Not so black at the coal quay... Co. Antrim Pier 04/11/11

People: Dan and I

Duration: 5pm - 9pm

Tide: High, then dropping

Weather: Calm, Clear, Flat.

Bait: Squid, Mackeral, Sandeel, Lugworm, Ragworm, and Peeler

Rigs: Loops, 1up1down, 3/0 P.Pulley

Results:

Plenty of Whiting, Poor Cod, Codling, Coalfish, Pollack, Mackeral, Dabs and Flounder

Report:

Had that Friday feeling, and with the weather being so good, decided we'd head up the coast, Found Waterfoot pier empty so we immediately set up, Before I ever had the gear in the water Dan had a small Coalfish plucked out. I got my Big bait knocked out first then set up a light rod with a 1up1down rag tipped with mackeral, cast, and before it could hit the deck I had a fish! Result! A totally unexpected mackeral which was a handy addition to the bait supply.
The fishing was consistant to say the least, with the first 3 or so hours being at least 1 fish per cast on the close in rods.
Launched a whole Peeler out on the Zziplex and pretty much forgot about it, that was until a barge came in and I got my line caught on it, gutted, but to save any fuss I bit the line off....

Danny got the unwashed squid out, and we soon discovered how awesome it was for bait, tough and durable and thicker than eating calamari, it produced a hell of a lot of whiting, Coalfish, and I also took a flounder on pure Squid strip too.. A while passed and I caught the line that I had to bitten off earlier in the evening and handlined it in, a Codling of around 3/4 of a pound had managed to take the Crab, and 2 3/0 hooks! luckily they practically fell out once I got the fish onto the deck, and released...

It tailed off towards the last hour of the session for our Dan, but I seemed to keep picking up fish regularly until we packed up... Great night...

great effort drew. sounds like a great evening on the pier. nice one

Nice going Drew, think I might have kept that fresh mackerel for the breakfast! Its good you got a hold of that line and got the wee codling returned, pity it wasnt a bit bigger. Good report.

mackerel?
in antrim?
in november?
if i were you i'd almost be tempted to add a north antrim winter mackerel to the species count

I must've just missed you guys.

I was on the pier from 3:30 through to about 4:45 when I moved over to fish the beach.

Plenty of small flatties and one small whiting. I should have stayed on the pier!

Meant to say, I'm not surprised you got the mackerel. When I arrived there was a small shoal of mackerel smashing into fry/sandeels on the surface against the wall of the pier. They'd moved on before I got set up though.

mackerel?
in antrim?
in november?
if i were you i'd almost be tempted to add a north antrim winter mackerel to the species count

Hi yngkmd,
I know what you mean, it sounds a bit odd but the presence of the salmon farm in the bay there has mackerel in the bay 12 months of the year, if you fish near the farm on Christmas Day you can fill a box with mackerel, its not always a surefire thing but it can be done. My only reservation about eating them is they are on a diet of salmon pellets and it runs out of either end of them and it is foul, oily and gritty.

Dead on for bait but not mad about eating the fish farm mackerel. The constant supply of pellets keeps some mackerel there even in winter but the stock is limited, it doesnt replenish and some winters it get completely fished out.

They shouldnt really be there, and neither should that farm!!!!

Cathal.

They guys beside us got a clonker of a Herring too.. Great to see! Thanks for the comments lads, it was a great night...

I definitely should have stayed on the pier!

I just got side tracked excusi (41) species incredible man excellent fishing! and nice one on the session 8 species oh happy days congrats

tightlines
ferg

well done lads a nice busy session in the good weather does not get much better

I just got side tracked excusi (41) species incredible man excellent fishing! and nice one on the session 8 species oh happy days congrats

tightlines
ferg

Cheers man, was really aiming for the big 50 this year, but I'm gonna fall short by a few...
Oh well, gives me something to aim for next year..

nice fishing guys. that whole area seems to be fishing well this autumn

41 !