smoothie hunt

mate of mine could get his hands on some peeler crab, so we bunched up and ordered a load. After work on Saturday I packed the car and drove to his place in Belfast to collect my share, there was only one thing I was going to do with these fine crabs, go on a smoothie hunt. I know that hound can be got up north now but they are hit and miss so I headed south to Wicklow to a nice beach that I have had success on before. Once I arrive I was suited and booted and wandering down the beach in record time, chatted to a fellow angler who had caught a nice 42cm bass but like me he was after hounds. The bad news was he said it was too rough for the hounds but I was here anyway so walked on down the beach and set up my gear. I soon had a large crab bait sent out and a second rod in close with an offering of 3 baits, sandeel razor and crab. now the fishing was slow but kept getting hits, a quick pull down then nothing so I figured there was small bass about and scaled down my 3 hook flapper to smaller hooks and baits but alas these bites soon dried up too. Now from pass experience of this venue I know the hounds usually show up around high water and bang on 3.30am my distance rod pulled over and the ratchet screamed, I was into a angry hound. It took me a few minutes to bring the hound in but once it got near the surf line it went mad, It shot off down the beach taking line before turning and going in the opposite direction, but as each run got shorter I soon beached a nice hound, she took the scales to 6lb and after a quick photo for memories I released it to grow bigger. Well nothing happened after that so at 4am I wandered back to the car and packed my gear away, had a cup of coffee before the long drive home, but it was a drive I did with a smile on my face.