swilly rays

People:just me, again

Date :12/13th June 2012

Venue:opposite side of the swilly this time, deeper water

Duration:4hours, 11pm to 3am

Tide:hw about 2.30am

Weather:nice, little or no wind, no rain mild

Bait:squid, mackerel and bluey

Rigs:3/0 pulleys

Results:1 lsd, 6 thornback ray (2lb,4lb,4lb,4.5lb,5lb and 6lb)


Report: lucky me, wednesday off and tuesday night tide at this mark gave a small tide range so it means less tidal flow(7ozs left at home ) Once the wife finished work the car was packed, coffee was made and i was off. Got to the mark and walked to my chossen spot, set up the rods and blasted one out and lobbed the other. It was long before the grip lead broke free on the distance rod, so much for a weak tidal flow i thought, but no a nice lsd was landed on a fillet of bluey. On went another fillet and casted it out to distance again. The other rod had no action, tried squid, mackerel but it showed no interest, the distance rod was pulled over and stayed over, wound down and lifted into the best ray of the night, 6lb weight and 71cm in lenght(photos to follow) . A few more ray all at distance so both rods casted out that way, at hw bites died off and crabs became active cleaning hooks in 10 minutes or less. I got a good knock on one rod then another and struck into a decent fish, it was fighting hard and when it broke the surface it dived fast, it looked looked a big doggie but was fighting too hard, once it was readyi went to lift it out of the water and the fecker let go of the bait, he wasnt even hooked. I have the funny feeling it was a buss huss as when i was packing up i helpped unhook one for a fellow fisherman, tad gutted i must say. Its not all bad news as when i went to wind in my last cast the rod bent over and the the second best ray of the night was landed, a nice 5lb female. Not a bad night for a 4 hour session and some nice ray too, maybe next time i'll get the huss or a double figure ray

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Nice fishing there. Some lovely Rays

well done mc a nice session for you.pity about the huss though,but there will be another day.

nice 1 mate great fishing unlucky with the huss but a great way to spend a few hours

well done MC, sum nice rays there mate.

Cheers Fagan

thanks lads for the kind words, will keep trying for the huss

huss doing the favourite old bait drop trick!! nice fishing!

nice going - bloody typical huss!!!! why dont the take the hook???

dave

thanks lads, as for the bait dropping huss any tips?

Well done Martin. Nice to see you actually using them rods and reels for fishing

Well done Martin. Nice to see you actually using them rods and reels for fishing

funny mate, but they are fishing rods aand reels, i use other ones for field work

nice fishing ,well done on the rays ill be targeting huss soon for the first time and was wondering what size hooks you used?

nice fishing ,well done on the rays ill be targeting huss soon for the first time and was wondering what size hooks you used?

was using 3/0

nice rays mate

Nice one Martin. Is that a new species? Buss Huss.

Good nights fishing there MC and excellent report and pics . I have never fished the Swilly proper though have fished Inch Island several times and my only catch was a 4lb seatrout ..no rays or doggies etc . I know a lot of lads like to keep their venues to themselves so may I ask if you were on the Rathmullan or Buncrana side as would like to try the Swilly when i get home in a few weeks . Rathmullan means a long drive via L'kenny while Buncrana side is just down the road as we say .. thanks John

Good nights fishing there MC and excellent report and pics . I have never fished the Swilly proper though have fished Inch Island several times and my only catch was a 4lb seatrout ..no rays or doggies etc . I know a lot of lads like to keep their venues to themselves so may I ask if you were on the Rathmullan or Buncrana side as would like to try the Swilly when i get home in a few weeks . Rathmullan means a long drive via L'kenny while Buncrana side is just down the road as we say .. thanks John

either side mate, have managed to catch ray from both sides of the swilly

Nice one Martin. Is that a new species? Buss Huss.

Nice fish there, unlucky with the huss. I'm looking to give the swilly rays a try in the very near future, do you hav to fish for them at night or can you catch a few during daylight hours?

Nice fish there, unlucky with the huss. I'm looking to give the swilly rays a try in the very near future, do you hav to fish for them at night or can you catch a few during daylight hours?

either, I fish at night as that when the kids are in bed and i get some freedom