Cork Beach again - 24th and 26th July

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 24th July - 11.50 pm to 5.00 am; 26th July - 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm

Tide: 24th July: LW at 2.40 am

Weather: 24th July; Light northwesterly breeze, clear, warm night; 26th July: strong southwestly, dry, mostly cloudy

Bait: Lug, rag, razor

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys, two hook flapper (4/0 hooks)

Results: 24th July: 4 bass, 6 dogfish, 1 conger; 26th July: 1 bass




Report: There was a northwesterly wind blowing on Friday and that seems to bring the bass on the feed on a certain Cork beach, so I decided on an all night session. I had some lug left over from the session on Wednesday night so I dug some rag at lunchtime on Friday. Got to the beach and was set up just before midnight. There was a moderate surf and it was weed free

Shortly after setting up, as I was about to move the rods forward I checked the line on one of the rods by giving it a slight tug to see if it was still taut. It was, but immediately after tugging it there was a sudden jerk on the rod tip. I picked up the rod, the line had suddenly gone slack. I quickly reeled in the slack and struck hooking into a strong fish. It was putting up a good fight. It was a plump 60 cm bass It was taken on the 4/0 pennel pulley baited with lug.

A little later there was another knock on the same rod - I thought I had another bass as it was giving a good fight but turned out to be a dogfish.

About half an hour later I had another strong bite - this time it was a very lively bass - 48 cm I couldn't get it to stay still on the ruler for a photo.

After that I had to endure a dogfish onslaught - I got another 5 in quick succession down to low tide. Several of them were quite large and put up a good fight - so I thought I had a bass each time

In among them all I got a baby conger. I thought I spotted some small taps on the rod tip - held the rod but didn't feel anything. I placed it back on the stand but then saw the small knocks again so I retrieved thinking that small fish were nibbling on the bait but found a small conger on the end. Unfortunately it has made a complete mess of the rig so I had to replace it with a fresh one.

At some stage my camera packed up - I think sand got stuck into the lens mechanism so I didn't get any more photos after the conger.

Shortly after the tide turned I had another good bite - this one was a 49 cm bass

It got quite after that for a while but at dawn I had another strong bite - a 48 cm bass.

So 4 bass in total - I was happy with that - better than Wednesday night when I only managed one.

There was a very strong southwesterly wind blowing on Sunday - I had some things to do in the early afternoon and also needed to dig some bait. I went to my rag location as I could get some well before low tide. Then headed back to the same beach. Got there then discovered I forgot to bring my reels - I left them on the kitchen counter to drain after rinsing them off that last day - so back home and back out again. I didn't get the first line into the water until 5.00 pm - I had missed the most productive fishing time at this stage but there was a big surf so I was hopeful that there still might be a few bass around on the rising tide. Despite the strong winds the water was relatively free of weed but I had trouble holding bottom - I had to switch to 6 oz weights which held for a while. Just before 6 pm I thought I had a clump of weed but as I was retrieving I saw some splashing at the end of the line. It was a 44 cm bass

I stuck it out for a couple of hours more but there were no more bites. But I was happy enough with the one bass - I hadn't been that hopeful of getting anything as this beach fishes best on the ebb or at the beginning of the rising tide.

Forgot to mention some scumbag pinched my knife on Sunday. One time when I was casting out I noticed that somebody was walking along the beach level with my gear - later I discovered the knife was missing - it had been in the bucket and I hadn't used it all day so I reckon the guy passing must have lifted it. He probably stabbed somebody last night with it - and with my fingerprints all over it

[RockHunter]

Bass from Sunday

[saltydog]

Nice fishing as usual Frank any problems with weed?

[RockHunter]

Thanks Conor,
No the weed wasn't bad - it was perfectly clear on Friday night. I was expecting it to be bad on Sunday but there was very little about. Not totally clear but not enough to cause any problems. The main problem on Sunday was the cross-wind which made bites hard to detect.

[rory from cork]

Great fishing as usual...well done...wish I was allowed out as often

[red]

good going again frank. your well on the way to the 100 now.

maybe it was an otter that took the knife??

[Dean]

That's very good fishing lad. Congratulations. I'm still trying to land my first bass
Any tips on where's the best places to fish for bass in Cork.
Do bass always feed after dark? I've always fished for bass during the day on incoming tides.
Unfortunately my persistance hasn't really paid off as yet

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

wish I was allowed out as often

I wish I could go fishing every evening - but that might be pushing it a bit

maybe it was an otter that took the knife??

No it was a two legged rodent.

Do Bass always feed after dark? I've always fished for Bass during the day on incoming tides.

Bait fishing is best a dusk or after dark. Some beaches fish better on the ebb, some early on the rising tide some in the last couple of hours of the rising tide. Some beaches dont fish at all well in daylight, but others can produce bass in daylight. You just need persistence - pick a beach and fish it at different stages of the tide until you find the time that the bass are present.

[Dean]

Thanks guys,

wish I was allowed out as often

I wish I could go fishing every evening - but that might be pushing it a bit

maybe it was an otter that took the knife??

No it was a two legged rodent.

Do Bass always feed after dark? I've always fished for Bass during the day on incoming tides.

Bait fishing is best a dusk or after dark. Some beaches fish better on the ebb, some early on the rising tide some in the last couple of hours of the rising tide. Some beaches dont fish at all well in daylight, but others can produce Bass in daylight. You just need persistence - pick a beach and fish it at different stages of the tide until you find the time that the Bass are present.

Thanks I will persevere and hopefully my persistance will pay off.

[eyesreilly]

Nice fishing again Frank, i've just realised i've got something in common with you ,,,,,wish it was your bass catching skill, but its just that my knife went missing as well. Do you know what, if you stuck your toe in to test the water, there'd be a bass on it when you took it out Tight lines

[seanie35]

66 bass frank well done you should be at the ton by september

[wilky83]

Ok now il have to head out with ya some nite , great fishing

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys

Ok now il have to head out with ya some nite

No problem - maybe next week - Wednesday night looks to be favourable in terms of the tides relative to dusk for that beach. Hopefully it will be free of weed.

[Dawsey]

Excellent fishing mate, that's a brave lota bass der bud. Hopefully I can get off the mark over the next few weeks, when we hit the road next week

[gfkelly1969]

well done nice bass,pity about the knife being lifted,there is always some scum bag watching to get a chance to steal