North Antrim Rock Mark - Friday 15 July 11

People: Myself

Duration: 11.45am to 2pm

Tide: low and rising

Weather: overcast

Bait: frozen mack

Rigs: pennel pulley

Results: dogfish and conger eel


Report:
Recently I have spent a lot of my spare time around N. Antrim fishing the various rock platforms with my main aim being to perfect my rock fishing tactics while at the same time targeting the usual suspects - wrasse, pollock, conger etc.

I know from reading the posts on this forum that there are those who I would consider to be competent rock anglers so the background to this post is aimed mainly at those who are tackling rock marks for the first time or would consider themselves to still be on a learning curve .

As most of you will be aware, rock fishing can be a costly and frustrating business and I have lost count of the number of rigs that I have tried and lost not to mention the sinkers that have gone with them. However, having watched a recent DVD - "Rock Fishing Explained" and a couple of videos released by Total Sea Fishing on Youtube (search on "Ogmore") I changed my tactics and I am pleased to say that it appears to have paid off especially if today's results are anything to go by.

First of all my choice of rig was a pennel pulley with size 3/Os baited with frozen mack whipped on with plenty of bait elastic. Secondly, my choice of rod is a Daiwa Supercast Rough Ground multiplier which I married to a Daiwa Slosh 30 with 25lb mainline and 60lb shock leader. Thirdly, I bent all of the wires on my Breakaway Impact Lead so that they were set at a sharp angle to the weight and fourthly I held my rod at all times.

So the day goes......spotting the opportunity for a quick session on a local rock mark I nabbed my gear and made a quick exit. Nothing happened during the first cast but having rebaited I noticed a slight knock on my second cast and taking no chances I wound down quickly and lifted the rod high - fish on. I reeled in steadily and landed a dog - blank saved and terminal gear retrieved intact.

Photo taken, fish returned it was back out with a fresh bait. I was coming close to my time limit when I took another knock. Again, I wound down quickly while at the same time lifting the rod and again fish on. This time the pull felt slightly different and I wasn't quite sure what to expect and to my surprise a conger appeared from the depths. I have only ever had one other and that was quite small but this boyo was bigger. Must admit I did struggle a bit to haul it up the rocks (and I don't know how I would have coped if it had have been bigger) however I managed and with the hooks removed I weighed it (3lb 11oz no monster but a PB for me), took my souvenir photo and returned it alive to fight another day.

Boy, was I chuffed and even better the terminal tackle was still intact. A very satisfying session even if it wasn't all that long but then again, I have fished longer with not as much as a sniff so I'll not complain too much.

Hopefully, this report will give some of you the encouragement you need to try something and somewhere a bit different - cause there is still some good fishing to be had .

Tight Lines
StevieC

ps I'll post some photos later.

Nice session and result that! Being comparitively new to rock fishing, I know the feeling about losing gear. If I draw a blank and also lose a lot of gear , it really p****s me off. Next day it is all forgotten about.....We gotta keep the faith! Anyway I gotta check out those videos......thanks for the tip and good luck on the rocks!

grip leads on rocky ground is a good idea esp if you bend the wires near 90 degress to the lead

once at blackhead using a rottom bottom rig i had lost 4 leads in the first 6 casts. put on a grip lead with the wires out wide and didnt lose a lead for the rest of season, obviously it stops the lead falling down the small racks in the rocks. does occasionally bring big lumps of weed back up with it put a small price to pay for getting your lead back

well done stevie. that's one of the great things about fishing. they do'nt always have to be specimens to bring a sense of achievement, just bigger than your previous best nice one man. keep it up

sounds like a good session well done

good session,nice tip about the grip wires never thought about that before

good going boss - rock fishing is great when you find the gear and tactics that suit your marks - keep it up!

Some photos as promised








Tight Lines
StevieC