Wicklow

People:me

Duration: about 12:30-4pm

Tide:no idea but seemed to be rising

Weather:Incredable, bright sunshine, little wind

Bait:rag

Rigs:2 hook boom, 3 hook flapper

Results:4 wrasse, 1 launce, 2 pollock

Report: The objective was to give my new rod and reel a go.Light spin/travel rod and a baitcaster style reel. Tought I was fishing over clean ground and was surprised when the first 3 casts produced 3 wrasse all a few onces.

Then the boom rig got snagged, I knew I wasn't going to have a chance of getting it back as I was only using 5lb line, so I changed rig and the wrasse bites stopped :( Expected some flats but got none, but did get 2 pollock of about 1/2 a pound plus 4 which I swear wouldn't have even made an once :shock: Then I got a great bite resulting in a wrasse of about 1lb which was great fun. 8)

Spun for about 1hr but only managed one very big launce on a C-bar. Last year I would normally have guaranteed some small pollock to a spinner but incredably none to spinning today :?

Anyway a very nice day overall :D Very happy with the rod, but the reel wasn't great. Will try and post a review soon.[/b]

again today, pretty much same as above. Used braid for first time and was very impressed. Coupled with a light spin rod and tiny f/s reel it was great fun :D
Added my first codling and pout of the year along with my first ever dragonet 8) if you've ever seen those flathead fish on Rex Hunt or whatever they look very similar but in mini and with an ominous looking spine fin sticking up :shock:

Another very enjoyable day :D

And I returned to the pier again :D
This time pretty much same as above but not as warm with a little wind.
The wind meant I had to step up to a 1oz weight. Unfortunately it was nothing like as productive as previous but have no idea why, the only difference was the slight weather change.

Still no pollock spinning, 2 wrasse, 2 pout and another dragonet(must try and get a pic of this fish) that was it, all pretty small.

col

p.s. are ppl interested at all in reports of this area? :roll:

Hi Col, what are you getting the launce on..? Are you taking them from the pier..? They are a great bait for Bass as you know and I could do with getting some myself for the freezer.

Incredabley the launce actually came to a german sprat/c-bar, cleanly hooked through the mouth! :shock:
I am allways seeing shoals of eel moving around the pier often getting burst into by large launce!!

Anybody know what I could use to try and get some of these sandeel?
Have used small sabiki feathers to no effect

col

Either a cast net or you can get collapsible shrimp/sandeel pots on ebay. Or maybe vingle them out of the sand at the waterline morning or evening....

Thanks sandman, have seen those traps allright but didn't know they would work for sandeel!
col

I used to catch tons of em off the long rock at silver strand but access is prohibited there now after some numpty fell down the cliff. Is a cracking spot for fishing... :cry:

I used to use very small feathers to take em. Good to hear you are taking them at the pier. Will have to try it some time soon.