Lough Swilly Insanity: Rathmullan Pier, Donegal (11/06/11)

People: Just me

Duration: 2300 - 0600

Tide: flow-ebb

Weather: Absolutely stunning

Bait: Mackerel, Lesser sand eel, Calamari

Rigs: Pulley-pennels, 2 hook flappers

Results: 14 Thornback Rays (6-8lbs), 12 Rockling, 40-60 big LSDs, 2 Red Gurnard, 1 Extra-Terrestrial !!!!




Report: Just back from a holiday in Donegal with my wife, 2yr and 4yr old sons and also in-laws for 1st 3 days. This was our 1st family holiday and to be honest my 1st in years. Booked Rathmullan as it was to suit everyone, ie. fishing for me (possibility of 1st Ray) and activites/shopping in close proximity for everyone else. Arrived on the Thurs and decided to have a night session that very same day. Went with the father-in-law and it was his 1st ever session. The weather was very unsettled with strong winds and even stronger tidal flow (6oz grips were useless) It was largely uneventful but we managed a handful of dogs each and at one point the father-in-law had a double of dog and large Ray which ripped the bail arm off the cheap reel my dad loaned to me. The Ray got free and taunted us by swimming on the surface for almost a minute. I also hooked into what may have been a Huss, but it fell off on way up.

The next day I went to Kinnegar beach with family and fished 1 rod using ragworm tipped off with half sand eels in hope of Flounders. It was early afternoon and I got 1 bite for my efforts. Next day I got the Mrs. to take me to Fanad Head Beach as I had been told it was full of Bass. I brought the waders, 2 rods and used rag, sand eel, squid but only got 2 bites. I know it would be best at night, but expected at least a few flatties. At this point I was starting to feel a little disheartened and that perhaps I was not going to do so well, especially coupled with the poor weather conditions. Nothing was to prepare me for the drama to unfold later that night !!!

Just before 11pm I was debating whether or not to hit the pier again as in-laws were leaving next day, but I was feeling tired and had never really fished alone at night before, especially somewhere strange. The Mrs. convinced me to just rest and watch a movie, but then I stepped outside and the night was so beautiful that I couldn't resist. This was an extremely calm night sandwiched inbetween a bunch of crap ones and to be honest it didn't really get that dark (I think there was a full moon also) I was really getting good vibes in the air, so thought F*** it and off I marched.
Arrived at pier 15mins later and set up both rods. Immediately I was into good sized rockling one after another and a couple of small gurnard then after a few casts I hooked into what had to have been a Tope. My rather expensive braid was just emptying off the reel and after 5-10mins i decided to tighten the drag and break it off as it couldn't be landed and would take ages anyway. I had intended to fish a mark known as 'The Elbow' for Tope, but changed my mind after feeling the power of this fish and would prefer now to get one from a boat 1st before attempting from shore. After that immediately replaced shockleader and reeled in my 1st Ray on other rod. The buggers are pretty strong and fight harder than was expected.
The fish were literally throwing themselves onto the hooks and i was guaranteed a hookup within 1-3mins alternating between Rays and mostly very large doggies. As the action was so intense I decided to make the most of it and have at all times 4 spare pre-baited rigs ready to clip on with American snap-links and was also casting 2 different directions and setting low drag. I was casting, reeling, baiting at all times and was sustaining myself with boiled sweets and pre-rolled cigarettes held only in the mouth so as to keep hands free. I always fish as hard as I can if there are fish about, but this was like extreme bootcamp with my biceps feeling like bursting. In my 30 years of fishing I have been fortunate enough to have had plenty of good sessions, quite a few excellent ones and more than a handful of these extreme Blue Planet style feeding frenzy occassions for various species.
I am a pretty strongish guy and do a lot of heavy lifting and bending every day in work, but the pace i was setting was pushing me to the limit and at times was questioning myself whether I should keep going. What the hell, it was a one-off opportunity and I always work hard, play hard and sleep very little. I also take my fishing very seriously to the point I dont eat even if hungry, talk or take my eyes off the rod tip. This action never let up once right through to 6am when I forced myself to stop. Usually if the fish are really on the feed, especially somewhere tidal, they tend to quieten down say for the hour of high water and tail-off as the tide is almost out, but this night was not normal to say the least. I have to say this was probably the best night fishing in all my 30 years because of the new species and size of the fish and also because I feel that the pace I set myself will never be matched again.
On one occassion I had landed a Ray with a branch of kelp attached to an oyster shell and after releasing the Ray noticed this strange gelatinous but muscular, pulsating blob-like creature which appeared to be curled up in a ball. I videoed it in the hope someone can identify and not sure but may have had eyes. While I was fishing also 2 Herons joined me on the pier and i noticed quite a few fish jumping all around and could see something was chasing sand eels to the surface.
I have always had a disliking for mobile phones and only had one for dating years ago, but the Mrs. got me one of these android phones the other week so for once I had a camera with me and so I photographed the 1st few Rays only and The Blob. Also on the way home I forgot my way and went down the wrong road for several miles before finding a turn-off. The sweat was lashing off me and I actually started getting a few chest pains which freaked me out, but was made up when nearing home and thought I spied 4 baby deer. Turned out as I got closer they were Hares which was a great pleasure as I had only seen 1 at a time and not for years either. I forgot how big they actually are. I got home and had a shower, 2 double black bush coffees, 2 smokes of the finest MJ and 4 hours sleep before a day out with the family to Letterkenny.

A few days later I took my 2yr old in buggy to beach again determined to get Flounder (I really have a soft spot for them and large Ballans). At this point I was aching all over from the antics before-hand and the wind was blowing against my stiff back. The bitch called down with my other son and I was going to pack up and leave when I started getting bites so I stayed on for another load of hours determined to land some flats. The tide was going out whole time and told me that Kinegar beach had fish only in the evening. At 10pm at full low tide on last worm landed a plump pound and a half Flounder which gave a good account of itself. Headed home and to be honest had overdosed on fishing at the pier so couldnt face it again. The weather wasn't great after that, wife would have been spooked in house alone and I was wrecked anyway. To be honest I have felt the effects of that session for the week following.

I will add photos and videos below hopefully




http://youtube.com/watch?v=gQnAtAj7VaA


http://youtube.com/watch?v=CTh-wILR8Bk

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some more pics

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pic of pier at daytime and a flounder from beach to the left. have more ray pics, but mostly blurred a bit

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sounds like brilliant fishing..... well done

anybody have any idea what the strange creature was? I am fairly into wildlife etc. but stumped on that one

Surely its some type of jellyfish??. On second thoughts... some sort of deformed flattie.

no definitely not, it was solid and had muscle structure to it. it seemed to be curled up, that's why i think maybe sea slug or something along those lines


starting to think possible small octopus with its tentacles sucked inside as i thought at one point i could see 2 eyes, but i have caught loads of octopi at Glenarm before and they never curled into ball before

excellent fishing well done! sounded like a manic session pics superb and report.god some type of jellyfish really dont know!
tightlines(a few months rest for the muscles id say
fergal

cracking session, im more than slightly envious

im not 100% sure but i think the blob may be a sea cucumber

was my 1st thought also, but wasn't sure if they all had tendrils, or whatever those appendages would be called on marine life. searched google images and see some are smooth. I just got lucky and hit jackpot night which only happens once in a while. Tell you what mate, i think i'll soon be the envious one when i read your upcoming Beara reports, lol, especially if your going only with your dad (another fisherman). I'd say you'll be in your element at those sort of rock marks with the varied tactics you use and you'll get some sport on the light gear.

ps. did you ever try the mark we were discussing? I know the weather hadn't been ideal for it as it's really exposed there.

anybody have any idea what the strange creature was? I am fairly into wildlife etc. but stumped on that one

Dave, post the photo in the shore fishing Q&A section and ask for an I D. Theres some knowlegable people on this forum.

great post realy enjoyed it looken forward 2 your next post,rathmullan is a great spot thanks 4 shareing it with us

thanks very much mate, that was 1st time I had a camera with me as I just got a mobile phone a few days before. I will put up more reports in future and hopefully I will get out again soon.

Brilliant fishing. I can see why you'd be tired after that. Some haul of fish. Lovely rays there and great photos. Well done.

Hi all
I think it is a sea hare ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aplysia

Good find mate, it could well be. Thankyou for taking the time to look into this as it's very much appreciated. Very interesting that I may have caught a Sea Hare and then spotted some Hares later on. Perhaps next time i'll get attacked by flying Hares, lol.

Well done mate Nice report and Raymonds thoo

Thanks Zud, pity last night in Cushendall hadn't been as eventful, well apart from more dogs

Hi all
I think it is a sea hare ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aplysia

Dave this was my first thought also but hard to tell from photo, it could be one, they are weird, they change shape, colour varies a lot. I found a dead one at Cdun in April 10, took a while to get it IDed. I think alainpaddy could well be right.

Any other pictures? What size? the sea hare I found was only 1" long.

No mate just one pic and the video. It was curled up tight into about size of a cricket ball. The pliers I was using were full size from my work tool box.