Beara 2016

[quagmiresdad]

Beara 2016

Leaving Stranraer Friday on the 15.30 ferry for our yearly adventure into south Ireland, both cars secure on the car decks with 550 fillets of mackerel, joeys launce and squid all in 2 big cool boxes and a freezer (don’t ask).
Talk was of rigs, marks, species etc and our meet up with Malkys Celtic cousin Seamus McNamara, the Irish "doggie whisperer"
fed and watered at Newry we headed into the south and a stop at Cahir for a maccy D before reaching Youghal strand back of midnight and meeting Seamus, we fished through till dawn there with only doggies to report, the painted rays were somewhere else unfortunately.so a move was mentioned, so off we went to Bantry airport strand in search of thornies and huss but the doggies had alerted their cousins there and another doggie fest followed with one small huss making an appearance.
Feeling hungry again we moved again stopping in bantry for food before driving to castletownbere and fishing in the sound there. Very quiet as well as it was easterly winds that were blowing, were they having an effect on the fish? Nothing much to report couple of doggies again.by then it was time to go to the digs and get the bait stowed away as a priority, before hitting the beds about 6pm and sleeping like logs.
Sunday everyone was up for 7am and champing at the bit to head out, very little wind so it was decided to fish dursey sound, had to split up when we got there so David Greenhill and I got the small pier, David goupillot and Graham Richardson got the rocks under the world famous cable car, why its painted in world war one battleship camouflage is a mystery. And Seamus elected to fish a large gully to their right. Graham came of best here with a conger estimated to be 30lb plus that the boys could not get over the ledge in front, Seamus did well on the Pollack and landed a good sized one, we had a strap conger landed by young Davie,
Got done by a few more and landed a few small Pollack on the light rods. We moved from there round to a mark on the Kenmare river and it turned into a doggie fest again until the "Irish dog whisper" had to leave for limerick, he was just up to the to the top of the hill road when I got a conger of 10lb and then they started coming in fairly fast with young Davie getting a pb conger, every one of us done by the sneaky sods regularly.
Happy with that we headed back for food and the digs.
Next morning we headed out to dunboy woods, a place we have had success in the past with rays, Huss congers wrasse and Pollack. Very quiet with just the occasional doggie on the big rods so everyone changed to the small rods, getting small Pollack wrasse and pouting. Still blowing easterly! Moved from there further inland and got my 1st ray of about 5lb the only ray that night but the straps came onto the feed and provided plenty of action. Highlight of that evening session was young Davie catching an octopus and a rat sitting on his foot, as graham remarked “only funny if it happens to someone else"
Up bright and breezy next morning and a trip to the Kenmare River again to a deep water mark 100ft deep 50 yds. out, disappointing this year as only a couple of dogs and small Pollack landed. Back over the peninsula to bantry bay again and a mark that is either great or awful, it turned out alright that evening with 5 rays landed and some dogs, the mackerel king came into his own and started catching them quite regularly while us 3 oldies just watched and looked at our rods for the next ray.
Next morning was a trip to a mark there have been reports of exotic species being caught off but they have never shown to us, the every faithful doggies were there with small Pollack and mackies, nothing special arrived. Moved from that mark to another after our Chinese tea. First cast I was into a small Huss, great we thought they are here again this year but things went quiet for an hour then the congers came on the feed, nothing too big till graham get a gentle bite and says here’s another strap, strikes into it and starts retrieving, no problem then this conger woke up and tried to pull graham into the water, he is no "small guy" and this beast was for having him in right reason or not.it hit the kelp beds and for a while it was a tug of war till the line parted, shame it would have been good to at least get a look at it.More straps followed with one or two smallish Huss being landed, another 1am finish so back to the digs and bed.
Back to dunboy woods again the next day as the easterlies were starting to pick up and anywhere else would have been foolhardy. Quiet day with old Davie picking up a couple of decent Pollack on the ray gear, doggies small Pollack and wrasse to keep us occupied again for 10 hours fishing. Left there and went to the mark where we had the rays just got setup and the heavens opened and wind picked up, nothing on the big rods but the mackerel king got busy again and got us enough fresh bait for the last day.3 hours of that was enough to call it a day.
Friday morning the wind was howling so there was only one place we could go, back to Kenmare River, even here the wind was gusting and would have put you off the rocks if you were not careful! started with the usual doggies a small Huss then the congers came on the feed, landing ones to about 8lb and the rest being too heavy to lift, were estimated before the line parted trying to haul them up. Half an hour before we were to pack up I got a Huss of about 14lb and old Davie got one just slightly bigger to end our trip for another year.
The easterly winds did not do us any favours this year, but we came away discussing next year’s trip back to the same place, castletownbeaerhaven,the planning had started and we were not even on the boat for home then.
A great place, plenty of potential, friendly people and some great scenery. Pleasure to get fishing with you Seamus, roll on June next year
Alan

[corbyeire]

great report, some effort despite the mixed results
the enthusiasm shows, fair play

[shortcircuit]

Great report, exceptional dedication!

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[stevief54]

great report well lads