Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow, 31-12-10

People:me

Duration:6-30pm - 10-30pm

Tide:high approx 8-30pm

Weather:mild, calm, dry

Bait:lug, mack, crab

Rigs:2 hook flappers

Results:1xcoalie, 3x 5 bearded rockling,1xshore rockling,1x dab, 2xwhiting and 1xstrap conger




Report:Having blanked on my last 3 outings, I was desperate to finish the year off with a few fish. The shore reports didnt offer much hope for my neck of the woods but I decided that i'd head out and give it a try. I'd picked up some fine lug from C+J Angling on the Long Mile road and as I set up on the Pier I wondered how i'd get these whoppers on my size 4 hooks



2 rods were set up and remembering some advice from the Dodger I cast one rod in a certain direction in the hope of a nice codling and the other into some rocky ground below me. The two rods started to twitch from the off but I had a feeling it was crabs, and I was soon hauling in the obligatory Bray Harbour Hitch-Hikers .Then I had a good tug on the first rod at mid-distance and was delighted to bring in my first fish in about 6 weeks , a
5 bearded rockling .




He was followed by a small silver coalie on mack on the close in rod and then a tiny whiting.




I got another couple of 5 bearded rockling ,which I would have thought would normally be around at low tide ,but what do I know, not a lot obviously. I was chuffed to bits with a nice little dab( from my Cod hotspot )



and then the close in rod hopped around and I managed to land a small strap conger.I 've always wanted a conger, as long as he was a small strap one so my prayers were answered .




By this stage my white towel was like a butchers block, with blood, guts, mashed mack,crab juice ,burst lug and now sticky slime from the conger all mixed together for me to wipe my hands with. At the end I was having a little battle with a shore rockling who was spitting out the hook as I attempted to hook him,,,,,,,,,,,I had an idea it was a shore rockling and I got him on the third attempt.




I finished up with 9 fish, what a difference from my last few outings and its given me a shot in the arm. An enjoyable way to end 2010 and I was at home with a bottle of beer in time to ring in the New Year. P.S,,,Mind yourselves on the Pier as the light on the end is broken and its extra hard reversing down.

good few fish there
well done

good few fish there
well done

Thank you young man, and Happy New Year to you

Good fishing and good pics.

nice work dave a strap conger to finish off 2010 ,happy ny

nice session well done

Nice fishing Dave & happy new year

great photos

nice one dave, hope to get out soon and try out the new rod i got off santa, happy new year to everyone

nice wee session to finish off the year Dave, well done
and happy new year!!

way to go dave!! you finally got your conger . you were due a good session man
all the best for 2011

nice few mini species, well done!

Excellent way to enjoy New Years Eve. Well done Dave and a fishy New Year to ya.

nice one dave, hope to get out soon and try out the new rod i got off santa, happy new year to everyone

good to see you back out dave hope to get out soon and try out the new rod i got off santa too

Nice end to the year - best wishes for great fishing in 2011

well done. i was going to leave fishing untill the summer but i might try bray harbour some time this month. does anyone think id be as lucky in the daytime fishing because i fished there a year ago using the same bait (lugworm) around the same date in the daytime and didnt catch anyting. please reply

nice session there

might give it ago soon myself

would love a conger even if it is a small one

nice session dave well done mate ,like the look of those strap lug you used for bait