Donegal Bay 30/12/2014
Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:08 pm
People:Me
Duration:6.5 hrs
Tide:Low to High tide.
Weather:Mild but breezy with showers
Bait:Mackerel, squid, prawn
Rigs:Single and 3 hook flappers
Results:Small coalfish, whiting, rockling, dogfish
Report:
I took the last opportunity to get out in 2014 and with the recent cold spell not favouring shallow water beaches I headed for a mark with deeper water. I arrived just as low water was approaching but set up anyhow. First cast onto the sand at distance produced instant bites and a couple of small coalfish. A second rod was fished closer in where the ground is a bit rougher, this rod was fairly quiet for a few hours but eventually produced the "bigger" fish of the night, coalfish to 29cm, whiting to 27cm and a late dogfish. The doggie gave no indication of a bite; I just felt the extra weight when I reeled in to check the bait. Even ashore he just curled up in a ball and sat there, a lazyhound. As the tide filled, the bites slackened for a while but picked up again towards high tide, sadly the size didn’t improve. A single small shore rockling from the sand added to the variety while doubles and trebles of small coalfish continued. I was surprised by the absence of pouting as this mark throws them up regularly. Last fish of the night (and of 2014) was an emaciated 23cm whiting with a gill parasite so having achieved trip no. 100 (not all seafishing) I called it a year. 2014 finished, “not with a bang but a whimper”.
Duration:6.5 hrs
Tide:Low to High tide.
Weather:Mild but breezy with showers
Bait:Mackerel, squid, prawn
Rigs:Single and 3 hook flappers
Results:Small coalfish, whiting, rockling, dogfish
Report:
I took the last opportunity to get out in 2014 and with the recent cold spell not favouring shallow water beaches I headed for a mark with deeper water. I arrived just as low water was approaching but set up anyhow. First cast onto the sand at distance produced instant bites and a couple of small coalfish. A second rod was fished closer in where the ground is a bit rougher, this rod was fairly quiet for a few hours but eventually produced the "bigger" fish of the night, coalfish to 29cm, whiting to 27cm and a late dogfish. The doggie gave no indication of a bite; I just felt the extra weight when I reeled in to check the bait. Even ashore he just curled up in a ball and sat there, a lazyhound. As the tide filled, the bites slackened for a while but picked up again towards high tide, sadly the size didn’t improve. A single small shore rockling from the sand added to the variety while doubles and trebles of small coalfish continued. I was surprised by the absence of pouting as this mark throws them up regularly. Last fish of the night (and of 2014) was an emaciated 23cm whiting with a gill parasite so having achieved trip no. 100 (not all seafishing) I called it a year. 2014 finished, “not with a bang but a whimper”.
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Re: Donegal Bay 30/12/2014
Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:40 pm
Nice few species there john well done. 100 outings nice one. Lots of dabs and whiting going in the bay these days on the deeper marks along with poor cods and pollack and coleys. The beaches are throwing up some nice flounders and the seatrout are showing up again. Tight lines for 2015 
Re: Donegal Bay 30/12/2014
Sat Jan 03, 2015 1:08 am
good to get out JW, i should manage something this weekend too hopefully - 2 blow away the xmas cobwebs at least! will put a report up
trip 100. Wow
trip 100. Wow