North Donegal, 2/1/23

With 2022 ending on a low note it was time to open the 2023 book. A trip north was arranged with Chuckaroo and his pal Jonty who had managed a day off. Tides weren't exactly ideal but sometimes just getting out and having a bit of fresh air in the lungs takes precedence. I left the house in darkness and despite -3 showing on the dash, the roads were ice free; driving on salt to fish in the salt! About 3/4's of the way there Chuckaroo called to say his car wouldn't start so he would be late. He called later to suggest that with a still flat battery, he would call off. The dash was still showing -3 as I stepped out of the car into a cool breeze but I got suited, booted and trudged off to the beach. The high dunes gave shelter from the breeze and the sun gave some heat so all in all it was quite pleasant. The tide was about 1 hour into the flood as I launched the first baits into the surf, to be followed by the second rig closer in. Mackerel strip and prawns adorned a 1 up 1 down rig and a 3 hook flapper. Jonty arrived soon after and set up close by. Nothing much happened for a while but I noticed that my line was still fraying slightly on one rod. Last trip out my rod took a tumble and broke a ring, I didn't realise that the tip ring had also cracked so back to the car for a replacement rod and reel. A short fish-and-bite-less time later Chuckaroo arrived and set up. I moved a few yards along the beach to where the wave patterns suggested a gully of deeper water, perhaps this was where the fish were hiding. False alarm, but a while later Jonty reeled in the first fish of the day, a small flounder of about 22cm. He was obviously on the hotspot as he reeled in a much better flounder at 35cm a short time later. Then when Chuckaroo hauled in a flounder, it seemed the fish were coming on the feed but that was it, no more bites. I still hadn't had so much as a chewed bait when just after the turn of the tide and with a lateral tow starting to build, I had a slack liner and in through the suds came a silvery sea trout. At 29cm it was no specimen but a bite, a fish and a blank prevented, 2023 was in gear! I am always interested to see what the first and last fish of every year is, I don't think that honour has ever been accepted by a seatrout. With the sun disappearing behind the mountain, the temperature was starting to drop and with nothing happening, we called it a day. I set off in the morning in darkness and now I set off in the evening in darkness, hopefully herself would have something tasty malingering next to the microwave but I would probably have to pour a glass of something red myself. Such a tough life I lead!

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tough session but the nice day made up for it, almost

nice report - need to get out soon

not bad at least you didnt blank, i hope your dinner was ok and didnt take too much red drink

not bad at least you didnt blank, i hope your dinner was ok and didnt take too much red drink :lol:

After years of practice I'm still trying to work out how much is too much!

not bad at least you didnt blank, i hope your dinner was ok and didnt take too much red drink :lol:

After years of practice I'm still trying to work out how much is too much!

if you fall over you had enough

Happy New Year JW! And thanks for yet another great report and pics.

On the wine topic, there's a little plaque over my wine rack that reads: "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the more I like it...."

Happy New Year JW! And thanks for yet another great report and pics.

On the wine topic, there's a little plaque over my wine rack that reads: "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the more I like it...."

Hi Hugo, I might convert that to "Past Tense" and use it for my epitaph! Have a great 2023.