Shalway Pier, Killybegs, Co. Donegal - 28th Dec 06

People:Ark Royal and Stevie C

Duration:11.30am - 5.00pm

Tide:high to low / rough seas

Weather: strong southerly winds, cloudy and overcast

Bait:rag, mack, squid, sandeel

Rigs:one hook clipped, two hook pat, Portsmouth

Results:2 dabs, 1 edible crab

Catch and Release:: Yes



Report:Main target was the rocks at Teelin Pier but heading round the coast road it was obvious that this was not a day for that particular venue so decided to play safe and went to the wee pier at Shalway.

After making breakfast we setup a couple of rods one with a one hook clipped rig baited with rag and mack and the other with some mack and rag and squid.
It was hard to tell if there were bites with the wind playing tricks with the rod tips however I know that I did miss one cracking pull. After another half hour or so the rod tip bounced again this time there was no mistake and I landed a lovely Dab. on rag and mack. Unfortunatley it was deep hooked and not wishing to see it suffer I had only time to get a photo and have it returned. I would have estimated it to be approx 1lb and about 40cm in length.
After another quite spell I landed another Dab - this one a lot smaller than the first. Folloing this the only other notable catch was a large edible crab. We fished on to 5pm but with nothing doing and the weather turning we decided to call it quits and head for home.





[img][img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/steviec_photos/LargeDabShalwayPier-Donegal281206.jpg[/img]
[img][img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/steviec_photos/EdibleCrabShalwayPier-Donegal281206.jpg[/img]
[/img][img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/steviec_photos/ShalwayPier-Donegal281206.jpg[/img]

brave men :D good photo;s

well done lad,s great pictures
kiss them throw them back

Realy nice dab Stevie. You wont believe it but I found that tool you loaned me. Have to get out soon.

nice fish, id say by the look of the sea behind you it was a wise decision to give teelin a miss!!!

thanks for the compliments lads - this was my first attempt to upload some photos and I am glad that it was successful. I followed the previous instructions given by Kevin to FMCN in a previous post i.e. use photobucket.com and it worked a treat.

Francis, anytime give me a shout - would love to have a crack at those pollock at Ballyhornan soemtime.

Here are some more photos from the latest trip.



[img][img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/steviec_photos/TheLittleChef-Donegal281206.jpg[/img]
[/img][img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/steviec_photos/WaitingforaBite-ShalwayPierDonegal2.jpg[/img]

Is that not gortalia pier? Nearly sure shalvey dosnt have a pier!
Shalvey beach not a bad spot.....

Thats a calm day going by the pics, you'll know its rough at Gortalia when the waves are coming up over the back wall :lol: Last time we fished it they were coming over the front wall in the last picture too :)

Hey pete, have you had much sucess from the pier, Ive had some good flounder and turbot from the beach. Have only fished it once though...

Thanks for the info men. I started fishing this mark several years ago and heard it refered to as Tortilia Pier but thought this was just a local reference as any map that I've looked at doesn't show it as such. In fact when I was writing this post I checked the map and the nearest pier was referred to as Shalway so I assumed this was it.
Have always found it to be a good spot for flats and dogs and on occasions there may be some pollock about but nothing special.
If this is Gortilia then whereabouts is "Shalway" - is it the wee pier near Muckross Head?

I know the area well, but to my knowledge there is no shalvey pier.
Shalvey is the last town land before gortalia and the pier is in gortalia, unless its a miss print on the map. The pier around at muckross Im sure is muckross pier. I could be corrected on this....

Heading out from Killybegs the first pier is Muckross. Next is Shalwy point and a lttle further on is Gortalia pier. Have a look at Donegal Councils planning website . You will get some great ariel views .

I dont know what map you are looking at, the first pier from killybegs is the one at drumano, before fintragh beach, the next one is gortaila, after that is muckross pier and then muckross head.

I meant the area in question. I checked it again - Its Shalwy point - Gortalia pier and then Muckross beach & pier.

Yes, that would be right enough......... 8)

Mark J ,

Have you ever fished Trabane or Silverstrand as its also known at Malinbeg.

Gortalia Pier and the one at Muckross is Trabane Pier :) . Mark i've had plenty of small fish of it, two years ago it fished well for whiting but they have dissappeared of late, can't figure why.

You would be right with the name, I just it the name because of the town land! I thought the beach in shalvey would be good, althought its all small fish that ive had from it, probably good at night, but getting there is another thing! Suprised there wouldnt be the odd ray of it...

The very odd homelyn ray, but when I say odd I mean odd. Not much in the way of thornies down our bay, I tend to head to Swilly when I want rays.

Lads don't wish to prolong the debate but check this one out - http://www.cfb.ie/fishing_in_ireland/se ... galBay.doc reference point number 5.

Is this the same pier that we are all talking about :roll: