blank @ Bull Island with mullet and bass

[Gilks]

County: Dublin

Region: Bull Island

Mark: wooden bridge

People:myself (three others out fishing on the bridge as well)

Weather: warm, light southerly wind, sunny, turning to cloud and rain

Moon: full

HW: 2230hrs

Start-time:1900hrs

Stop-time:2230hrs

Bait: rag worm

Rigs: one-hook ledger, three-hook feathers (red), german spratt

Results: nada

Fish seen: Mullet, bass

Other catches: crab and lots of weed

Report: I was keen on getting a bass or failing that a mullet. Had also heard of other fish been caught off the wooden bridge. With a full moon and the tide on the rise it seemed like a good time. Arrived before the water did so scouted-out the area. Some guys digging for bait, a few blankers at the end of the north wall coming home. All the water south of Bull Island is very shallow but there isn't a whole lot to get caught on. Interestingly, the deepest channel of water which leads to the bridge and then further north behind Bull Island, is close to the shore alongside Clontarf.

The mullet started to arrive at about 7.30pm (3 hours before high water) when the water was still quite shallow, moving slowly from south to north rather like a heard of cows grazing. I'd say some could have been 60cm long at least. Pretty sure some nibbled the rag but none got hooked despite my best efforts. (I know rag isn't the recommended bait for mullet but I've seen them caught with it before)

About twenty minutes after the mullet had gone, I was treated to what I can only assume was my first sighting of a bass (about two hours before high tide) - in fact schoals of bass, streaking through the water under the bridge from south to north (and past my rag), occasionally jumping. I'd say they were bass, not only because they were much faster than the mullet but because I saw the side of one as it turned through the water right under me - the side was flat, silvery and un-marked with a long, steep, straight slope from the top of the head to the tip of the mouth. I'd say they were about 30-50cm in length.

There were a few other guys there fishing: one using unbaited treb hooks and 'playing' a tin whistle with whom communication ended shortly after he accidentally knocked my water bottle in the water. Another guy game later with two rods and, like me, futile hopes of his first bass. As it got dark I thought that maybe fishing into the artificial light from the island end of the pier might help. To my absolute horror, ten eighteen-year old girls in bikinis turned-up next to me and jumped in the water. Mother superior informed me that bass were caught mostly at the other end of the bridge. I fished until about 10.30pm when the rain started to come down.

Despite blanking, I'm encouraged by this sighting of the bass. Either I should be fishing using different bait i.e. spinners and/or be positioned further up behind Bull Island i.e. Bettyglen, Kilbarrack or Sutton. Wish I'd brought the second rod so I could have baited one and spun with the other. I've attached a few photos of the area in case they help anyone thinking of fishing there. Was thinking that this might be a good spot for fly-fishing.

[LennyH]

Hey Gilks
I have taken bass there and some above average in size. I would fish farther north on that stretch, about 100 yards after where the grass verge ends at St Anns park gates. Everything fell to rag. I have fished it with the fly but not in a while and unsuccessful, but I will be hitting there again. Check it out at low tide and you will see where the channel runs and pick a spot within your casting range but again I found the spot mentioned above to work for me best. Hope this is of some use

[alby]

To my absolute horror, ten eighteen-year old girls in bikinis turned-up next to me and jumped into the water.

absolutley horrendous image....

[Deleted User 3488]

To my absolute horror, ten eighteen-year old girls in bikinis turned-up next to me and jumped into the water.

absolutley horrendous image....

them bikini clad sirens hunt in packs,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Jayball10]

Unlucky on the fishing mate. Only around the corner from me but havnt tried it yet...

To my absolute horror, ten eighteen-year old girls in bikinis turned-up next to me and jumped into the water.

absolutley horrendous image....

them bikini clad sirens hunt in packs,,,,,,,,,,,,

Went down last night to see if the pack was in Paddy. Report:

People: Jack Jones

Weather: So so

Bait: Bottle of Vodka and The Best of Barry White

Results: Arrested and thrown in Raheny Garda station

[Al and Jordan]

hard luck gilks. those mullet can be full on head melters at times . so many of the bloody things in abundance, yet none wanting to play ball . after a session like that i always feel the need to get a baited 3 hook flapper back in the water just to restore faith in myself as an angler being able to catch a bloody fish

[Sparks43]

Tips for the Wooden Bridge

1 Get Crab
2 Get more Crab
3 Pick up even more Crab
4 Use it

1 hook pulley rig always gave me best results
Also fish it 2 hours up and down from HT

[Gilks]

Just wanted to say many thanks for all the enthusiastic advice. Based upon the information given, my strategy for fishing at the back of Bull Island is:

LW___Find deep channels behind the island (around causway bridge, Bettyglen, Kilbarrack)
LW___Find fresh bait (rag and lots of crab)
LW+3_Catch mullet from the wooden bridge, using marsh-mallows
LW+4_Catch bass from the wooden bridge, using crab/rag and spinners (one rod for each)
HW___Catch bass in the deep channels further up behind the island

I think further posting might be prevented on this topic but I'll try to let you know of the results (if any) when I get there again.