Sea Angling Ireland

People: mark, tanglerat, jgf

Duration:7am-2pm Sun 11th Sept

Tide:mid flood to low ebb

Weather:light sw breeze, mostly sunny and warm

Bait:2 x 12" squid spreader bars

Rigs:1 x Penn Int 30W rigged with 50lb dacron, 1 x okuma 50W and shimano beastmaster roller rigged with 80lb dacron

Results: no sightings of tuna


Report: Left Portnablagh with Gerry, and John had made the long trip from Portglenone so we could leave port at 7am. Took around 45 mins to reach the Limeburner off Melmore and passed it to head NE as Michael McVeigh said pods of tuna had been spotted here the previous day. Started trolling around 4 miles off the Limeburner at 8:15 right off the mouth of Mulroy bay looping round to follow diving gannets.Trolling speed seemed best at around 4.2 kts though the Penn rod is a little short and the front end of the spreader bar is a bit low in the water. No mad bird activity just quite a few single diving birds. From about 9:30 we trolled down towards Fanad and zig-zaged in and out. Pleanty of bait was showing on the sounder and when the day warmed we started to see sprats? jumping all round us-but no tuna. Water temp was between 57.8 and 58.1 degrees.
Trolled back up to the burner and drifted for about 1/2 hour for a few gurnard.
Got a bit excited on the way back in when Gerry spotted something jumping but it turned out to be porpoises.
Thanks to the crew, espically John for making the long journey-pity we didn't even see a tuna.
Weather was very poor from Tue 13th on and we took the boat out of the water on Sat am 17th. Will keep it there until end of Oct in case we get a good day and can have one last blast for the tuna.

Hi Mark,

Thanks again for the offer to get out and try for the tuna at least. Not something you get the chance to do everyday.

I see on McVeigh's website that Adrian Molloy had a hookup that same day and there were several sightings also - all this must have been after we got in to shore!

Too bad the weather didn't co-operate for you the rest of the week.

Still an enjoyable morning despite the early start! Good to meet yourself & Gerry (Tanglerat) also.

JGF wrote:Hi Mark,

Thanks again for the offer to get out and try for the tuna at least. Not something you get the chance to do everyday.

I see on McVeigh's website that Adrian Molloy had a hookup that same day and there were several sightings also - all this must have been after we got in to shore!

Too bad the weather didn't co-operate for you the rest of the week.

Still an enjoyable morning despite the early start! Good to meet yourself & Gerry (Tanglerat) also.

Hey you ya sneaky wee turncoat ........................ are we "Chucked?"

Aye! Not a bit of it Arthur - just couldn't refuse the offer to chase Gannets about the place on a fine Sunday morning.

You'll have to get a shore session or 2 organised when the boats have all finished.

JGF wrote:
You'll have to get a shore session or 2 organised when the boats have all finished.

Trouble is, I think a 'cast' is something the doctor puts on ye when you break your leg!

arthurg wrote:JGF wrote:


You'll have to get a shore session or 2 organised when the boats have all finished.



Trouble is, I think a 'cast' is something the doctor puts on ye when you break your leg!

Wot, you've never uptided :!: :shock:

Although we never got a sniff of a tuna, we were at least big game fishing! off Donegal! how cool is that!?

Nice to meet JGF and put another face to a forum name, hopefully there'll be a weather window for another bash at the big lads before they move on.