A Wicklow beach with no rubbish on it, 14-5-11

People:me

Duration:6pm-11pm

Tide:dropping

Weather:nice, bit cool

Bait:lug,rag,squid,mack, frozen crab

Rigs:pulley rig at distance and flappers in close

Results:pup smoothound, flounder, whiting




Report:Saturday began with an early start for me, in work at 4am , finishing at 10-30am. When we found a bait-tray in the long grass of the N7 I was hoping that there might be some juicy lug or rag in it but unfortunately it was taped closed, packed with screws and nails, and had wires and batteries connected to a doughlike substance . This aroused our suspicions and not wishing to make a drama out of a crisis we called the Gardai, who in turn called the Bomb Squad.! Both sides of the carriageway were closed off for a couple of hours while a robot dealt with the device,,,,,,which was said to have been a hoax ,but I’m not convinced!.



Having come through a near death experience I decided to try my luck later on at one of the North Wicklow beaches (not the one with all the rubbish on it as has been reported). Fishface sent me a text saying that he couldn’t make it so things were looking up already! After a few hours kip I felt refreshed and set off for the mark hopeful for a last minute bass or a smoothie. On arrival the North westerly wind had flattened the sea so I hoped for a smoothie or two. Fishface rang and despite all my protests he insisted on dropping down to “watch” me. That’s Fishfacespeak for checking out my bait and having a cast or two with my gear cos he’s no bait! In truth I was worried that a man of his advanced age might have difficulty accessing this difficult mark, which should be left to younger and fitter guys like meself .With 2 rods in the water, one at distance, pulley rig baited with crab, and the other a 3 hook flapper in close with various lug/squid/mack combos, I hadnt a touch by the time Fishface arrived Worst case scenario was for him to have a "practice cast" with my gear and bag himself a biggie









Luckily that didnt happen and with his cigarette lighter not working I knew that it wouldnt be long before his addiction kicked in and he left the beach for his car and its lighter Almost as soon as he left I got a tug on the distance rod and reeled in a small pup smoothie who had gone for the crab. I also noticed that I was getting bites on the other rod and reeled in a double of pin whiting,,,,,,,not what I had hoped for but welcome enough after 3.5 hours without a bite. This was followed by some more whiting and a flounder and I'd say that I might have done ok but I was hitting the Wall at that stage and started to pack up . Hard to stay awake when youve been up since 3am . Still, the smoothie pup ticks that species off the list for another year

certainly a different report good to catch the smoothie for you aswell.a new species this year and limbs still intact sounds pretty good to me
tightlines

Nice report mate, glad you're ok after your run in!

Nice to see you get a pup mate,and even better to see you having a nite off from Neil! I bet he was fit to burst with no lighter, and him not having the nicest rod on the beach ! I hope he at least came down with his head lamp so you could get a sun tan !

You should off just fished Neil

Was nice to see another beach throwing up pups, hopefully soon the big ones come in and I won't have to travel to far to fish! What size was your flounder?

I went to the south beach last nite and it was clean and me and the 3 guys near me left it that way. But there was a group off young lads and girls just down from the car park fishing so I'd say there will be another clean up needed.

I had the same results as you dave, pups and flounders only, but one pup was nearly doggy size, which was nice!

sounds like what they use for fishing in the liffey for mullet and to tell you the truth its prob the best way to fish for them still its bad enough finding needles and god only knows what else at the side of the road without finding nail bombs too!!be they real or not ! i think you deseve a week off work with pay after the mental stress you where put through performing your duties
just one more thing dave that tea towel just isnt you!!

Eventful day, and you caught some fish.... good on ya.

Defo deserve a wk off with pay

I don't know Roger the light tea towel is a nice contrast to the black seat.

certainly a different report good to catch the smoothie for you aswell.a new species this year and limbs still intact sounds pretty good to me
tightlines

Cheers,,,,,Its great to see the smoothies arriving alright,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,as for the intact limbs,,,,,,,,,,I could do with a new set of knees

Nice report mate, glad you're ok after your run in!

Cheers Drew

Nice to see you get a pup mate,and even better to see you having a nite off from Neil! I bet he was fit to burst with no lighter, and him not having the nicest rod on the beach ! I hope he at least came down with his head lamp so you could get a sun tan !

You should off just fished Neil

Was nice to see another beach throwing up pups, hopefully soon the big ones come in and I won't have to travel to far to fish! What size was your flounder?

I went to the south beach last nite and it was clean and me and the 3 guys near me left it that way. But there was a group off young lads and girls just down from the car park fishing so I'd say there will be another clean up needed.

I had the same results as you dave, pups and flounders only, but one pup was nearly doggy size, which was nice!

The flounder was small but chunky, gave a decent fight for a teabag As for the boys and girls in the carpark,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I nearly had to have counselling after what I witnessed there one night I didnt think humans could do such things

sounds like what they use for fishing in the liffey for mullet and to tell you the truth its prob the best way to fish for them still its bad enough finding needles and god only knows what else at the side of the road without finding nail bombs too!!be they real or not ! i think you deseve a week off work with pay after the mental stress you where put through performing your duties
just one more thing dave that tea towel just isnt you!!

The No. 1 item found on the side of the road is plastic lucozade bottles,wide necked ones, filled with something thats not lucozade and thrown out the windows of passing vehicles I tried the week off routine,but they werent having any of it thanks to the Croke Park Agreement

Eventful day, and you caught some fish.... good on ya.

Too right Billy

Defo deserve a wk off with pay

I'll second that Wayne

I don't know Roger the light tea towel is a nice contrast to the black seat.

That tea towel looks a bit different tonight after some eels got down and dirty with it

i lasted nearly 2 hours without a fag, that cant be bad

i lasted nearly 2 hours without a fag, that cant be bad

Id have the tops of me fingers after 1 hr :$

Sounds like an eventful day - but at least you got a few fish at the end of it.

Eventfull day is right at least ya caught a few & a new species for the list nice one Dave & a good story for the pub