First Bass of 2011 - Cork, 4th January

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 7.45 pm - 2 am

Tide: LW at 11.50 pm

Weather: Moderate SSW wind, mild, clear

Bait: Lug, razor, crab

Rigs: 4/0, 5/0, 6/0 pennel pulleys, three hook flapper (size 1 hooks)

Results: Coalfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Codling, Bass, Flounder




Report: After reading Razor2's report about his very successful night of bass fishing I decided to have a go for bass - I hadn't targeted bass much since early November and had concentrated on cod - but I was getting sick of catching codling at this stage.

I arrived at the mark at about 7.30 pm. The wind had strengthened during the day and had whipped up a nice surf. If this was April I would be confident of a few bass in those conditions but I wasn't sure about this early in the year, especially after the cold artic weather last month.

I decided to fish three rods - I hadn't done that in a long time but it allowed me to fish one rod a good way out, one at moderate distance and the other in close. I set up the rod in close with a size 1 three hook flapper baited with lug and razor. The other two rods were set up with pennel pulleys baited with crab on one and a lug/razor cocktail on the other.

After about half and hour I had a bite on the crab - a good size coalfish. However, after that it was very quite. I was getting nibbles on the rod at moderate distance, probably coalfish pulling on the bait but nothing hooked. Then I spotted a small quiver on the rod in close and reeled in a small five bearded rockling, taken on razor.

It remained quite until low tide then I had a good tug on the rod in close, this was a smallish codling taken on lug on the lower hook of the three hook flapper.

I reckoned the best chance of a bass at this particular mark was very early on the rising tide so just as the tide was turning I refreshed the baits, switched the pennels pulleys to razor on one and lug on the other. Sure enough shortly after the tide began to push forward there was a very strong double tug on the rod in close. I grabbed it and struck, this time it felt like a bass!! It was pulling strongly and put up a good struggle in the shallows but after a few minutes I could see the glint of sliver in the foam. It was a plump 4 lb bass, about 53 cm so above average weight for its length

I was hoping that there might be a few more about but that was it, apart from a 30 cm flounder later on. A couple of hours into the rising tide it became very weedy so I packed up.

I was happy with the nights fishing - my first bass of 2011 so a good start to the year - last year it was well into April before I had my first bass.

[junior conger]

well done on your first bass of 2011 hopefully many more to come

[razor2]

well done Frank.nice to get the first one so early in the year

[Pat]

Well done Frank! Catching a bass in January after all this cold weather is some achievement. Inshore water temps are now averaging 7-8C. Most years you'd expect bass all the way thru the Winter, but that hasn't been the case for the last two. Hopefully this year may be different !

[mitch]

congrats on your 1st bass this year frank looks like your bass fishing is starting 4 months early

[KERRY1]

Great session Frank, well done. Congratulations on getting your first bass of the new year, I'm sure you where delighted to see it coming in through the surf! Getting your first one of the year is always that little bit more special than the rest, it is for me anyway. Well done on getting a few other species as well on the night. Your off to a great start already and it's only a few days into January, hope it's a good year for the bass for all of us who love fishing for them, good luck to you for the rest of 2011.

[roger de dodger]

sweet

[cathalger]

Very good fishing, great pics, well done.

[tomgrey]

Great report and pics as usual frank, keep up the good work and i'll keep reading in envy

[nicefish]

Well done on your first Coalie of the year, the Bass is not bad either.

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

well done on your first Bass of 2011 hopefully many more to come

Thanks, hopefully a lot more

well done Frank.nice to get the first one so early in the year

Thanks, although it was thanks your report that got me out.

Well done Frank! Catching a Bass in January after all this cold weather is some achievement. Inshore water temps are now averaging 7-8C. Most years you'd expect Bass all the way thru the Winter, but that hasn't been the case for the last two. Hopefully this year may be different !

Thanks Pat, there seems to be a few around judging from recent reports, if it hadn't been for Razor2's report the other day I wouldn't have even considered targeting bass after that cold period.

congrats on your 1st Bass this year frank looks like your Bass fishing is starting 4 months early

Thanks Gerry, off to a good start, hopefully it will be better than last year.

Great session Frank, well done. Congratulations on getting your first Bass of the new year, I'm sure you where delighted to see it coming in through the surf! Getting your first one of the year is always that little bit more special than the rest, it is for me anyway. Well done on getting a few other species as well on the night. Your off to a great start already and it's only a few days into January

Thanks Joan, yes the first one is always great to get - it took me long enough to get the first one last year so it is great to get a bass this early in the year.

[Al and Jordan]

great fishing frank . cracking way to start off the year man .
all the best for 2011 from me and the wee man

[Magpie]

Mighty session frank. ill be out targetting a bass in favourite mark four months earlier than expected. froze solid in ferrypoint tonight for 3 hours and nothing but a coalie to show for it

[declan65]

Well done Frank on your first bass of the year, with astart like that this year has got to be better than last

[beachbuddy]

Thats great news on the bass front Frank,had a tip off about a few knocking about so decided to give it a lash for myself tues evening,yip had a few which was great no real size though but good fun and they will keep me going for a while .Unfortunately one of boats that we all know too well was up to no good again just off the beach so obviously they had been tipped off as well,which is a pitty.
Tight lines

[kaylemf]

well done some great fishing again!

[Stan]

Lovely fish. Well done

[Donnyboy1]

Well done Frank! Catching a Bass in January after all this cold weather is some achievement. Inshore water temps are now averaging 7-8C. Most years you'd expect Bass all the way thru the Winter, but that hasn't been the case for the last two. Hopefully this year may be different !

Actually, my last few freedives were in water temp of 5'c much colder than usual.
I wonder if its possible all this cold weather has stopped the bass making their way to warmer waters?
My last bass was on the 30th Nov and I haven't targeted them since, might take a look for them myself.

[seanie35]

great start to the year frank i wonder will it be a good year, my overall numbers took a tumble last year, another couple of weeks chasing a big cod then back to bass i think

[southaussie]

some lovely fishing as always rockhunter, great to see the sight of bass again