Wicklow, or Maybe Wexford Beach 07/06/11

People: Bingham and I

Duration: Fishing 4pm - Midnight

Tide: Drop, Low, Push

Weather: Beautiful between the showers.

Bait: Crab, Rag, Lug, Mackeral, Sandeel, Razor

Rigs: Loops, DDPS, Pulleys

Results:

Bingham - 7 Pup Smoothies, Dogfish, Whiting, Flounders and Dabs
Drew - 10 Pups, Flounder, Dab

Report:

Well, it was time to tick another species off the list, so after around a week of planning Bingham and I were ready for a venture south. Left sunny Millisle at 11.30am, A stop in Bangor to convert Sterling into funny money, then one at Belfast Angling to secure some bait. The run down was pretty uneventful, except for a thunderstorm in Drogheda which was dumping some much rain onto the motorway aquaplaning became a concern! brief stop at Courtown Angling Centre for some Wexford Peeler and some local information (If you've never been, go, its a treasure trove!), then onwards to the mark.

It was a lovely beach, not much surf running, if any. in honesty, the anticipation of being this far South, with a new target species probably clouded my judgement but I reckoned this one was of the fishiest looking beaches I'd ever seen. We got set up, I started off with a Loop on one Rod, and a 3/0 DDP on the other, and I think Bingham was doing something similar with his gear.

Soon after setting up Binghams first flounder broke surface, not big but at least he hadn't blanked. Not that it would have been a worry, as after another 20 minutes the crab on my 3/0 attracted some interest. 3 or 4 solid pulls followed by a little shuddered. Held the rod and the next rattle was hit, the hook was set. Retrieved the fish to find my first ever Smooth hound on the beach. Not big, but a brand new species and one very happy camper.

Must have been a good 40 minutes before the next bit of action, a Dab for Bingham, then Shortly afterward I had a pup close in on 3 Peeler claws on a Loop rig. Advice was duely dispatched to Bingham, who 10 minutes later got his first ever Smoothie. That set the tone for the night, and as the tide started pushing we picked up 17 pups between us, all the while with the bigger baits at distance anticipating the arrival of a big hound.

Bingham bagged up on Flounders and Dabs, with a Solitary whiting also making an appearance. While I concentrated on the Puppies grabbing a dab and a flounder as bycatch. At around 11.30pm we started to pack down, we broke camp and while we were taking down the shelter one of Binghams rods took a Lunge, he hit it, and it felt better during the retrieve, sadly only turned out to be an overambitious dogfish.

Left the mark at Midnight, and made it home for shortly after 3am, the joys of empty motorways!

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jasus the size of them pups lol

Nice one on getting a new species and good numbers of fish. Petty the bigger smoothies didn't show for ye after making the trip south. Fair play for putting in the hours.

great to see the hounds are about even if they are only pups

Well done Drew glad your trip paid off.

Well done Drew. Were catch the smoothhound pups out far from the beach? Do you think you would have had better results in darkness?

Another species ticked off Drew, well done to yourself and Bingham ,but dont leave it at that You'll have to return when the biggies are about and really experience them. Told you the lads in Courtown Angling would put you on them

Glad you got your target species

Well done Drew. Were catch the smoothhound pups out far from the beach? Do you think you would have had better results in darkness?

We were getting them from 5 yards out once it got dark,the ones in daylight were out as far as we could cast

Another species ticked off Drew, well done to yourself and Bingham ,but dont leave it at that You'll have to return when the biggies are about and really experience them. Told you the lads in Courtown Angling would put you on them

Drew wanted to go back next week
I'm sure you could let us know when the big uns are in in numbers

Drew wanted to go back next week

When the 4lb + fish arrive, you'll want to be down every day

They are some craic on the lighter tackle if the condtions allow - a 2-4 oz rod would be ideal.

Glad you guy's got the hounds for the species count, atleast next trip down that way you'll be under no pressure to catch.

Well done Drew. Were catch the smoothhound pups out far from the beach? Do you think you would have had better results in darkness?

We were getting them from 5 yards out once it got dark,the ones in daylight were out as far as we could cast

I've had hounds both big and small before dusk, but I think its generally regarded that dusk into darkness will give you a better chance.

Regarding distance, I have caught them on 2/3 hook flappers 40-50 yards out when targetting bass, right upto 100/120 yards specifically fishing for them.

Packs of hounds will patrol up and down the beach laterally in their search for food, so you will naturally hit a few in quick succession if they are around. In order to find what range they are feeding at vary your distance a bit - start long, if you dont have any luck after an hour, put your next few casts 20/30 yards closer, if you start hitting the fish then you've found the range, if you dont try long again.

You could obviously fish 2 rods at different ranges and find the fish that way, but I like to fish 2 rods at the same distance as I like the heart pumping adrenaline fuelled feeling once you've just beached a good hound as your other rod slams over with another hookup

Sorry Drew, went a bit off topic there

But we'll certainly let you know when the big lads are around in numbers, expect to plan a few trips south for late july early august

Drew wanted to go back next week

When the 4lb + fish arrive, you'll want to be down every day

They are some craic on the lighter tackle if the condtions allow - a 2-4 oz rod would be ideal.

Glad you guy's got the hounds for the species count, atleast next trip down that way you'll be under no pressure to catch.

Well done Drew. Were catch the smoothhound pups out far from the beach? Do you think you would have had better results in darkness?

We were getting them from 5 yards out once it got dark,the ones in daylight were out as far as we could cast

I've had hounds both big and small before dusk, but I think its generally regarded that dusk into darkness will give you a better chance.

Regarding distance, I have caught them on 2/3 hook flappers 40-50 yards out when targetting Bass, right upto 100/120 yards specifically fishing for them.

Packs of hounds will patrol up and down the beach laterally in their search for food, so you will naturally hit a few in quick succession if they are around. In order to find what range they are feeding at vary your distance a bit - start long, if you dont have any luck after an hour, put your next few casts 20/30 yards closer, if you start hitting the fish then you've found the range, if you dont try long again.

You could obviously fish 2 rods at different ranges and find the fish that way, but I like to fish 2 rods at the same distance as I like the heart pumping adrenaline fuelled feeling once you've just beached a good hound as your other rod slams over with another hookup

Sorry Drew, went a bit off topic there

But we'll certainly let you know when the big lads are around in numbers, expect to plan a few trips south for late july early august

Cheers man, all info is greatly appreciated!!!

drew that beard makes you look like some kinda mad fishing looper ,oh i forgot you are one its gonna be at least 3 weeks till the big ones turn up (dont ask how i know i just do!)when they do i,ll be letting you know, nobody else just you!

drew that beard makes you look like some kinda mad fishing looper ,oh i forgot you are one its gonna be at least 3 weeks till the big ones turn up (dont ask how i know i just do!)when they do i,ll be letting you know, nobody else just you!

Well, if you let me know, I'm sure Bingham and I could make a little foray down for a session with ya!
I know how you know, you know because you know that you know, because it's something you know.

gonna have a go for one tomorra just in case i dont know! after been out in the shed going through my gear putting new hooks on my lures and sharpening my bass hooks and looking through all the gear i bought and never use and prob never will, tick tock tick tock