N.Donegal Turbot Hunt. 21/2/12

People: me + 1

Duration: 11am to 6.30pm

Tide: out on arrival

Weather: windy. mixed

Bait: mack and sandeel

Rigs: 2 hook flappers

had planned to head to donegal monday morning but the forcast was grim and decided to skip that days fishing, probably wise in hindsight. instead stayed at my mates house in derry monday night and headed off first thing tuesday morning.
the main target of the day was turbot (mind you, would have settles for sea trout, bass, ray or plaice ) but things were very very slow. started at first mark at 11am and not a bite for an hour and a half so moved a little further up the coast a bit. not even a nibble either until on the last cast i managed a doggie, thats it. i was gald to see it to be honest.
at 3.30pm we decided to cut our loses and try and get my mate a ray from a different mark that i knew should provide one. but on arrival the wind had picked up and the rain had started, it would have been blowing directly into our faces. decided to try rathmullen instead and try using the car as some form of shelter, but by the time we got there the weather had deteriorated even more. managed one whiting then headed home soon after dark.
the morning was actually really mild and the sun came out for a bit so that really made up for things. scenery was nothing less than spectacular.

not an exciting report but great to get out and really enjoyed the trip exploring the whole area..

the hunt goes on... i'll be back!

a few photos from the day:
(the photo of the bridge is the new one over Mulroy Bay, called The Harry Blaney Bridge - well worth a drive up to it just to get those views of Sheep Haven from the Leat Beg side - stunning!!)

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class pic of the doggie - looks like a wee mini Jaws

hard luck on the Turbot - im sure it will all come good soon, and with scenery like that its great to be out an about whether yer catching or not

Excellent shot of the doggie!!!! pity the weather wasnt on your side Tell me you trying for doggies on the fly now!?!? and the whitting looks as if its going to have a go of your thumb Well done getting out!

Hard luck on the turbot front Chuckaroo. That area will definitely produce one for you once the fishing picks up. As you say though the scenery is class and it's good to get out so well done

Tough fishing that but fair play for sticking at it. I've had (albeit very small) turbot off Leenan beach if its any use to you? Only been up a few times so I'm no expert in the area but I did get them over LW at medium range. Cracking doggie pic to btw!

hi chuckaroo,

some nice photos there mate.
hard luck with the turbo's man- but you know you'll get a decent one up that way so keep at it.

next time your going drop me a pm - would mind a run back there myself - its some country we got here and its lovely up there.

dave

luv that part of the country chuck. there is def turbot to be got up there, i dont no about this time of year tho. ive never caught 1 myself but my cousin lives up there and he catches them regualery. next time im talkin to him ill ask for abit of info cause wouldnt mind catchin 1 myself.

great report and a cracker pic of the doggie.

Give me a shout the next time your up that way and i'll point you in the direction a a deep water rock mark off a beach that has plenty of Turbos! If you want somewhere handier for Turbot then just head to Culdaff beach!

hard luck on turbot mate, west or southwest donegal gives more chance for them, almost every session i cought some, well not any size but still got some
anyway nice photos there
well done

hard luck on the Turbot - im sure it will all come good soon, and with scenery like that its great to be out an about whether yer catching or not

cheers davy, couldnt agree more. yip, just need to put in a little more time man. im sure it'll come good eventually

Excellent shot of the doggie!!!! pity the weather wasnt on your side Tell me you trying for doggies on the fly now!?!? and the whitting looks as if its going to have a go of your thumb Well done getting out!

thanks creep. doggies on the fly sounds like fun alright but not toooo realistic (maybe)

Hard luck on the turbot front Chuckaroo. That area will definitely produce one for you once the fishing picks up. As you say though the scenery is class and it's good to get out so well done

thanks man. indeed, just a bit more time needed to be put into it - and im more than happy to do just that..

Tough fishing that but fair play for sticking at it. I've had (albeit very small) turbot off Leenan beach if its any use to you? Only been up a few times so I'm no expert in the area but I did get them over LW at medium range. Cracking doggie pic to btw!

tough enough alright Slackliner, pretty disappointing, but i will make amends for it soon enough. i had considered leenan but the weather beat me, maybe next time

and... it was actually my mate that took the photo of the diggie!! so he'll have to take the credit for that

hi chuckaroo,

some nice photos there mate.
hard luck with the turbo's man- but you know you'll get a decent one up that way so keep at it.

next time your going drop me a pm - would mind a run back there myself - its some country we got here and its lovely up there.

dave

dave, that sounds like a plan mate. im always looking for a fishin buddy. i'll let you know man. cheers
nearly as nice as the glens of antrim

luv that part of the country chuck. there is def turbot to be got up there, i dont no about this time of year tho. ive never caught 1 myself but my cousin lives up there and he catches them regualery. next time im talkin to him ill ask for abit of info cause wouldnt mind catchin 1 myself.

great report and a cracker pic of the doggie.

thanks fagan, i'll hold you to that 'bit of info' mate! PMs and any help/advice very warmly welcomed!
great wee photo of the dog i'd agree, my mate took it

Give me a shout the next time your up that way and i'll point you in the direction a a deep water rock mark off a beach that has plenty of Turbos! If you want somewhere handier for Turbot then just head to Culdaff beach!

Ronan i'd appreciate any advice i could get man. cheers
btw, i had heard that things at Culdaff were quite slow at the moment so i decided to by-pass it..

hard luck on turbot mate, west or southwest donegal gives more chance for them, almost every session i cought some, well not any size but still got some
anyway nice photos there
well done

thanks grady, i've never really fished west or southwest donegal before, sounds interesting. have fished for mack off a mark at Bundoran and been out on a charter boat there but not really any proper shore fishing. i'll maybe consider somethin in the future then..