Spiddal Pier 22nd June and Wicklow beach 23rd

People:Spiddal,,,,,me and some non fishing friends,,,Wicklow, me

Duration:

Tide:rising tide both venues

Weather:Galway=Breezy ,,,, Wicklow Same breezy,,,,but the sea was flat calm

Bait:Galway ,,,,Rag Wicklow ,,,,Crab, rag, Lug

Rigs:flappers in Galway and pulleys and flappers in Wicklow

Results:Spiddal Pier,,,,,Ballan Wrasse, Pollock, Blennies Wicklow Beach ,,,,Doggies,, Doggies and more Doggies,,,then Dabs and finally a smoothie




Report: Went to Galway for the weekend with a few Irish mates and a Yank,(Los Laddos ) to do our part for the Gathering. Tough work but somebody has to do it I had the van loaded with all my fishing gear and plenty of bait in case I could lure the lads away from the bars and get them to try their luck fishing . On Saturday morning we went out to Spiddal to watch the Lions V Australia so we took 2 rods and 20 rag along. The tide was well out when we arrived , with rocky,snaggy looking ground everywhere.Once the Lions had beaten Australia,,,,,or as soon as Australia had thrown the match away,,,,we headed down to the Pier in Spiddal to try our luck. The tide was on the way in at this stage thankfully. We weren't setting our sights too high,,,the target was just to catch a fish each . I set up the 2 rods at the end of the Pier, 2 hook flappers, size 4 hooks baited with rag. The nibbles came straight away and the Laddos were amazed to be able to feel the fish plucking away on the other end . By this time the rain was coming down steadily but the Laddos were determined to land a fish each. The Yank, Timmy was first in with a small Pollock,,,,putting the pressure on myself and the other two Laddos, Nathan Prince and Brendan Shupper.



More rag was sent out,,,,about 10 yds off the end of the Pier, and Nathan jumped into action as he saw the tip nodding away . His first cast,,,,,on his first time fishing and he pulls in a nice double,2 fine 30cms Ballan Wrasse .




The rain eased off and we had a visitor, in the form of an over friendly Heron.









I was feeling the pressure as I wasn't having much luck,,,losing 3 rigs to snags, but I eventually hit into 2 Pollock to save my blushes . With the rain coming down again now, the Laddos sat into the car but Brendan Shupper, another fishing newcomer, was determined not to be the Blanker . Luckily for him, he pulled in a nice little blenny to put an end to the Laddos slagging and we could all resume our Gathering Itinerary back at Eyre Square Thank God I don't have to do a report on that ,,,,that would be some reading
I drove back to Dublin the next day, Sunday, and got the idea to head to a certain Wicklow Beach that I was getting good reports from,,,,,so after a short rest at home I drove on down to Wicklow and set up. There were a few smoothies being caught by Mitch as I arrived so I had high hopes but alas it was not to be a great night for me . I had a few doggies on the crab but it wasn't until my final cast of the night that I got my smoothie, no monster but he made the trip . I got some nice dabs on lug (thanks Mitch )that I had out in search of a Bass. All in all a great weekend and I think my non fishing friends have been bitten by the bug The Yank,Timmy Mooney is more used to Striped Bass,,,,,,i'm sure he had a good laugh though

Nice fishing from Spiddal Pier! Those wrasse are impressive. Was told by a local before that the heron is a resident who goes by the name of Henry. Apparently he has been hanging around there for years feeding on scraps of bait.

first class report Dave, had me in bits, great when a plan comes together nicely! And by the way, the herons name is Bertie, for the better match he gobbled down 5 full mackies last time and still wanted more...

Well done on spiddal and wicklow,a great report and photos,hope to br out there during the week.

John Ainsworth.

Cool report, sounds like ye had a good session.
The Wrasse pic is a goodun.

Dave and co sounds like a great session fishing and on the beer... pure class

Eyes Looking forward to hooking up with you and the gang sometime soon for the hounds.. only this time no rock throwing!!, Sounds like a normal Eyesreilly report too me great crack! loads of frolics!

ha dave nice wee session... never seen or caught wrasse off the pier and ive been fishing it for 20 years now... nice going....

Looks like a good laugh was had !B-)