Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:46 pm

People:Just me

Duration:4.5 hrs

Tide:2.5 up and 2 down

Weather:Cold east breeze, sunny

Bait:Fresh mackerel, frozen lug

Rigs:Single clipped, 3 hook flappers

Results:5 dabs, 1 pollack and 1 flounder




Report: The day didn't get off to a great start; a trip to a lug bed showed little or no signs of recovery from last year's Red Tide so it was to be frozen lug. My first choice of mark was a non-starter as the strong, cold wind was blowing straight into my face. Off to my second choice spot and after a 15 min walk I was greeted with 2 strings of pot markers running parallel to the shore where I intended to fish. I eventually found somewhere to fish and got set up; both rods with single clipped rigs and decent sized baits. 2.5 hrs later I hadn't had a bite, I could still have been using the original baits. Another blank was looking likely but then 2 strong pulls on one of the 2 rods had me up on my feet and striking only to lock solid into a snag. After pulling for a break I switched to a 3 hook flapper and smaller hooks and baits. A short time later, another bite resulted in a very welcome 27cm dab. I changed both rods to flappers with small hooks and was rewarded with a pollack and then a treble of dabs. Another dab @ 30cm and a last cast flounder @ 28cm completed the tally. I was still getting bites but the light was fading and I hadn't packed my headlight so I headed home. The dabs were all paper thin and in middling condition but boy was I glad to see them.
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Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:51 am

Nice report:)

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:38 am

Nice fishing, well done on the few fish 8)

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:46 pm

well john was a deeper water mark you were at,,,they are fishing better than the beaches at the mo

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:54 pm

Some very nice sized dabs there JW 8) 8) You deserved them after the last few sessions.

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:57 pm

A few fish at last John well done, I hope things will keep improving from now on!

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:38 pm

nice i hope to see some this weekend, its been quiet the last month or so

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:59 pm

Well done JW would say you where very happy to get a few fish fair play 8)

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:27 am

about time too :mrgreen: 8)

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:44 pm

saving private brian wrote:well john was a deeper water mark you were at,,,they are fishing better than the beaches at the mo

Yes Brian, deep enough that you are conscious of waiting to hit bottom, also conscious of having to drive a bit further!

Sweetwrasse wrote:Some very nice sized dabs there JW 8) 8) You deserved them after the last few sessions.

Thanks Sweetwrasse, they had length and breadth but no depth, 2D dabs you might say.

FisherKing wrote:A few fish at last John well done, I hope things will keep improving from now on!


We're all hoping for that Fisherking, maybe I'll break your "4 in a row" next winter?

sparkey+1 wrote:Well done JW would say you where very happy to get a few fish fair play 8)

Understatement of the year there Sparkey+1.

roger de dodger wrote:about time too :mrgreen: 8)

Indeed, just in time to postpone trading in for a set of golf clubs!

Thanks to everybody else for the replies.

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Fri Apr 12, 2013 5:27 pm

Fair play on a good report and the effort on putting it up and photos to go wth it.

John Ainsworth.

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:27 am

I am hoping to fish this area soon so good to see some fish

Re: Flatties to the rescue, Donegal Bay, 8/4/13

Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:19 am

just good to see a few pics of a few fish on here JW... good effort