Still a few cod about - 31st January 2012

People: Me

Duration: 6.30 - 9.30 pm

Tide: Rising

Weather: Very cold, strong easterly wind

Bait: Crab, Lug

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys

Results: 3 Cod




Report:I headed out on Tuesday evening before the arrival of the Siberian weather. However, it was still cold enough with a strong easterly wind. I had intended to fish the beach where I had a few bass last week but at the last minute decided to try another beach close by. I had only fished here once before, and that was on a Sunday afternoon in daylight with a weak surf and on an ebbing tide so needless to say I didn't do too well!!!

This time I was fishing a rising ride with a good surf. I found a section of the beach with a lot of structure; shallow gulleys and depressions, just the sort of terrain where you would expect bass to forage for food. I set up two rods with 4/0 pennel pulleys, one baited with fresh crab, the other with lug. About half an hour after casting out I had a strong bite. The fish was putting up a good struggle and I was convinced it was a bass until I hauled a 2.5 lb cod out of the surf.

Shortly afterwards I had a second smaller codling again on the crab. I missed another a little later. I was getting nibbles on the rod with the lug, but it was most likely small fish pulling on the bait, which couldn't get their mouths around a 4/0 hook. About 20 minutes later I spotted that the line had gone slack on the rod with crab, picked it up and reeled in a lot of slack, before connecting with a fish. It fought strongly the remainder of the way in - another 2.5 lb cod.

After that the bites died off as the tide pushed in and the current running parallel to the beach from east to west became stronger requiring a switch from 5 oz to 6 oz grippers. I was also beginning to snag some big clumps of kelp. About a hour before high tide I decided to pack up as the fishing was becoming too difficult and the wind gaining in strength. Still I had 3 cod for the next few night's dinner.

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great report ,nice to see some cod still around, well done!

Excellent Work Frank!!! With the cold weather, easterlys, and theres a good tide on this weekend (strong flow though) It might well be worth a look at down there, if your going out I look forward to reading your future report

Nice result Frank. Great start to the year youre having. Long may it continue.

nice fish well done frank

Great fishing Frank nice dinner for the next day or two

your on a roll frank ,well done

good to see you back into the cod frank

nice fishing frank good to see there are still some about i will keep a ear to the ground to see if it worth 1 more trip down

Thanks guys,

nice fishing frank good to see there are still some about i will keep a ear to the ground to see if it worth 1 more trip down

I may fish Youghal beach at the weekend, I would expect that there will be a few cod knocking about, but I reckon they will be coming back into the harbour area next week with the bigger tides.

Nice fish frank hope you right about the big tides bringing them back in again

Lovely fat cod. Well done