Scrapings, 14th/15th February 2017, Donegal Bay.

Tuesday 14th. With recent trips being less than productive, I was looking forward to getting out fishing as opposed to getting out catching, realistic rather than pessimistic. So with fresh mackerel fillets reinforced with some black lug wraps, sandeels and a few razorfish, I arrived at the beach to find the predicted gentle surf at the last of the ebb. Aerial reconnaissance of the beach area was forbidden by Bye-Laws so I would have to rely on instinct. The standard 2 rods at different ranges were employed, this time there was no lateral pull or movement, both plain leads sat where they landed. The various baits did like-wise remaining steadfastly on the hooks. Eventually, two and a half hours later, one rod tip gave a couple of faint shakes and the line slackened slightly. It could just have been the gusty wind so I left the putative bite to develop. Nothing more happened so 5 mins later I reeled in to find a small turbot hanging on. That was the blank saved and after another fruitless hour I moved. At the second mark the bites came fairly quickly but they consisted of a quick rattle and then nothing. As the light faded the fish seemed to become more confident and a double of small poorcod opened the account. The wind had eased and spotting bites was a lot easier; I always feel a little cheated when you get a fish but didn’t see a bite. The tide was filling and the first of three dabs accompanied another poorcod, at 26cm it was no monster but it was the best. On the stroke of high tide a couple of whiting on the 30cm mark showed up followed by poorcod no. 6, the final fish of the day. I was surprised by the complete absence of small coalfish, they’re usually unavoidable.
Wednesday 15th. I was debating whether to chance a hike across a few fields to a mark or stick to somewhere handy to the car when Evelyn Cusack came on the radio forecasting rain and wind for the northwest; handy to the car it was then. Five hours after setting up I got my first bite, a small coalfish. I was so pleased to get it that I decided to frame the picture. While awaiting this bite I had a couple of passers-by stop for a chat. The first wanted to know if there were any mackerel about; I used to take the trouble to explain about time of year and state of tide etc but over the years I’ve got tired so now I give a “Naahhh”. The second had seen a couple of small rays washed up dead on the shore nearby and was wondering if they were Manta rays. Thankfully my sanity was restored by watching a cormorant trying to deal with a sea scorpion it had caught close in to shore. The fish had its gills and fins flared out, the bird released and recaptured it several times and after about 10 mins and having covered a distance of 70-80 yards, the cormorant gave up. (Sorry about the picture quality, very dull day for a tele lens). Ms Cusack’s wind and rain did indeed arrive, my choice of mark had been well and truly vindicated. A number of bites did occur but these were transient efforts with baits returning largely intact. One more fish turned up, a pin whiting, so after 7 hours I called it a night. Most if not all the fish over the two days came to mackerel bait, I don’t know why I bother with anything else. Not long until the trout season now......

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Another couple of pics.

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Another great report JW ,thanks

Fantastic read sir, I answer the mackerel question with not yet but the 10lbs start showing up when it's 25 degrees

In fairness to the cormorant, its not a small sea scorpion! Nice report, love the bit about the drones. Anyone else seen similar signs?

Have seen guys using drones before to spot fish, maybe it's just not fair game down that way, lol.
A nice wee turbot Paddy. We'll have to get out for another go at the flatties again soon..