Reasonable plaice 21.7.11, NE Antrim rocks.

Just wanted to share this pic of a nice enough 35cm plaice I saw a Polish fella catch this evening off a popular rock mark near Cushendall (Redbay), Co Antrim.

Heres the strange bit though. I landed as dusk was underway to throw a spinner for a short session, not least because I have a trapped nerve in my neck and my right arm and shoulder hurt like hell. It was an hour after low tide and very calm.

2 lads there and getting bites. I asked one of them if he was on the ragworm. He replied "no, maaggott" with the accent. Ok I thought, maybe he means mackerel. Spun away a while, didnt enjoy it and pain in the arm made it difficult.

The Polish fella then began reeling like blazes and landed a better than average plaice, I'd say it was the pound if not a wee bit better, I hadnt brought my spring balance.

I then saw their baits. 2 tubs of shop bought dendrobena type worms and an ice cream tub full of red and white maggots. He confirmed when asked that the fish had taken maggots and I saw him rebait quickly with maggots. He said,"we try everything."

It was a new one on me.

I didnt catch a single fish, prob had 20 odd casts.

Last pic is my most recent sea trout, I'd say it is pushing the 2oz mark. The wee thing swam off like a good one.

Cathal.

ps, the lad kept the fish ,I'd have very possibly done the same.

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Might bring a few maggots to my next match if there is a chance of a plaice like that.

nice one, thats a cracking fish your man got.

i take it got battered to death and its now in a fish pie!

nice one, thats a cracking fish your man got.

i take it got battered to death and its now in a fish pie!

nice fish there.

maggots, blood worm, blackheads, lob worms etc etc all work and catch flatties - they just dont last as long in the sea and you gotta change baits more often. but i've had some nice flounder on maggots when esturary fishing.

try it out cathal you'll be surprised

dave

The maggots are a new one - seen them used for mullet, but never though of trying them. Bog standard dendrobena worms are a great bait though - have had all sorts on them, and handy as hell as a decent sized tub of them will last for months, makes them perfect for quick sessions where you dont have time to dig bait - i stick about 4 or 5 on a hook and a tiny tip of mack - looks like a wee smelly wriggly muppet.

Nice plaice - if id landed it , it would have been guaranteed a one way ticket to the frying pan

Cheers Dave,

I honestly never heard of using maggots in the sea for anything other than mullet. Have used earthworms before a long time ago and caught flounder, from a pier.

If I was keeping the fish I'd have dispatched it with something heavy. What is the best way to dispatch a flattie???? Would a something pointed and sharp, eg a knife be the quickest and best way?

Didnt see him dispatch it. I did see a plastic bag doing a dance a while afterwards.

Cathal.

The maggots are a new one - seen them used for mullet, but never though of trying them. Bog standard dendrobena worms are a great bait though - have had all sorts on them, and handy as hell as a decent sized tub of them will last for months, makes them perfect for quick sessions where you dont have time to dig bait - i stick about 4 or 5 on a hook and a tiny tip of mack - looks like a wee smelly wriggly muppet.

Nice plaice - if id landed it , it would have been guaranteed a one way ticket to the frying pan

Yeah, I'd have probably taken the fish home too, I havent eaten a fresh plaice caught by myself in far too long. 20 odd years. A tub of dendrobena or 2 in the fridge would be a useful back up plan, like the sound of that bait you describe above Davy.

nice one, thats a cracking fish your man got.

i take it got battered to death and its now in a fish pie!

Well Paul,

I asked him if he was going to eat it, just after he got it in. "You think I go fishing to let go?"

Didnt see him dispatch it, he was more interested in getting more maggots onto his hook, wouldnt even hold it for a pic but his friend obliged and seemed to welcome my interest more.

nice wee story cathal, yet more evidence that fish are opportunistic. i wouldnt disbelieve it for a second that they would eat maggots. cool, pretty interesting.
crackin plaice all the same

here i'll be about this weekend if ur up for a chuck!

Charlie

nice one, thats a cracking fish your man got.

i take it got battered to death and its now in a fish pie!

Well Paul,

I asked him if he was going to eat it, just after he got it in. "You think I go fishing to let go?"

Didnt see him dispatch it, he was more interested in getting more maggots onto his hook, wouldnt even hold it for a pic but his friend obliged and seemed to welcome my interest more.

i suppose your lucky he even let you take a pic of it!

Maggots feed on rotting weed and then get washed into the sea on a flooding tide so they're perfectly natural food for species that are close to the shore, especially this time of year. I was on the kayak at Portrush a few weeks back and noticed a couple floating on the surface out by the Skerries so there must have been a few about.

Nice plaice though, just about the right size for a meal for one!

Ive often seen polish guys fishing for trout [poaching most times] they are bloody good at it and use odd groundbait etc, catch loads, keep everything of all sizes. Might learn something from them in the sea angling side of things. But i hate the way they keep undersized fish.

nice fish mate could do with a couple of them i a comp

attentions worth plaise there lad, lovely one, well done

thats interesting cathal nice plaice and well done on the sea trout

thats interesting cathal nice plaice and well done on the sea trout

Hello Alan,

It was a good one. I stuck up the teeny sea trout as its so small, musnt be long out of the river.

I might give the maggots a try. Was telling a fella about it today and he happened to have a bucket out the back full of maggots, it had contained fish guts and bits of crab and the amount of maggots in it was ridiculous. He had oak saw dust that he uses for smoking fish too, so I now have a sweetie box containing good sized maggots in saw dust in my wee bait fridge. Gonna have to try it now, Ive no excuse.

Cheers,

Cathal.

Might bring a few maggots to my next match if there is a chance of a plaice like that.

samo I have a tub of maggots in my bait fridge already, maggots bred on sea fish guts and crab, hopefully they will have a flavour plaice wont refuse!

nice wee story cathal, yet more evidence that fish are opportunistic. i wouldnt disbelieve it for a second that they would eat maggots. cool, pretty interesting.
crackin plaice all the same

here i'll be about this weekend if ur up for a chuck!

Charlie

Only realizing now, with you going out today an all, I have any amount of maggots and they need to be used before they become casters. good luck today, will text you now.

nice one, thats a cracking fish your man got.

i take it got battered to death and its now in a fish pie!

Well Paul,

I asked him if he was going to eat it, just after he got it in. "You think I go fishing to let go?"

Didnt see him dispatch it, he was more interested in getting more maggots onto his hook, wouldnt even hold it for a pic but his friend obliged and seemed to welcome my interest more.

i suppose your lucky he even let you take a pic of it!

I was thinking the same thing myself, he was ok. His mate was well up for the photos.