Clifden

[Chris T]

Hi All,

I'm heading to Clifden co. Galway at the end of August with the family and I’m looking for some spots where I could fish both with my son who’s 10 and also on my own.

Ray have been on my radar for a while but as yet I haven’t managed to catch one.... yet. I’d also like to try for some flats other than flounder.

Could anyone point me in the right direction regarding marks, baits and tides etc. Also if there are any bait digging locations nearby.

I’d be eternally grateful for any comments and suggestions!

Cheers,

Chris

[The Austrian]

send a PM to gfkelly1969 here on the forum, he might be willing to fill you in on the details or even show you a few marks, check out his website for a start: http://clifdenfishing.webs.com/
Hope that helps and tight lines!

[roscoe]

Go to Stanleys shop and ask for john, buy some frozen sandeel from him and ask for directions to "the white lady", he'll also tell where to dig lugworm nearby. Fish the mark at low tide only and cast between 20 to 50 yards onto the sandy channels between kelp beds and you should be good for a couple of decent thornbacks (this is a bit of a hike but should be fine for u and your son). the rocks on the opposite side of the bay are great for pollack, mackeral and wrasse(catch some crabs on any roccky shore nearby for wrasse), the further west you go the fish get bigger but so does the drop. the rocks on the north side of streamstown bay hold big conger while cleggan pier is comfortable and a good all round mark.

[gfkelly1969]

hi Chris
let me know what date you are heading to clifden and I can show you a few ray marks that should produce some for you,I haven't tried most of them this year so far because I am sick of catching ray and trying to find new marks but I know lads that have fished them and caught some ray

for the tides use http://www.sailing.ie/LinkClick.aspx?fi ... 12&mid=790 and add 5 mins to them

some of the beaches for are better on the real low tides for bait collecting ,when I know when you are down a will check the tides and know where to send you,if you cant dig bait you can buy some in stanleys shop in clifden

pm me your number and I will ring you and give you a bit more info

[gfkelly1969]

Go to Stanleys shop and ask for john, buy some frozen sandeel from him and ask for directions to "the white lady", he'll also tell where to dig lugworm nearby. Fish the mark at low tide only and cast between 20 to 50 yards onto the sandy channels between kelp beds and you should be good for a couple of decent thornbacks (this is a bit of a hike but should be fine for u and your son). the rocks on the opposite side of the bay are great for pollack, mackeral and wrasse(catch some crabs on any roccky shore nearby for wrasse), the further west you go the fish get bigger but so does the drop. the rocks on the north side of streamstown bay hold big conger while cleggan pier is comfortable and a good all round mark.

I think the white lady is a bit over rated ,it can produce some nice ray but it depends a lot on the weather,it is quite easy to get caught out with the tide there as well,at low tide there is a rock that you can get out on but the tide comes in around the back of it first and later covers the rock
a lot of the marks on the north side of the bay are very steep and can be very slippery on a wet day and its not too easy to get parking too,fishing from the rocks on the north side of the bay has produced some fine pollack over 10 lbs,loads of mackerel and wrasse and some garfish and I know a lad that had a 12lb ray there
if you do fish the north side travel light because the climb back up is not easy

cleggan pier can be good but its a working pier,try it near dark or after 19:30 when the ferry has left and a lot of the mackerel bashers have gone home,watch out for boats crossing you lines,one lad there thinks he owns the pier and sea

I will pm you a ray mark that is very safe to fish and a easy walk,I brought my nephew and nieces all under 5 fishing there,its fenced off

[kevin]

Just to add that (near) the White Lady has been very good to me over the years. I always fished in from it though? I mean 200m east or toward Clifden. And some good wrasse fishing while waiting for the ray to come on.
Cheers,
K