N.Antrim then E.Antrim - Friday and Saturday nights

[chuckaroo]

People: me and a few others

Duration: 4or5 hours at each mark

Tide: in on the north coast, out on east coast

Weather: cold but fine, freezing

Bait: rag and razor

Report:
spent 5 hours on friday night past on the north coast hoping for one of its rare bass.. to no avail. there were three of us fishing with others just up from us but no bass were caught by anyone. i managed a little flounder the whole evening - it wasnt even hooked, it had swallow the whole worm and the butt of the 4/0 hook and it wasnt letting go! - and there were a couple of small rockling caught amongst the other boys. a freezing but pleasant evening on the beach, well wrapped up

Saturday came and i had plenty of bait left over so decided i would have a bash at getting a winter cod in the Glens of Antrim. headed off after the football game (wasnt expecting too much, but hoping for the best.. ) at about 3.30pm and drove over the mountain and on to red bay (was pretty shocked to see the 3or4 inches of snow around Cargan it was a true winter scene up there!). managed a few v.small codling and a few dogs but that was it unfortunately. mind you, it was nice just to have steady rattles on both rods as compared to the north coast..

so the big cod eluded me as did the bass the night before but i'll be back soon enough i reckon

there was a bit of chat and craic the both nights but the fishing was pretty grim tbh. Was glad to meet Al & Jordan for the first time - nice one lads, im sure our paths will cross again some time in the future!..

so anyway, a few pics for yous to have a look at:

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Last edited by chuckaroo on Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

last 3 pics
anyone know this species of crab.....?? 10points up for grabs

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Showing off now Charlie, I had to get this one IDed myself a few years ago and Ive bought a crab book in recent years. Its Liocarcinus depurator! Great name.

Not sure of a widely used common name, there might not be one. I have never seen it alive- saw a heap of them dead on Waterfoot beach after that mental storm in March 10. Thats a good crab to catch! Its a swimming crab like the velvet crab, I think there is a common name, I just cant remember what it is, the ---------- swimming crab??

You wont find them in rockpools or about the shore, youd have to dive to see them, if you werent lucky enough to catch one on your line.

Edit - First class pictures as ever. Flounder shot very nice, codling too.

Not bad chuck unlucky on the bass mate. Us boys just don't have the same luck as cathal.lol I think he should do the lotto. atleast u got a flounder to save the blank.

Nice few fish on sat night aswell.

Fagan, I cant deny I have been very lucky but theres been quite a few blanks and a fair bit of dough put into ragworm for those couple of bass. It wouldnt be a cheap way to acquire bass but still worth it. Wouldnt like to tot up my ragworm bills over the past couple of months but then again, what odds, its money well spent!

Charlie, The common name given by the Marine Life Info. Network is the Harbour Crab:

http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullrevi ... iesID=3697

Fagan, I cant deny I have been very lucky but theres been quite a few blanks and a fair bit of dough put into ragworm for those couple of Bass. It wouldnt be a cheap way to acquire Bass but still worth it. Wouldnt like to tot up my ragworm bills over the past couple of months but then again, what odds, its money well spent!

Charlie, The common name given by the Marine Life Info. Network is the Harbour Crab:

http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullrevi ... iesID=3697

just carrying on cathal I know u don't get bass for nothing. A lot of bait and effort goes into it aswell. I'm just jelous. :

Showing off now Charlie, I had to get this one IDed myself a few years ago and Ive bought a crab book in recent years. Its Liocarcinus depurator! Great name.

Not sure of a widely used common name, there might not be one. I have never seen it alive- saw a heap of them dead on Waterfoot beach after that mental storm in March 10. Thats a good crab to catch! Its a swimming crab like the velvet crab, I think there is a common name, I just cant remember what it is, the ---------- swimming crab??

You wont find them in rockpools or about the shore, youd have to dive to see them, if you werent lucky enough to catch one on your line.

Edit - First class pictures as ever. Flounder shot very nice, codling too.

nice1 Cathal i had no idea what it was, just knew that it wasnt the velvet swimming crab. you seem very right indeed, Liocarcinus depurator, the harbour crab? or the sandy swimming crab? plenty of info online if you google it. never seen one before!
thanks for the comments
10 points to you (not pints )

Not bad chuck unlucky on the Bass mate. Us boys just don't have the same luck as cathal.lol I think he should do the lotto. at least u got a flounder to save the blank.

Nice few fish on sat night aswell.

haha very good fagan, i was getting this dreaded SCUD word coming over me.. felt that it was starting to be engrained over my forehead.. nice to know im not the only one struggling for one! gonna let Cathal pick my lotto numbers for me alright this weekend..
and aye, a wee flounder was a sight for sore eyes

Cushendun a lovely beach but it can be tough enough.. heres a wee report from when i was on it over the xmas holidays: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=41849&p=326409&hilit=cushendun#p326409
cheers

Fair play for sticking at it this time of year! The rewards might be lean on occasions but you never know what you might pull in!!

velvet swimmer

velvet swimmer

-10 points

good to see you did well on the rocks on sunday when we left you charlie
saturday night was hard going man with jordan only getting a flounder and a pollock while i drew the blank
but you know the crack with that venue man. it's a feast or famine kinda place
hopefully with things improving at home with my father we can start getting out a bit more often and into more quality fish
it was good to bump into yourself, cathal and tornado off the site on saturday to see you all again. it's been too long man.
all the best for 2013 from me and the wee man