Ballyhoran Beach, Co Down

People: Just me

Duration: 5 hours

Tide: 1 hour down, 4 hours up

Weather: SW 30+ left to right

Bait: Peelers, rag, sandeel

Rigs: Pulley pennels, millennium

Results: Codling, coalies




Report: Looking to explore a few beaches down this way so started with Ballyhoran first. Was blowing straight southerly the day before and with a good tide (HW 23.00ish) and on the dark moon phase so I reckoned it was worth a chuck. Off to a pretty bad start as my northstar, headlamp and BOTH tiplights packed in before I made the first cast! Still had a spare headlamp to save the trip though so battled on in the pitch black. The southerly the day before blew a lot of largish weed into the surf so had to stick the rods high and crank down on the grips to keep the bow line high. Also meant I couldnt fish the flattie fanatic in close which was kinda disappointing, so no flounders. But sport was pretty much non-stop with plenty of bites all night. Two tiny codling on the peelers first and then great craic with loads of semi-decent coalies once the tide turned. Smallest coalie was around 35cm and biggest about 45cm... great fun!

Throughly enjoyable night and cracking wee beach, will be back

K

nice fishing !must giv that beach ago myself inthe right conditions co down beaches dont fish to badly!!

Good job in poor conditions mate, i've been really enjoying exploring my own local beaches more over the past few years and often they can perform better or just as well as the spots miles away. Been picking up a few decent Flounder (up to 3/4 of a pound) amongst the Whiting plague and Coalies on the other side of the lough lately at Brown's Bay and Carrick direction but there has been a lot of weed piled up on the shoreline over recent weeks. Where did you catch the lovely Cod in your avatar mate? It's making me feel like trying to convince my dad to get the boat out some morning if the weather picks up a bit, lol.

I was out myself around the start of the week needing a bit of cheering up and the tide was very high. Just as we were really getting into it less than an hour after high tide the water just completely dropped in the space of 5-10mins and our baits were sitting pretty much on sand!!

man that was a great result for that beach . only ever fished it in the summer months and it was pretty poor to say the least. well done on getting a few and 45cm coalies are not to be sniffed at. they punch well above their weight . great scrappers.

Cheers guys, was pleasantly surprised myself. Thought i was in for a bad night with the light issue but turned good in the end! I fished at the north end, a bit deeper there on the charts but i think it was the moon phase that switched the fish on tbh. Found it to make a big difference round these parts, esp in the shallower marks.

Yeah very familiar with the Antrim coast myself dave316. Browns bay is a bit hit and miss, needs a good northerly for a few nights then it starts to pick up a bit more. Ballygalley or any of the beaches further north are a (relatively) safer bet. Although browns bay does have a few bull huss knocking about it The cod in the avatar was from red bay in the summer there. 7.5lb. Cracking sport! Def try and get the boat out round Larne, plenty of good marks out there and good fish to be had if you know where to go to!

K

That beach can be so hit or bust at times Have fished it a few times over the years, as you found out it dos the odd coalies and small flats. Never had a codling off it but. Well done that was a good night..

Fished it a few times and only every had micro flounder and almost fry sized codling. well done on getting a few better fish.

Has anyone tried the bay one round the corner towards Killard pint, Benderg Bay on the charts. Had a walk out there with the spinning rod and it looks like it could be a better beach? I think Ballyhoran might actually suffer for being so close to Guns Island whereas Benderg looks a little more exposed? Might make all the difference?