Bonito, Meevagh, Co Donegal: Sun, June 25, 2006

Present, in no particular order.... Tanglerat, Sandman, LSD, Pete, Petekd, Jgf and the other Peter, the plumber who isn't on the forum.

Weather: See pictures

Tide: Made for a fast drift across the wreck......

Results: pollock pollock pollock more pollock....... best was about 9lbs, not sure if pete or jgf got that one. Ling, coalies to about 5 lb, pout, then dabs, grey gurnard, thornback ray and petekd's turbot.

A quick stop outside the bay saw enough mackerel (small as they were) feathered up to make for a day's fishing.

A further hour and a quarter's steaming saw us on the wreck of the Audacious, drifting for pollock, coaley and ling. Pollock and ling averaged about 4-5lb, coaley a little smaller. Best pollock was about 9lb. Wasn't me that caught it.... A lone pout made an appearance - thought the place would have been alive with them. The skipper said they'd had a pile of spurdog the previous day.

There may have been bigger fish hooked, but the resident seal made sure they never saw the surface. A couple of pollock and coaley had bite marks from the seal by the time they hit the surface.

When Tanglerat decided he'd lost enough pirks for one day the decision was made to head in to the clean ground to drift for flatties. Dab showed, though scarce enough. I managed a small thornback ray. A couple of small grey gurnard were boated but the highlight was petekd's 4lb turbot. Or at least, Tanglerat had a quick fondle and said it was a turbot. It was originally diagnosed as a brill. Good fish, either way.

The skipper was helpful, quick with the net and a mine of useful information and stories which helped pass the time in and out to the wreck.

Tanglerat's biggest pollock beat my best 5.5lb fish by a couple of pounds and decided I should have to take the web steering committee position as punishment. I personally blame the seal, which snatched all my bigger fish on the lift. I suspect some level of collusion there...

All in all, a grand day out and nice to meet some of the forum members in person.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a few pics...

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[url=http://img251.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thornie8gy.jpg][img]http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/424/thornie8gy.th.jpg[/img][/url]

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Fair play Pat for posting the report, apologies for missing the best of the wreck fishing by popping up to the front of the boat for a kip.....v late night on Sat I'm afraid.....from which I was rather rudely awakened by a bloody wave spraying over me :evil: Prob for the best as I would still be there otherwise! Enjoyed the day out all the same but man was I glad to get in the cot last night....

Your being very kind to me over the Turbot, in all honesty I reckon 2 lb was there or thereabouts. Incidentally folks, that pic of Sandmans Ray, the ray in question is around the 10lb mark, Its just Sandman is a really massive bloke... :D

Good day out, good craic and nice to fish over some different ground for a change.

One other thing, on parking on the pier and taking gear etc down to boat, in my hungover, no sleep state, I stupidly left my wallet sitting on the bonnet of my jeep. €200, laser and credit cards etc all included. In the slight chance that they may be reading this, many many thanks to whoever it was that spotted this stupid oversight and very kindly wrapped it in a leaflet and tucked it next to the wipers. If your reading this, I want your address, I owe you one. A PM or Email will do. Really appreciate it, not a thing was touched, thank you for your honesty and kindness.

Yup, a grand day out. After my disasterous day's salmon fishing on Friday (saw 17 salmon being caught, saw a mink take a fish, I blanked), it was great to get back on the briney and actually catch something.

Cool pics.

Thanks to all for an enjoyable day out. We'll have to do it again when the summer species are around.

I'll echo it all - great day's craic, and good to meet everyone from SAI finally.

PeteKD well done on getting back to Cork on Sunday night in one piece (if you did decide to head back down).

Pat - good job on the report - a good start to your new job!

I went out again yesterday with Michael McVeigh slightly farther out and managed to pick up pollack to 10.5lbs on live mackeral / flappers and there were a couple of other notable fish that i'll do a report for with a couple of pics.

Really enjoyable day afloat and good to meet more of the forum lads. It was interesting to note that Tanglerat had to use a wheelbarrow to carry all his pirks onto the boat.....I've never seen so many!

Didn't need a wheelbarrow to get the remaining pirks off the boat tho.... :lol: