culdaff beach

fished it today, fished with sandeel and squid arrived 11am stayed till 2pm i think i was getting bites on the sandeel as there stomach was ripped open when checking the bait but i couldnt see the bites, any info, tatics etc round the area would be appreciated :cry:
regards.

Hi

Sad to say that ripped stomachs are common on frozen sand eel as it is the softest point and it may have more to do with crabs than anything else... I am sure some of the northern cousins will be able to help you...

Sandeel's not the best bait up here at the moment off the beaches - you'd be better with lug tipped with squid or a thin sliver of mackerel. Rag is not producing as much as lug on the shallow beaches but seems to be taking the odd good plaice anywhere you can fish into deeper water.

Fishing seems very poor in daylight - much better try a shot over dusk into darkness. A bit of a surf always helps and it's surprising just how close in flatties and coalies will be at dusk. 2 hours either side of high or low water will usually be best. If you are targetting coalies specifically, try bending the point of the hook a few millimeters out of line - it appears to help hooking. Some folk swear by mussels for coaley but IMHO they'll happily take worm tipped with mack.

Stick with size 4-2 hooks, 2-3 hook flappers and a rolling lead if possible - 3oz and upwards, conditions permitting.

Have a good look at the beach at low tide and note any rocks, patches of shale or gravel and particularly any depressions - however slight. These are where food will get washed into and particularly where flatties will be found, sheltering out of the run of tide. Think about it - an average flattie is less than 2.5 cm thick. It doesn't take much of a depression for them to be able to lie in to hide from the tide.

Similarly, any patch of rock that projects up even a few centimeters from the sea bed will provide a shelter from the tide - try and identify which is the sheltered side and plonk a bait there.

Another top tip that the lads in my club swear by is never to fish beside me - theres more fish from 100 yards either side of me. :lol:

8) Try the pier,mackerel strip 30-40 yds straight off the end on a flooding tide,you can`t miss.Light tackle is all that`s needed,snag free.

Aye - the pier using mussles, squid or prawns around this time of year, into dusk on a rising tide will catch you any amount of coalies, some pretty decent too.