Loop head- Sun 12 th august

Wind nw4, 5, then 6
Patchy sun with intermittent torrential rain
Tide Coming and going
John (the shark catcher allegedly) and I
Shark rigs, 3 feet of 275lb wire to 10/0 O Shaughnessys, 10 feet of 300lb mono

Headed 3 miles nw of loop head on a trial blue shark run
Bit of a swell, but manageable
10 minutes filled the mackerel bucket, and then chopped and mashed and off the back with an onion bag

New to this, I had problems getting the baits to stay attached to the balloons, and then some aggresive gulls took great delight in popping them with their beaks. The wind picked up steadily during the day, and I was really not very confident of the dubby side of things. No bran, just chopped mackerel.

After 2 hours though, one of the balloons went off at a leisurely pace, struck and no resistance. Wondered whether it was a run at all when the second balloon went off a lot faster. Struck this time to meet momentary resistance and brief run before slack line

Tackle ok, just no hook up
With both rods in to be reballooned, a blue shark then swam along the back of the boat just subsurface.Haven't caught any of these before, so no idae of size/weight but it looked big!!

Needless to say, by the time I got the baits back over the side , it had disappeared.

Another hour saw the wind and swell increase considerable, and common sense got the better part of valour, so headed back to Kilrush

Next time I am going to file down the barbs on the 10/0 O Shaughnessys, which I think are too big for the hook, but an exciting 3 hours all the same

Now if only there was a break in the weather
I'll be back, with better hooks

Kev

Dad and Bro were hoping for some decent weather to do the same today and for the week, doesn't look like they will get it.

Spoke to them an hour ago and they were off up river as the sea state off the loop was "interesting"!!

Where would i rather be i wonder, sat here at work in Norfolk or getting thrown about a bit out there....... :lol: :lol:

Best of luck the next time you get out there for them kev

Ben

Wasn't bad for your first foray at the blues Kev. Must have fairly got the pulse racing having one swimming alongside the boat.... :D

10/0 O Shaughnessys,

New to this, I had problems getting the baits to stay attached to the balloons, and then some aggresive gulls took great delight in popping them with their beaks. No bran, just chopped mackerel.

Next time I am going to file down the barbs on the 10/0 O Shaughnessys, which I think are too big for the hook, but an exciting 3 hours all the same

Kev

Hi Kev,

I use the same hooks and have no trouble with them so I wonder was it the way you placed the bait on the hook that caused you the problems. I just hook the mack through the bottom jaw and out through the top jaw about 5-10 mm in from the tip, same as you would for conger fishing. I don't file the barbs.

The Gulls can cause a problem, a catapult n a pocket of pebbles :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: I heard it suggested lately that the colour of the balloon can provoke the gull to attack it, and that white is the best colour, I suppose they think it is a fellow gull. I haven't proved nor disproved this theory yet.

I had a young gannet diving down to the baits on Friday driving us nuts. The fog horn scared him away :wink:

I just tie the neck of the balloon around the mainline with a single half hitch sealing the balloon and tying it to the line with a single knot the main line just runs through it as you reel in.

Your rubby dubby could do with a couple of more ingredients, bran or saw dust and oil, fish oil is best but cheap cooking oil is a poorer substitute.
The practice of using blood from abattoirs was stopped due to BSE and CJD etc.


Jim

Would be a neat achievement when you manage to get a blue from your own. Weather for week and weekend is looking dreadfull though. :evil:

Hi Jim

If you are using bran and oil with your dubby, are you using an onion bag, or some other form of dubby dispenser
All advice appreciated

Kev

I'm not 100% sure, but it should be possible to get bran in bulk 25kg sacks from an animal feed store :?: :?:

Kev

Hi Jim

If you are using bran and oil with your dubby, are you using an onion bag, or some other form of dubby dispenser
All advice appreciated

Kev

Hi Kev,

I double up and use two onion bags. Don't have it in the water at all just hang it as you would a fender so with each rock of the boat it just dips in the water. One bag will probably last you all day but if sharks are slow refresh it.

A 25kg bag of bran would probably last you a life time. Saw dust will do the same thing if you can get your hands on some. Fish meal used in animal feeds is also excellent, but don't get carried away all it does is adds body to the dubby and soaks up the oils and fish scents.


Jim

Sorry to jump in Kev,
Jim if we can get hold of cows blood is it any better anyway? Colm may have a contact, must admit I was thinking of squashing down the back end of the barb to leave a hump, seems to hold with Tope ok, just feel it would help both us and the fish should it get to that :lol:
Cheers
Sean,

Sorry to jump in Kev,
Jim if we can get hold of cows blood is it any better anyway? Colm may have a contact, must admit I was thinking of squashing down the back end of the barb to leave a hump, seems to hold with Tope ok, just feel it would help both us and the fish should it get to that :lol:
Cheers
Sean,

Hi Sean,

No the fish oil is best, blues don't come across too many cows out there :wink: :lol: :lol: So fish oil is more natural to attract them.


Jim

Cheers Jim, we are taking a run down to Cork tommorow, is there any tackle shops that keep the trace materials/traces worth calling at? going to have a drive into Cobh as well for a reckie,
Cheers Sean,

Cheers Jim, we are taking a run down to Cork tommorow, is there any tackle shops that keep the trace materials/traces worth calling at? going to have a drive into Cobh as well for a reckie,
Cheers Sean,

Hi Sean,

Here are 3 tackle shops that should have traces and hooks etc,

Dan Lynch at halfway angling centre: [url]http://www.halfwayanglingcentre.com/[/url]

Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre:
[url]http://corkanglingdirect.com/[/url]

Cobh Tackle shop: Mary Geary 021 4812167.

If you are calling to Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre just a few hundred metres away is CH Marine where you can buy all sorts for the boat:
[url]http://www.chmarine.com/[/url]


Jim

A few dozen mackeral caught the day before wont go a stray in the rubbie bag. Beat the shti :? out of them first and as they flow from the bag they will sink, bring the deeper swimming blues to the surface and into the main stream.

Hi Sean,

Here are 3 tackle shops that should have traces and hooks etc,

Dan Lynch at halfway angling centre: [url]http://www.halfwayanglingcentre.com/[/url]

Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre:
[url]http://corkanglingdirect.com/[/url]

Cobh Tackle shop: Mary Geary 021 4812167.


If you are calling to Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre just a few hundred metres away is CH Marine where you can buy all sorts for the boat:
[url]http://www.chmarine.com/[/url]
Jim

Brilliant! CH Marine is on my list of calls, I didn't realise Cork Angling Centre was as close to them, Thanks again Jim.
Sean,

Being marooned in Tipperary, I am forced to get my stuff online
These guys have been very fast in turning around my orders for wire,crimps, crimper etc - http://www.leadertec.com/

Being marooned in Tipperary, I am forced to get my stuff online
These guys have been very fast in turning around my orders for wire,crimps, crimper etc - http://www.leadertec.com/

Kev, think they would have been my best bet, don't think I come back with half of what I should have today, might end up with a last minute order yet, how long did delivery take? after reading the info on that website, think I need a crimping tool at the very least!
Cheers Sean,

If you are calling to Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre just a few hundred metres away is CH Marine where you can buy all sorts for the boat:
[url]http://www.chmarine.com/[/url]
Jim

Got sorted out at CH Jim, but I'm going to have to watch your directions to the sleeping grounds if Cork angling centre is anything to go by :lol: :lol: a few hundred metres :roll: :wink:
Cheers Sean,

Hey Sean
I ordered my stuff on a Sunday, posted monday and delivered tuesday. My problem is I have to go to the post office to collect, and Nenagh post office likes to open somewhere between 9 and 9.40
Still, exceptional service
Kev
ps I cant beilieve how much I have spent on shark tackle now, between a new reel, wire, crimps, hooks, swivels crimper etc. I better get a few more trips under my belt! :oops:

If you are calling to Cork Angling and Outdoor Centre just a few hundred metres away is CH Marine where you can buy all sorts for the boat:
[url]http://www.chmarine.com/[/url]
Jim

Got sorted out at CH Jim, but I'm going to have to watch your directions to the sleeping grounds if Cork angling centre is anything to go by :lol: :lol: a few hundred metres :roll: :wink:
Cheers Sean,

Hi Sean,

Now why do I get the feeling you went the scenic route...what way did you go ?????? Here is how I would go.

Come out the door of Cork angling centre drive out the gate turn right 80-100m to magic roundabout second exit on left off roundabout travel 100m turn left travel 80-100m turn right in to industrial est CH is on your left in the corner 50-80m ahead, that's a few hundred meters :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Jim

Hi Sean,

Now why do I get the feeling you went the scenic route...what way did you go ?????? Here is how I would go.

Come out the door of Cork angling centre drive out the gate turn right 80-100m to magic roundabout second exit on left off roundabout travel 100m turn left travel 80-100m turn right in to industrial est CH is on your left in the corner 50-80m ahead, that's a few hundred meters :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jim

Well I go to hell, I always get mixed up with C&H and Marine Motors which is the one I went to :oops: :oops: I'll keep those directions for next time anyway Jim
Cheers again!
Sean,