Specimen Painted Ray - 11th February 2012

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 6.00 -9.00 pm

Tide: HW at 8.00 pm

Weather: Moderate southerly wind, light drizzle now and then, overcast

Bait: Peeler crab

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys

Results: 1 Painted Ray (11.5 lbs), 1 bass (4 lbs)




Report: Saturday morning was very calm but a southerly wind gradually increased in strength through the day. I decided to fish and East Cork beack for a few hours up to high tide. I got to the beach just after 6.00 pm. There was a nice surf. It was a cloudy dark night with a fairly strong onshore breeze so I was hopefully of a good session.

I set up two rods both baited with crab on pennel pulleys. As I was targeting bass I lobbed both baits out a short distance into the breaking surf. About half an hour later I noticed a few small tugs on one of the rods. I picked it up, felt another tug and struck. I felt something heavy on the end, but it didn't feel like a bass. At first I thought I had just snagged a big clump of kelp but when I got it into the shallow surf I realized there was definitely a big fish on the end as it began to pull strongly. Then as I hauled it out of the foam I saw a good size Painted Ray flapping on the beach. However, it was only when I weighed it at 11.5 lb I realized I had a specimen fish. I took a few photos and quickly released it.

About half an hour later I had a very sharp tug on the other rod. I grabbed the rod and felt a strong fighting fish on the end. There was no doubtling what it was this time and a few minutes later I slid a 4 lb, 54 cm bass on to the shingle.

High tide was at 8.00 pm, I fished on for another hour until the tide started to drop and then pack up. I was happy with that session, only two fish, but two quality fish!!!

[chuckaroo]

lovely stuff Rockhunter. 2 crackin fish there!
great wee result and report

[davidmav]

3hrs , 2 quality fish. Good going. Congrats

[zud25]

Well done on the specimen Ray Great stuff

[JOHN1]

fantastic ray frank not a bad bass either, well done

[lucky]

nice going frank... cracking ray there....well done.....

[oli]

nice one,Frank!

[Creep]

Well done Frank!! But the Painted Ray is Eating your Tackle Box!!! And nice to see ya back on the Bass!! Any Codling left around you neck of the woods??

[saving private brian]

great stuff frank.so you got him in the surf.good going

[roger de dodger]

[Deleted User 3488]

Two beautifull fish,,congrats on the specimen and hats off for releasing her

[Jayball10]

Well done Frank. Excellent result. Congrats on the speciman.

[paul skelly]

"Only two fish but two quality fish " is right
Nice angling frank

[FisherKing]

Nice specimen ray well done two fine catches

[tight lines]

fine couple of fish frank great fishing well done

[beachbuddy]

Stonking ray big congrats and the bass is'nt half bad either .Please say you let the bass go as i need to be able to target at least one for the coming months.

[andy k 85]

nice fish well done, i wish 3hrs on the east coast was as good as that

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

Well done Frank!! But the Painted Ray is Eating your Tackle Box!!! And nice to see ya back on the Bass!! Any Codling left around you neck of the woods??

Thanks. codling seem to have moved away, I was fishing a mark last week where I thought there might be a few codling but not a sign of one.

great stuff frank.so you got him in the surf.good going

Thanks Brian, yes no more than 30 m out. A ray was not what I was expecting at such close distance, so was very surprised when that came out of the surf.

Stonking ray big congrats and the Bass is'nt half bad either .Please say you let the Bass go as i need to be able to target at least one for the coming months.

Thanks Mike, yes both fish are still happily swiming about out there.

[eyesreilly]

A great catch Frank, well done 2 beauties there

[Stan]

Lovely painted ray. Got one on that same beach myself in December. Great to see so many of them making an appearance.