North Wexford. August weekend

People: Just myself

Duration: Full evening session and the next morning

Weather: Sun and rain, SW winds which turned NW the next day.

Bait: Crab

Rigs: Pulleys and two hook clipped down

Results: Few hounds

I fished an evening session first on one of the south east facing beaches south of Cahore point hoping for a few bass. the sea weed was making life very difficult and i didn't stay long. I headed further north to find a NE facing mark. Things became a lot more comfortable after that and managed a few decent hounds until the tide went completely slack.

Things went very quiet for about 2 hours until the tide started pushing again. It was around 3am (i think) and if you were awake at that time in north wexford on Sunday night you'll know the type of rain i was standing in. the rain was so hard and heavy it went straight through my rain jacket and my waders. I was trying to get the shelter up in the worst of it when my tripod and the 16 foot rod buckled over on to the ground. i picked up the rod and what ever was on the other end was pulling harder than i ever felt before. The rain was still coming down extremely heavy. the drag was set very tight and it was still stripping line off like crazy. unfortunately after a few mins something in the pulley rig gave and snapped and the fish was gone. I was gutted as this is the second time in two years that this has happened to me.

I went home beaten after that and decided to get up early to try another mark which usually provides some easy sport during the day. Had a good few hounds until again i had a massive bite and run. i thought i had a second chance on a monster as it was heavy as hell, but it turned out to be a double of hounds on a two hook rig.

I wish it was still the weekend

I wonder what it was.... a tope maybe... i dont know what else it could be

The same happened to me a few years ago John.

Lost 2 fish due to chaffed snoods from dragging doggies for the day. Learned a good lesson & it hasn’t happened since!

Great to think it may have been a tope but more likely a good male hound, they’re definitely more athletic than the females this time of the year.

I wonder what it was.... a tope maybe... i dont know what else it could be

I was thinking tope but i was only using crab. I even wondered if i'd foul hooked a seal, but i'd say it was a big hound as Alby said.

It was very heavy and very strong.

Sounds eventful anyway John Hard luck on the one that got away.

I once had a "Seal" take a squid and sandeel bunched combo........It took about 70 yards of line before it came to the surface where it turned out to be a 10Ib bass.....! I bet Its a bummer not knowing what it was.

I had a 20lbs Tope on crab last summer, so it's possible!

Thats unlucky but a nice double ye got there. Had a smoothie 2 weeks ago that weighed 6.48lbs and i was convinced it was a tope. The reel was screaming and it must have taken 100yrds of line. unbelievable power i can only imagine what a bigger equally mental hound would be like.

Cracking report an very nice fish too, pity bout the big fella but im sure your chance will come again. Grt pics an grt taste in gear, it looks very very familiar lol lol. Well done.

I had a 20lbs Tope on crab last summer, so it's possible!

Years ago I saw a tope taken on bunched mussel intended for Bass.

Nice hounds JH cracker of a mark aswell