had spotted a nice flattie rig and dropped that down and pulled up a couple of nice Dabs I was back to a big owner hook and large mackerel baits with all my focus an a nice Ray or a Tope. It was a beautiful evening to be out on the water and has me firmly wanting to join the Boat Club with a purchase soon. We headed back to port and said our goodbyes... it was a busy few days fishing with mixed results but the first taste of summer smuts was had and the appetite well and truly wetted. Thanks again to Joe for taking us out much obliged

nice fishing lads. when you getting the boat??

Report:
As salty mentioned, he was going to fish the comp and try for a few early smuts and that was music to my ear as i knew i had no gigs on (even though i didn't mention the band rehearsal i was supposed to have )
so arrangements were made on the Thursday to get my rods into the car so all i had to do Friday was head into town and meet up with salty and away we go..
before we knew it we were in Courtown (that motorway is great) and popped into the lads in Courtown Harbour Sea Angling Centre for a chat and for salty to buy out the shop, i had a bit of restraint but still spent a small fortune, bait was bought and off we went, for food and beverages and drop off what we didnt need at base.. then away we went for the first session..

rather a mild evening into night and baits went out at all distances, we both decided to only fish one rod so bait would be spared for the comp on the Saturday ..
within no time i had the first of my target species, a nice starry smut, and it wasn't long before salty had a large knock on the rod.. BASS we both thought but alas a codling came to shore (i'm quite sure a bass did hit the other hook though cos a codling wouldn't be able to hit that hard)
time passed and it was time to head back to base for someone to make up (special) rigs for the next day..
Saturday
woke up and time was against us a little ( a lie in was had ), we hit the road into Courtown and picked up (special) bait and off we went..
arrived at tinnebearna and was greeted by Donal in the carpark and it was obvious the craic was to ensue through the day, salty was pegged at the far end of the beach and seeing as all the bait was packed together i thought i might as well fish past the end peg just past Donal,
as i wasnt fishing the comp i set up both rods and proceeded to fish while i could see the anticipation of time taking its toll as the beginning of the comp drew close, and then all rods cast at varying distances, about 10 mins into comp time i saw a nice little twitch on the rod that was cast close, i left it a little while and waited to see if i could pick up another fish, then reeled in to find a nice flounder of 32cm dangling on the top hook (i could have won the longest flat if i was in the comp with that fish) rod cast out again and ratchets were set (just in case) and a little mosey along the beach for a little chat with a few of the lads i haven't seen in over a year.. it was obvious that where petekd was pegged there would be a few fish knocking about and they sure were, by that time he had quite a few to his card as the rest were looking to catch a fish, by this stage even eric wasnt far behind petekd with the scoring, ( but i know how these comps can turn out), i was finding it hard to catch anything after the first flounder and even in the last half hour of the comp when schoolies were being plucked out by Donal and salty, so i just ended up with one fish (at least i didnt blank)
after picking up more bait and finding out about a comp that was going on the next day we hit the road again and the chinese before heading out in a little drizzle to the next beach..
salty managed a smut and whiting and i picked up a nice little codling, but rain was making it hard to fish and sleep was also needed so back to base..
Sunday
back to Courtown angling centre (we seemed to go there alot) for a top up on bait and a chat before heading south (again).. met up with the group and luckily pulled peg 55 (only 5 away from salty) so a quick drive to the mark and set up with plenty of time to make up a couple of my own special rigs (just as well) the time came and lines were wetted, and within 5 minuted tap tap tap.. the familiar sight of a flattie chomping on my baits i gave it a few minutes to see if another would follow, but alas only the one flattie came out if the water.. 19cm flounder.. a good start to the day, which also had the lads either side of me start to panic, as well as wonder why a lad from Galway was fishing the comp.. time passed and a flattie was caught to my left (only 17cm) but wasnt long before i had them scratching there heads as i pulled out another flounder (20cm), then the lad to my right pulled out a whopper of a bass (50cm, not exactly a whopper but at the time it was a fine fish)and more flounder were pulled into my left, even salty pulled out a flounder by this stage, all what was missing was the small girl to my left ( the daughter of the lad to my left) to catch a fish, and within 10 mins of finish she pulled out a small flounder of 17cm, enough to ensure her with 4th place for the juniors..
back into blackwater for results food chats pints and pool, and meet a few other lads off the site..
then a decision was made to skip fishing and go for pints.. and pints were had..
Monday
woke up and headed back to Courtown angling centre for a bit of bait a chat ended up spending more money on rods and reels (them lads sure know how to sell stuff) and as we were about to head off on the final session Joe mentioned that he'd be going out in the small boat and we were more than welcome to join.. quick decision time... and we would stay another night if needed... or at least travel later that expected..
back to a beach we previously fished to see what we could pluck out of the water..
the fishing started off slow until i plucked out a small flounder, which wasnt long before i found a LS sea scorpion dangling on the hook.. a big crab bait went out at distance to be returned with an 18cm LS sea scorpion munching on the crab bait.. a few pics later and it was returned and soon after we got the call to meet Joe at the harbour, reeled in to find a 5cm LS sea scorpion sucking on the bait.. wasnt even hooked, but wouldnt let go of the bait.. packed up and off to the harbour we went..
we headed out to a local spot for ray and tope and big baits were put on, the rod tips bounced but nothing came back, so a change of rig and quickly enough doggies were hitting my baits, but i was after species, so a quick look to see what other rigs there were i found a flattie rig... quick change and bait and it wasnt long before i plucked out a small dab, followed by a whiting and a fairly large dab (approx 27cm) and then a small codling followed by another whiting.. as time was limited baits were lifted and back to the habour, Thanks Joe, had a great time out on the water.
funnily enough by this time i was rather wondering why i was hungry.. oh yeah.. cos i havent eaten anything all day yet ( and it was about 7:30pm ish by this stage) to down for a bite to eat and another chat down at the angling centre, farewells said and on the road again,
made it home in good time too.. really liking that motorway.. i can see me heading over there quite a bit this summer..

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Excellent read , welldone to you both,,sounds like a perfect weekend in my book

well done lads, i justt cant wait to try thay neck of the woods

sweet fishing lads,was wondering what happened ye!

Reportmade it home in good time too.. really liking that motorway.. i can see me heading over there quite a bit this summer..

you buying a car steve



great fishing lads - hard at it for 4 days - wish i could get out for that long!

you buying a car steve

why would i want to do that, i'm getting herself into fishing so i'll have another chauffeur for fishing trips, she has all the required stuff... rods, reels, lures, car and money

oh good lord your fierce bould now!!!

oh good lord your fierce bould now!!!

no no, not at all.. i have to convince her to buy a boat first...

Excellent reports guys. Sounds like a brilliant time was had, nice one.

you buying a car steve

why would i want to do that, i'm getting herself into fishing so i'll have another chauffeur for fishing trips, she has all the required stuff... rods, reels, lures, car and money

Your shameless!!

lots of beer, grub, and most importantly fishing ah ye have the life

you buying a car steve

why would i want to do that, i'm getting herself into fishing so i'll have another chauffeur for fishing trips, she has all the required stuff... rods, reels, lures, car and money

So i'm a chauffeur now am i eh

Here's Steves Smut pic

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So i'm a chauffeur now am i eh

well I suppose not, as I do drive some of the times in your car

So i'm a chauffeur now am i eh

well I suppose not, as I do drive some of the times in your car

Sssshhhh

Sssshhhh

hey connor,im going on a session at 4pm tomorrow pick me up at 3 and don't be late! and steve if she has money,ya better get her to buy a house over there too!!

Reportmade it home in good time too.. really liking that motorway.. i can see me heading over there quite a bit this summer..

you buying a car steve



great fishing lads - hard at it for 4 days - wish i could get out for that long!

I can see it some day Steve will buy a mini bus and bring you all out fishing, buy you all free drink and food and share with the fuel etc etc he might even become a fishing guide hur hur hur

sounds like you's had a cracker of a weekend guys well done

nice fishing lads. when you getting the boat??

probably when Courtown Harbour Sea Angling Centre start selling them... tee he he he

Excellent read , welldone to you both,,sounds like a perfect weekend in my book

great weekend, only saturday nights rain was to let us know we cant have everything our way

well done lads, i justt cant wait to try thay neck of the woods

thanks, you'll enjoy the smuts chris..

sweet fishing lads,was wondering what happened ye!

hehe, you'll hear all about it next time we see ya.. plus may plan something for the summer with yourself and john

Excellent reports guys. Sounds like a brilliant time was had, nice one.

you buying a car steve

why would i want to do that, i'm getting herself into fishing so i'll have another chauffeur for fishing trips, she has all the required stuff... rods, reels, lures, car and money

Your shameless!!

thanks kerry1.. and yes.. i am

lots of beer, grub, and most importantly fishing ah ye have the life

we kinda neglected the grub on monday... too busy talking about or actually fishing to remember what food was..

sounds like you's had a cracker of a weekend guys well done

thanks don, if ya can get down that end of the world through the summer you'll have a great time.. all you have to do is catch a few smuts.. well worth any trip..


other than the fishing, the best parts were chatting to the guys in Courtown Harbour Sea Angling Centre, and having the craic in the shop.. if ever any of ye head down that direction do pop in for a chat, they will be more than happy to let you in on whats being caught about the place and what baits to use.. and most importantly sell you tackle..
And would like to say thanks to Joe and Dave for the chats the info and the craic... hopefully back to them again soon for more