Dun Laoghaire 20.08.11
Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:13 pm
People: Myself and brother in law
Duration: 2230- 0500hrs
Tide: Low to High
Weather: Nice
Bait: Rag, Mackrel, sandeel
Rigs: 2 up 1 down, pulley and conger
Results: Lots of small Whiting and Pollock, 2 Mackerel and 1.5lb Pouting
Report:
Ive been along time away from sea angling and only recently decided to bite the bullet and get on it. Decided to hit Dun Laoghaire for a night session with my brother in law, who like myself, has been piking for the past number of years. With some bait purchased we arrived to find the place empty (except for the litter which was everywhere..!).
We were fishing two rods at distance with Rag/Sandeel tipped with Mackerel, one conger rod close in and two light rods set up for scratching about for small fish.
Basically the full night was spent being pestered by little whiting/pollock both close in and at distance. The rod tip was constantly nodding with a steady flow of tiddlers coming in. After a couple of hours the tide started come in and we decided to change tactics to avoid the little ones. A fresh mackerel head was mounted on a pulley pennel and launched as far as possible into the darkness. Immediately the rod tip started bouncing like mad and with fish on retrieved immediately. I couldn't believe my eyes, a small mackerel was hooked that had been feeding on a mackerel head bigger than his. I knew that Mackerel would take wee strip but a full head
At about 0300hrs with the tide nearly fully in, interest was showing on one of the big rods further out. After a few nods the rod was lifted into something bigger which was pulling harder than the pin whiting!! The fish came off at the bottom of the rocks and neither of us could see what it was but i expect that it was a little strap conger.
The rest of the evening was spent catching small pollock and a really fat Pouting that put up a lovely fight on very light tackle.
Both myself and my brother in law had a ball catching small, but numerous fish.....!
Next the beach
Duration: 2230- 0500hrs
Tide: Low to High
Weather: Nice
Bait: Rag, Mackrel, sandeel
Rigs: 2 up 1 down, pulley and conger
Results: Lots of small Whiting and Pollock, 2 Mackerel and 1.5lb Pouting
Report:
Ive been along time away from sea angling and only recently decided to bite the bullet and get on it. Decided to hit Dun Laoghaire for a night session with my brother in law, who like myself, has been piking for the past number of years. With some bait purchased we arrived to find the place empty (except for the litter which was everywhere..!).
We were fishing two rods at distance with Rag/Sandeel tipped with Mackerel, one conger rod close in and two light rods set up for scratching about for small fish.
Basically the full night was spent being pestered by little whiting/pollock both close in and at distance. The rod tip was constantly nodding with a steady flow of tiddlers coming in. After a couple of hours the tide started come in and we decided to change tactics to avoid the little ones. A fresh mackerel head was mounted on a pulley pennel and launched as far as possible into the darkness. Immediately the rod tip started bouncing like mad and with fish on retrieved immediately. I couldn't believe my eyes, a small mackerel was hooked that had been feeding on a mackerel head bigger than his. I knew that Mackerel would take wee strip but a full head
At about 0300hrs with the tide nearly fully in, interest was showing on one of the big rods further out. After a few nods the rod was lifted into something bigger which was pulling harder than the pin whiting!! The fish came off at the bottom of the rocks and neither of us could see what it was but i expect that it was a little strap conger.
The rest of the evening was spent catching small pollock and a really fat Pouting that put up a lovely fight on very light tackle.
Both myself and my brother in law had a ball catching small, but numerous fish.....!
Next the beach
Re: Dun Laoghaire 20.08.11
Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:27 pm
nice session to get back into it lads well done keep it up
Re: Dun Laoghaire 20.08.11
Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:32 am
The beauty of that place is ya never know what the pier will throw up, nice pouting!
Re: Dun Laoghaire 20.08.11
Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:47 pm
and sometimes the lad fishing next to you can throw up 
sure someone has to feed the rats 
if you fish it again put your conger baits in close thats where the big ones lurk
sure someone has to feed the rats if you fish it again put your conger baits in close thats where the big ones lurk
Re: Dun Laoghaire 20.08.11
Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:40 pm
Yeah it was not the most appealing place to spend a Saturday night, full of litter and the sweet, sweet smell of......... At least we had the place to ourselves 
I had the conger bait ten feet from the wall but the trace I was using resembled a 'slinky'..... If I was a conger I would have legged it on first glance. I have fished for conger a good few times back in Scotland and always fished tight to the harbor wall and it proved reasonably successful. I was surprised at how deep it was in the channel, also surprised that no doggies made an appearance.
To be honest it was just good spending time doing a bit of sea fishing instead of sitting behind alarms for hours waiting for bleeeeeeep
I had the conger bait ten feet from the wall but the trace I was using resembled a 'slinky'..... If I was a conger I would have legged it on first glance. I have fished for conger a good few times back in Scotland and always fished tight to the harbor wall and it proved reasonably successful. I was surprised at how deep it was in the channel, also surprised that no doggies made an appearance.
To be honest it was just good spending time doing a bit of sea fishing instead of sitting behind alarms for hours waiting for bleeeeeeep