Rathmullan Pier, Co.Donegal 16-06-13

[johnrooney]

People: myself

Duration: 3 hours

Tide: started at low tide

Weather: overcast

Bait: Ammo frozen Mack

Rigs: Red Animal rig (Shamrock tackle)

Results: 2 thornback rays


After a heavy Saturday night i decided to hit rathmullan pier to clear my head and hopefully get my first ray. On the way down i noticed the water was lower than i had ever seen on my way down which i thought could be good as in fahan across the water they say that low tide is the time to fish them. I got set up and baited up my trace and casted out 50-60 yards, i went to the car to set up my spinning rod to try for fresh mack, i never got the rod set up as the bait rod took a few knocks i left it for another few bites then started to take it in. As this was my first ray i was unsure what it should feel like, there was a good pull on with a few small knocks on the way up. Then it surfaced a nice thornback ray unsure of the sex, as the tide was low i had to pull up the fish using the line and gloves, luckily i had shockleader on. I removed the hook took some pics and released the fish. I rebaited and cast out but this cast i had nothing, i rebaited and cast again, bit like the first cast the bait was bearly in the water when i got bites. I started reeling in, this fish was different coming in it was much easier and i thought it was a dog but when it hit the surface i released it was another ray. I have been fishing for these since feb and all of a sudden i have 2 landed in a hour, delighted!!!!! the next 2 hours i got a few bites but nothing and the pier was starting to get busy with anglers so i decided i would call it a day, A GOOD DAY AT THAT

Last edited by johnrooney on Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Well done John,,,,that cleared the 'oul head alright

Their like buses them rays!!..and down there you always get them in quick succession..I'd say it was a high lift out of the water at low tide!

Good fish too!!...well done...by the look of it, they are all male..and big males at that!!..

congrats to you first ever rays John, they are all males, notice the claspers, females don't have them. Nice report!

Well done john your i knew your perserverence would pay off

congrats to you first ever rays John, they are all males, notice the claspers, females don't have them. Nice report!

Nice one John great to get your target fish and as Martin said check the claspers nice size fish did you get a weight of them

congrats to you first ever rays John, they are all males, notice the claspers, females don't have them. Nice report!

Nice one John great to get your target fish and as Martin said check the claspers nice size fish did you get a weight of them

Yeah i was delighted, no i didn't weigh or measure them for some reason, not sure why!!!!