1st session of 2010, buncrana pier

People: just me

Date : 6-7-10

Venue:buncrana pier

Duration: about 3 hours

Tide: low up

Weather: wet, windy then wetter and bigger winds

Bait:sandeels, bluey, mackeral

Rigs:3/0 pulley and 3/0 pennel pulley

Results: 3 thorneback ray, 5lb2oz, 2lb and 5lb, 1 mackerel and a tub gurnard


Report: the wife was cleaning out the freezer and i dont like bait going to waste, even if it was december when it was put in there so gear packed and i was off for my 1st session of 2010. Fancied a go at the rays so it was fahan beach i was heading to, but being lazy i drove onto buncrana and checked out the pier, it was empty, happy days set up one rod and blasted out a bait. Got booted and suited up as it started to pour down, only to stop when i was fully waterproofed anyway got the other rod baited up and cast out to where the water cleared a bit. Hopes where not high as it was a bit windy but the second rod got a wee tap, then pulled over then sprang back, wound down and hit it. The rod bent over but there was no fight, so i was guessing weed but at half way in the rod bent double and line peeled off the reel, a smile broke across my face it was a fighting like a ray using the tide to kite across and down, after a few minutes a fine ray weighting in at 5lb 2oz was at my feet, a quick photo and back it went,

1st @ 5lb 2 (Small).jpg

on went another double sandeel and cast to around the same area, the other rod was getting nothing but crabs, so changed the bait to mackerel and cast out again, wound in the slack on the first rod after the lead had griped the bottom to feel some extra weight on it, what luck a second fish on second cast and yes another ray smaller this time but welcome none the less. After a quick photo the 2lb ray went back, it was the fist black nosed thronie i have got

2nd @ 2lb (Small).jpg

not much happened for a while after that, so kept changing bait and casting near and far. Blasted a single sandeel out and the rod tip bouced as it was place in the tripod, stopped then bouced, stopped then bouced, great the grips had failed to grip the bottom, so wound in to recast but met with small resistance, had hooked a mackerel, must have landed right in a shoal of them, happy day fresh bait.

A fresh fillet of mackerel on the pennel rig was blasted out and settled uptide, the rain had come back heavy and brought with it some strong winds. So the i decided to pack up one rod, only to find some slack line and a heavy weight on the end, another ray around 5lb, no photo this time as the fish was deep hooked so cut the line and got it back asap. Put the rod away and changed the bait on the other, the other fillet of mackerel on a 3/0 pennel rig blasted uptide. I wanted to let this one sit a while but after 15 minutes the wind blew my tripod and rod over, even when it was weighted down, thank the health and safey guys for the railings as they stopped the rod going for a swim. Was having trouble standing too and i aint light so wound down and got some light resitance, weed i thougth but no it was a small tub gurnard, love the blue on the fins but the failing ligth dosent do the photo any justise

Image0240 (Small).jpg

While packing up i noticed some lads fishing at the slip so i gave them what bait i had left and headed home to clean up and enjoy the claim and relaxing feeling that only fishing can leave you with, i now know how much i missed it and am really looking forward to the next time

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Thats a great start to your 2010 season MC. Nice session there and some very nice ray to show for it. Fair play to you.

Great start to 2010, mad how some of them ray have the black snouts.

Why dont we have piers that produce like that around dublin

well done mc its good to get out,i had my second session in two years last saturday and really enjoyed it.that felling your talked about is very hard to beat !!!!!!!

great result for the first session

thanks lads

first session under your belt martin...........i bet you felt so gooooooood

nice fishing Martin

The skill of the man still remembering how to catch fish is awesome.

first session under your belt martin...........i bet you felt so gooooooood

your sooooooooooooo right

donal domeney
The skill of the man still remembering how to catch fish is awesome.

it surprised me too