Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:31 pm
People: My Dad and I
Duration: Friday June 2nd to Monday June 5th
Tide: every possible option
Weather: blazing sunshine
Bait: razorfish, mussels, sandeel, lug, mackerel
Rigs: mostly 2 / 3 hook flappers / clip downs
Results:
The objective for the weekend was flatfish and we didn't manage even one, however we did manage a couple of decent sized bass, 4 and 5 lbs respectively. Bass were taken on lugs fished a good way out at night, on a sandy beach, and both were taken on flatfish rigs with beads and attractor blades. Also got a 3lb mullet off a pier at low tide early in the morning on a floated lugworm (hadn't even intended to got for them, was doing a recce of the mark saw them patrolling so gave it 10 minutes, using my beachcaster negated any fight though !!
Report:
Frustrating in many ways, (a) coz I couldn't keep the best bass I have got in many years and (b) because I failed miserably to locate a single flattie. I fished a lot of hours over the 4 days , low tides incoming at dawn, I fished through high tides at night, I fished in and around estuary / stream mouths where I have found them before, I saw small flatties scurry away in the shallows, the water was crystal clear , except for the bright sunshine conditions looked to be perfect !
That said, with such fantastic weather I can't complain I fished in some truly beautiful spots, with cuckoos in the background, the scent of suncream in the air and a chilled beer in the cooler.
At one mark I saw what looked like sea trout jumping, in another I saw what appeared to be two large bass cruising the shallows ( not more than a foot of water) I tried everything in my tackle box to tempt them in, but have no experience in fishing such shallow waters and failed to get them interested in any of my baits or spinners, they nearly went through my legs at one point ! ( any advice on this situation appreciated)
The mackerel were running at Blackhead on the Saturday, apparently they were quite small, but I couldn't be bothered even trying for them.
I think I can partly blame the lack of flatfish around Lahinch on the trawlers, on two consecutive night I watched trawlers criss cross Liscannor Bay at night coming within 500 yards of the beach at one point, I mentioned this illegal act to one garda, I think I can safely interpret his grunt as a lack of interest, maybe he didn't fancy the swim out. Speaking to a local angler afterwards he reckoned they were after salmon destined for the Inagh.
Met a lad on Tuesday fishing Lahinch beach who told me he was after Ray!! I don't think I can recall anyone ever catching a ray off Lahinch beach in 20 years!
Anyway, great weekend, great weather but thats all my fishing done for June sadly, no more til I go exploring West Cork in late July.
Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:08 pm
hi I appreciate you don't want to give too much away re location, but did you get the bass at the eastern or western end of your range?
Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:01 am
Maybe I'm just being cynical, but I doubt he was fishing for Ray - they are rare enough around lahinch. It's more likely he was bass fishing but wasn't prepared to admit it to you....
Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:59 pm
More than likely considering the bass ban.
John D.