Donegal Bass, 30th October 2016

With the good weather continuing, the opportunity was there to head north again to fish the “right” beach. The Bro came with me and we met Chuckaroo as arranged for a three pronged attack. Coming through the dunes, we could see one area which had a bit of surf running, the rest of the beach looked a lot quieter. First cast unfortunately resulted in a mound of weed to the Bro’s rod and while sorting that out we could see the other rods succumbing to the same problem; no choice but to move along the beach to cleaner but quieter water. Chuckaroo opened the scoring with a 25cm flounder almost immediately and the Bro added a small turbot shortly after. I eventually opened my account with a 26cm flounder and then Chuckaroo had a really good rod rattling bite which unfortunately failed to connect. He then had a major tackle malfunction; his rod snapped just above the reel fitting. He returned to his car to fetch a replacement but he was now fishing with two light rods restricting him to short range fishing. Meanwhile, I got a good bite on the distance rod, fish on! I knew this was no flattie unless it was a turbo on steroids; the fish darted to and fro in the surf and in came a nice seatrout pushing the scales round to 2lb 3oz. It was carrying quite a few lice on its head, even one on the eye, and more along the belly near the tail. I always wonder whether you should remove these before releasing the fish or do you more harm than good, I certainly flicked off the one on its eye. The weed seemed to be following us along the beach as the tide started to flood so Chuckaroo wandered off to try a few casts off some rocks at the end of the beach while the Bro and myself tried to stay one cast ahead of the weed. The bites had really dried up by now but to break the lull in activity, a pod of dolphins put on a brief display of acrobatics out in the bay. Chuckaroo returned to report that it was very weedy where he had tried and following a discussion of tactics, we headed well up the beach ahead of the advancing weed to get a long period of weed free fishing. The Bro managed another even smaller turbot and I had a double of small flounder. By now the light was starting to fade and Chuckaroo responded with the first coalie. A while later I had a double of coalfish and pin whiting, (difficult to spot in the pic without Chuckaroo’s assistance!). The Bro and Chuckaroo had work to go to in the morning, however I had to lie in so with lengthy drives ahead, we packed up for home.


Oh yeah, the Bro got the bass, a small one but a bass nonetheless and his first. He comes in my car, he borrows my tackle, he uses my bait, he catches the bass. Anyone out there got some sour grapes going spare?

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great report as ever - wish I was retired and able to get all the fishing you do done

the bass fell to what bait in the end?

thanks

Lovely fishing and another top report!

A Donegal bass, have seen a few landed but I am still unable to succeed in getting one up north

I have tried countless times to get a north coast bass. Albeit a little schoolie, I wasn't impressed lol
Super beach and scenery..

Unreal. A donegal bass, would be a dream come true well done. Very jealous ☺

The Bro is welcome to his little oul' bass - that lovely seatrout tops everything!

great report as ever - wish I was retired and able to get all the fishing you do done

the bass fell to what bait in the end?

thanks

The bass took mackerel strip on a size 4 two hook flapper. Wish for early retirement, you don't want to wish away too much of your life!

Lovely fishing and another top report!

Thanks Sweetwrasse, to be honest we would have liked a few more flatties, there were long periods of inactivity but certainly, a nice mix of species.

A Donegal bass, have seen a few landed but I am still unable to succeed in getting one up north

Exactly my predicament but I've a lot further to travel.

Unreal. A donegal bass, would be a dream come true well done. Very jealous ☺

Almost every Donegal beach I have fished claims to "throw up an occasional bass" but this is the first I've ever seen.

The Bro is welcome to his little oul' bass - that lovely seatrout tops everything!

Ah now Hugo, I think that's the oul' stomach talking.

I've always claimed that one Donegal Bass is worth a hundred south coast Bass.

At least. It's a very small club of anglers that can claim one.

That's a cracking ST, btw. Get him on a light lure rod in a stream of river flow and you'd have a screamer on your hands!

I've always claimed that one Donegal Bass is worth a hundred south coast Bass.

At least. It's a very small club of anglers that can claim one.

That's a cracking ST, btw. Get him on a light lure rod in a stream of river flow and you'd have a screamer on your hands!

Those odds sound about right, as for the sea trout on a light lure rod, I'm thinking about my #4 river fly rod!