Red Bay rock mark. East Antrim. 27th Dec 2010

People: Me and a mate

Duration: 2pm - 4pm (dark)

Tide: very high tide on arrival

Weather: nice mild +6˚C. overcast, misty, low winds

Bait: frozen squid and sand eel

Rigs: 2 hook paternoster with grip-lead. spinner

Results: 3 coalie

Report:

arrived at the coast and conditions looked great, it was very mild, a lot warmer than in recent weeks.
but i wasnt prepared for the height of the tide! the waves were coming right up over the mark to the extent that i was having serious problems getting to the water and to a decent spot to cast from! i had to move around a bit before i found a suitable and safe spot. the only other little issue was that i was under a time restriction and so didnt have much time to hang around.... ah well, had to make the most of it.

got the tripod set up and threw out a whole squid on the top hook (size 2/0) and 2 sand eels on the bottom hook (size 4) - all well lashed on with elastic. i was optimistic having heard about a few decent cod being caught in recent weeks from close-by.
it took a little while but after about half an hour the bites were there on every cast. i reeled in three coalies in all, no more than 1/2 lb each, although i missed one huge bang on the rod too. all fish took the squid bait.

a short and sweet session despite being eluded by the cod or anything decent, at least it wasnt a blank. i didnt fish for as long i wish i could have but it was just great to get out. it helped to relieve the cabin fever somewhat that has been building over the last few weeks.....

my mate tried about a dozen casts with a spinner from a more sheltered position, away from the waves, but to no avail - that was enough for him. part-timer!

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well done on getting out haven't been out in weeks myself!

Well done for getting out.

I haven't been out since August! Its killing me.

Nice clean wee coley Charlie, I noticed the height of the tide yest about 4pm, must be a big spring, doesnt always come up that far. Your mark would have been all but submerged? Wonder what gave you the big thump?

[chuckaroo]

big spring for sure cathal, rarely see it that high. it was even higher at 2pm. i had to fish right up on top of the rocks where the lichen was growing.. it can be seen in the photo. one eye on the rod and one eye looking out for any rogue wave...

not sure what give me the big thump, there were a series of bites and then the bass rod bent double, but the usual story, what ever it was never came back again; couldnt believe it didnt hook! im guessing maybe a decent coalie, but who knows............

thanks lads, whats your excuses then for not getting out..??!
get to it

Last edited by chuckaroo on Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

well done on gettin out.shame to see no pollock or cod around the rock these days.ah well better than a blank

nice fish could be a bass mate if its spring tides or dog or huss .

well done of the fish

nice fish could be a Bass mate if its spring tides or dog or huss .

the only reason i didnt think that it was a doggie or huss mate is because of the big jerking bites before the rod bent over....... usually the doggies just pull at it i reckon...
very few bass, if any, ever caught off this mark. defo thinking it was a coalie or cod or maybe a pollack.. god knows
cheers

Had the same thing happen to me a few times these past few months. Probably decent coleys much of the time. The rod and stand was pulled over there in October, I thought brilliant. When I got the rod up everything was solid. Steady pressure, after giving it slack had failed, just resulted in the line snapping. At the time I thought it was probably a reasonable sized wrasse. But you prob wouldnt expect to hook many wrasse there this time of year.

Its very frustratin when they give you that rip and then piss off without getting hooked.

well done on getting out man. we have been housebound for almost 3 weeks . but now the big thaw has taken hold the fish had better start gettin worried up that way for a go at the cod tomorrow ourselves

well done on getting out man. we have been housebound for almost 3 weeks . but now the big thaw has taken hold the fish had better start gettin worried up that way for a go at the cod tomorrow ourselves

cheers. i have heard reports that there are a lot of people out along all parts of the shore there tonight!
lets know how you get on.
Ta