W Waterford & E Cork- My first bass

People: Me and seamus

Duration: W Waterford 1530- 1730 E Cork 1830- 2215

Tide: HW - LW

Weather: Bright and breezy

Bait: Lug and crab

Rigs: Usual suspects- Flapper and Pulley

Results: My first bass and a wee coalie




Report:
Had to go to Waterford with work so decided to pack the gear in the hope of getting out for a few hours to catch my first bass. I had mentioned to Seamus if he fancied a trip to the Sunny South East and as usual he was up for the cup.........

I had put out the feelers to see if anyone could giver me some inside info or even if they fancied meeting up with us when we were down. I have to say the response from people was great with a good few sending PM's of possible marks that would fish a dropping tide. Thanks....

Got to the first mark to find the beach flat calm bathed in glorious sunshine, it was a balmy 16 degrees. Now I haven't really fished for bass before but have read enough to know that this was not good. After what seemed like an eternal trek to meet Seamus, carrying far too much gear, I got my rods out fishing a flapper in close and pulley out far. I had the baits soaking for about 20 mins when the flapper rod took a little nod. The bite was that timid that it could have been a crab at the bait so i decided to leave it for a while to see if it developed. Just as I was about to change the pulley rod my flapper rod bounced in the tripod. I struck into the fish and felt some serious resistance with the fish wanting to head back out to sea. I couldnt believe the strength and size of the fish when it was splashing on the top of the water.

After some serious back stepping up the beach a beautiful 8 lb sliver fella came out the water to mass celebration.... Now I have caught some big fish over the years including my biggest shore fish a cod of 7lb this year, but nothing has put up a scrap like that before..... God only knows what it would have been like on a wee spinning rod.....?

Shortly after the bass, the tide had begun to make a hasty retreat making fishing extremely difficult. At one point seamus cast a bait 60-70 yards only for the trace to appear on top of a sand bank 3 mins later. We decided to change our location and headed to an E Cork mark to fish the drop.

On arrival at the second mark the sea was like glass. We fished the drop for a few hours with only a wee blank saving coalie for Seamus then headed back up to Co. Clare.

Who said that this Bass fishing craic was hard work..........

Pictures to follow. Joe

Big well done 8lb bass is some fish

Mighty fish good stuff

Nice one Joe, always great to see a plan come together Congrats on the bass, some stamp of fish there

you,ll have to go for a big smoothy next
well done!

Well done on your first Bass

Big well done 8lb Bass is some fish

Cheers seanie it was some size alright, couldnt believe my eyes.

Nice one Joe, always great to see a plan come together Congrats on the Bass, some stamp of fish there

Yeah Tim I think it was more to do with good luck than anything else, not that im complaining.

you,ll have to go for a big smoothy next
well done!

Yeah Roger you might be getting a wee PM once the hounds start barking......

Wow big bass. Great result.

Nice. Some fish for a first one. Well done

Nice one lad congrats , one u will never forget

Weldone Joe, the first of many I hope!

cant wait for the pics. Thats some fish, well done.

Fair play mate That's a lovely fish.

Well Joe, you won't be forgetting that one I won't forget the look on your face as you played it in absolutely stunning fish, I will stick the photos up later when I get home. On the other hand things reached a new low for me when I started wishing for the pin whiting to come back that's 4 sessions you have up on me now, I'm going fishing in lahinch sea world next trip, at least there I can put my hands in and lift out a fish great day out and great day to fish a new spot

Perks of the job eh?
Great fish.

nada quite like your first bass.well done lad.you'll never ever forget the feel of a bass bite and take,especially your first.good stuff,good stuff

nada quite like your first Bass.well done lad.you'll never ever forget the feel of a Bass bite and take,especially your first.good stuff,good stuff

You ever mistake the look of one eiither

Well done on the silver fella, fair play.

Congrats thats a fine fish well done

Well done on your first Bass, did ya release her?