Duration: 9.15-18.00
Tide: HW ~11.00am
Weather: Wet and windy
Bait: Mackerel
Rigs: Feathers, pirks, shad, baited spoon, sonic booms, etc.
Results: mackerel, pollack, red gurnard, haddock, whiting, ling, blue shark
Report:
With weather reports the previous evening predicting winds ranging from force 2 to force 6/7 and possibly reaching gale force, there wasn't a great expectation that we'd get out out to sea at all. We were all gathered at the pier next morning before 9am anxiously waiting on the skipper to arrive and give his verdict. We didn't have long to wait. Kevin reckoned it would be a bit rough but was willing to take us out as he knew we were all experienced boat anglers and wouldn't have much trouble with the rough conditions
We loaded up and were on on way by 9.15, heading straight for the back of the Aran Islands. Steve and myself were at the back of the boat on the trip out - white knuckles clenching the rail for all we were worth on the roller-coaster ride. Kevin and nige managed to get the rubby-dubby bag sorted before we managed to reach our mark
. Don't ask me how they managed this in the weather we had, and with mackerel that were a few days old There was a fairly vicious swell that did all it could to drown myself and Steve as waves and spray lashed over the 47-footer. 90 minutes later engines trottled back - we had reached our mark, wet
(Note to self: don't leave cigs, lighter or phone in outer pocket of floatie - they don't take salt water too well 
).Rods quickly over the side and we were into mackerel straight away, lots of them. Meanwhile the rubby-dubby was hung over the side and 4 shark rods were rigged and the baloons quickly pulled away from the boat in the big tide.
Lots of mackerel later, a ratchet fired on one of the shark rods. "Shark on" from Kevin and all rods were rapidly reeled in. Nige was the lucky guy to have the opportuning to tackle this baby. With a nice bend in the rod, Nige nursed the shark closer, but the shark had other intentions and peeled off more line. Unfortunately, we didn't to see this shark as a few minutes later, Nige's line went slack. Shark gone
. Rotten bit of bad luck .Back to normal fishing again for all, changing tactics to get past the mackerel
. Pirk, shad and booms went down we started into some good pollack, whiting and a few ling. Steve pulled in a nice haddock and a while later pulled in a lovely ling. Meanwhile the swell was really nasty - I had a box of Kwells in my bag and a few people were happy to take one. (Won't mention any names
)"Shark on" again and all lines were pulled in. I had the pleasure of taking this one. Kevin reminded me of the 30lb breaking strain braid and the big swell (like I needed reminding of that swell). Felt like a good fish and it wanted line. After a few runs, we managed to see the blue/white streak in the water. My left arm was really feeling the strain. Got the fish to the side of the boat to let the skipper grab its tail. The blue shark started rolling and the line was wound around its body 6 or 7 times. It was another 5 minutes before we got it into the boat. By now my arm was like jelly, but it was worth it to land my first blue shark
At just about 2m long, we estimated its weight at approx. 65lbs. Happy days
Pollack, red gurnard (good size too) and whiting were still being caught. After a 15 minute revival period I went back fishing and it wasn't until I hooked 2 big pollack on shad and spoon that I realised how tired my arm was. I took another break after that
The rain came down heavy shortly before Kevin headed back to Spiddle, around 16.30. I didn't care
I'm sure the lads will have some bits to add...
hard luck Nige your day will come! Another species for Steve too happy days!
. 1.5 hours of a fight? Whew! Think I'd need to be resuscitated after that 