A weekend out west

First report in sometime, the winter fishing was terrible and I'll be leaving the gear packed away next winter but have had great fun fishing the last 3 weeks for smoothies, didnt write any reports as I wanted to try and keep the venue quiet.

So a recent plan was hatched to head down to the shannon for some ray and huss fishing as I've not got a huss in my 2 years of seafishing. Due to personal circumstances on the part of my fishing buddy, at the last minute we switched our plans from the shannon to the galway/mayo area. The intended target species remained the same, with the opportunity to hit a north mayo mark for decent turbot a bonus.

So left dublin late afternoon and arrived in galway early evening, a try for huss in galway bay was to be our 1st session.

SESSION 1 : GALWAY BAY

Arriving at the mark it was clear we were a little to high in the tide, so messed around with a light tackle setup on a nearby pier - not much action, but did get a small mackerel on a spinner - 1st of the year, and an ideal bait for the huss, so not a bad start.

Soon moved round to our chosen venue and a big bait each was sent around 60/70 yards to the edge of the channel - both lost a rig to big rafts of weed floating out in front of us. We sat for a few minutes debating whether to pack up and head somewhere else as we could see more weed ominously gliding down towards us - nothing ventured nothing gained was thge outcome of our decision, so we thought we'd chance another cast.

Thankfully the weed, whilst still out in front in large patches, seem to evade our rigs and we managed to get a few casts out and back in without too much drama.

Nothing much happening for the first few hours, and we were at the stage where a decision as to what time we packed up was imminent, then when reeling in to change bait, I felt a little resistance, thought it was weed to be honest, but thankfully once he was 10 yards out from shore, I could see the twinkle of eyes staring back at me - JOB DONE - My 1st ever huss was beached, not a monster at around 3-4lb, but a welcome sight none the less.

I think we may have had a few more casts each, but time was against us, so back to base camp for a few cold ones and a good nights sleep.

SESSION 2 : NORTH CONNEMARRA BEACH MARK

Left the gaff early sat afternoon facing a long drive to our next mark, which we hear had been providing some good turbot fishing of late. I was intent on getting some good sized fish, not the usual palm sized flatties, so a 3 hook flapper with size 1/0's and 6 inch strips of mackerel was lobbed out into the surf, Brian was hedging his bets somewhat and was using smaller hooks - it paid off for him as he was soon reeling in a small turbot and flounder double.

Many more blank casts ensued, but not a fish in sight unfortunately, but atleast Brian put last nights blank behind him.

Gear was gingerly packed away, and the van loaded up as we hit the road for our evening session in South Connemarra.

SESSION 3 : SOUTH CONNEMARRA ROCK MARK

Huss and Ray were once again on the radar for this mark, which local knowledge showed has been fishing well.

Again, big baits were immaculately presented on pennel pulley rigs and cast out into the gin clear water, and Brian decided he had better get some use out of the rag brought up from dublin, so he put a flapper out into the adjacent shallow cove.

Little action bar the odd snag for the first hour or so, then I noticed a few small taps on one of the rods, left it to develop and was soon bringing in a small conger of around 4lb - 1st of the year, and only my second ever, so was fairly pleased to see him.

Very little action again then for sometime, until Brian got a small huss on his distance rod.

Next in was Brian with a small flounder on the flapper, and I think he got a dog on the distance rod, but that was it for the night and a long drive back to base camp.

SESSION 4 : CLARE ROCK MARK

A plan was hatched to fish a mark fairly close to galway as we had a few long drives the day before, so arrangements were made to meet up with "nth calre" from the site and fish for huss, ray, dog's and maybe some pollock and wrasse.

We arrived in Fanore a little earlier than nth clare, so popped into the local pub for a couple of pints of the black stuff, and boy did they go down well, could have happily sat there all afternoon however fishing was the purpose of the trip, so a drive up the road to our mark. A handy walk from the van had us perched on a small rocky outcrop with patches of rocks and kelp around us, again big baits 50 odd yards and more was the order of the day, and a bit of messing around with small baits/spinners in close.

I was first to catch with a small corkwing wrasse in close on rag, whilst Brian was struggling to keep his big baits away from the local population of spider crabs, a few traces coming back minus the hooks.

I had then noticed a few very small taps on my distance rod, which quietly I thought looked like a ray bite, but not wanting to curse it I said nothing - lifted into the fish and to be honest I thought at first it was a big lump of weed or maybe even a huge crab, but as I got it 30 yards from shore it stayed very deep and only then was my mind saying its a RAY, sure enough once he was 10 yards from shore, the telltale sillouette of a ray could be seen, now thats more like it I though and he was lifted ashore with relative ease.

Now the sight of a ray had the other 2 lads scrambling to set up there 2nd distance rods, and soon we each had 2 big baits out in the water.

Not much happening then for a shortwhile, but nth clare had a few follows from pollock on his spinner.

nth clare was next in with a fish, a small conger, then a small huss and next was me with another thornie.

Brian then thankfully got another small huss and a doggie I think, whilst nth clare managed to get a pollock on the spinner.

Time was now against us, so it was time to pack up and head off for some grub and a few more beers.

Many thanks to nth clare for the mark on sunday, a pleasure to meet you and I'm sure we'll catch up again soon.

Whilst the fishing wasnt superb it was indeed job done as my primary focus of the trip was to get my 1st ever huss, the conger and ray were a bonus, so I cant complain.

Thanks aswell to Brian and his better half for the hospitality.

Congrats on the huss Mark, it must be the "immaculately presented" baits! good man

Whilst the fishing wasnt superb it was indeed job done as my primary focus of the trip was to get my 1st ever huss, the conger and ray were a bonus, so I cant complain.

I'd love to see what you reckon is a good fishing trip! I was in Fanore with a few lads last summer and all we managed were a measly flounder and about ten thousand weever fish. Good result for the work put in; must convince the missus that a holiday up west is the thing for this summer ...

Lodore

fanore is an awful spot - very hit and miss

think shamoo was hoping for larger huss to put a bit of fight in

have to say was impressed with the 2 ray yesterday - never seen one from the shore round there - was begining to think it was one of the CFB ocassional ray

and the other point i was unimpressed with the north connemara mark - but that could be put down to tides

as a pass or fail weekend - it passed in terms of fishing - the locations amazing and good company outside the fishing - and i could have stayed in that pub - feeding the dog pints!!!

Great report Mark and glad to hear that both you and Brain delivered the goods and hit your intended targets. Some welcome surprises as well which is a bonus. I fished Fanore about 8/9 weeks ago and nothing going so must be hit and miss, but well done on the Rays. Shame about the North Connemara Beach Mark though, though that would fish better now with the warmer weather . I must check up on that one as I wanted to fish it again soon .

Mick

well done,great report and congrats on your first huss

Good report Mark well done lads and well done Mark on getting the target species with a conger and ray to boot sweet sorry i couldn't meet up with ye all but was over in Wexford will meet up soon for a session.... that beach mark is best for a couple of hours down to low and a couple back up and a bit further up to the right close to where the channel meets the sea....

nice fishing lads and great report,great read!

It was a good session but being honest we will fish it again and im sure well catch plenty more its v early yet wait till the temp heats up and the water gets warmer then the fun will start big chunky baits with long flowing traces for the summer........

nice one lads, some decent fish there, well done!

nice fishing well done on geting your intended spicies i fished black head a couple of weeks ago and had big baits out but got noting only small pollock and coalies in close spinning a sandeel

just to avoid confusion we werent at blackhead or fanore

we wanted some peace and quiet!

Well done lads, some nice fishing there.

well done lads, good read.