Ballydwane between Stradbally & Bunmahon

People: Myself, 2 others who hadnt fished it before

Duration: Sunday 26th 14.30_18.00

Tide: Ht aroud 16.40

Weather: N.E overcast and sunny. Very very cold.

Bait: Nearly everything. crab sandeel mack squid lug

Rigs: pulley pennel and 2 hook flapper

Results: Zilch. nothing nowt. 0. one bite on sandeel


Report: First time fished there, nice spot and heard that some good bass had been caught fairly recent. Thought that water may have been to clear, (not sure) would like to try again in near future so if anyone has any advice on the spot it would be most appreciated.
The other 2 guys didnt catch. Surf conditions seemed pretty good so no ide awhat I was doing wrong. Oh yes, was fishing 2 rods one close in 50yds the other as far as I could get.
Hope someone can help

Hi Davwin

Fished it a couple of time in front of the entrance a couple of years ago in the autumn, caught small stuff close in on worms (mostly flatties, a few coalies, a pout and a codling) and on the last occassion I was told the best spot is far to the left hand side down under the cliffs. Long walk. Given the other options available I decided not to bother after that but I too have heard of a decent few bass being taken off it, with a decent surf essential. I would look to try sand eel later in the year, maybe try peeler crab or some other options. Another month and the sandeel is ideal...

FWIW

fished Bunmahon last july had a cracking night with bass and dogfish the main species its a real steep deep beach when the tide is in and i would certainly go back, very friendly place also.

The rocky and weedy border on the left out to the point is good for bass but is hard to fish. The rocks are very slippy and it is difficult to get close to the water's edge. It is also very weedy with channels of depth hard to find. Chest waders are essential, poppers or spun jif lemon rigs would keep you out of the snags. LOw water is the time to venture out and try to find a few spots to cast from. Have had some luck but am told it can bbe very good

Thanks for all the info lads. If conditions are good this w.e I will be out there again. Plenty of other options nearby anyhow. Dont want to be doing Youghal for a while, even if there are fish there. Its so good to get out on the open beaches. Never fished around Bunmahon, so if any of you have any pointers (without giving to many of your secrets away) it would be much appreciated.

Good luck

The good thing about this stretch of coast is that you can walk a cliff path more or less from Stradbally to Bunmahon and from this height you can select potential marks. There are a few popular marks used by locals but the whole stretch is worth invstigating.

thanks for that. will get my hiking boots on and my binculars out. who knows what I will find.
Thanks again

hello all,
the cliff top walk that nick j mentioned is great for spotting marks as he said but be careful if any of you decide to give it a go. Can be dangerous in spots since the winter storms last year, In some spots the cliff has washed away and the path is on an over hang.

spun jif lemon rigs :?: :?:

I have to know.

What, u mean you've never heard of spun jif lemon rigs?? either have i if im honest.

You fill a jif lemon with candle wax, having drilled a hole in the bottom and top to allow the line through. A hot baiting needle inserted from the bottom once the wax has hardened lets you slip the line through... Trap the lemon with beads between swivels and add a flourocarbon line to the hook / bait / lure. Casts massively and will stay on or about the surface, lets you hit distant marks or work a bait out on the ebb... you can do the same with a clear bubble float only they're smaller.

FWIW...

You Waterford guys are very lucky people living where you do being able to pop along to those areas for an afternoons fishing!
I'd echo Coasters advice on taking care - the cliffs around there can be very loose - I had a nasty scare near Annestown a few summers back with rocks giving way from under me. Very Lucky Escape... :shock:

well now that i am wise in the way of jif lemon rigs all thats left is to try it out. i'll still probably blank but at least i can blame the rig