The Portrush Pollock/ Coalfish

[Monty156a]

People: Just me, wingman Nial K is sunning himself in Portugal (lucky git)

Duration: 6.30am 'til 9.30am

Tide: High

Weather: Fine and warm

Bait: Mackerel strips

Rigs: 6 hook feather rig floated

Results: 4 pollock (turned out to be Coalfish)


Report: Went down to the Blue Pool this morning bright and early hoping to bag some mack for a proper days fishing. Decided to try something a bit different and fitted a weighted 40g Drennan No.5 Piker float on the end of a Sakuma Feather rig.

Unfortunately there were no Mackerel to be had from shore (seemingly they are numerous around the skerries rocks) around 7.30 I had a largish strike and after a bit of pulling and hauling I reeled in a nice Pollock (pic below) In the next 30 mins I took in another 3.
The Portrush Pollock!



After that normal service resumed, I retreated to the tackle shop for my Mack and headed to Castlerock where the weed was appalling at the Western end. The Eastern end was chock full of day trippers. No report necessary for Castlerock (blankety blank) Nice day there though, avoided the blank overall thank God

Monty

[weedave]

good stuff man.

so tell me ...did you just suspend the feathers as you would in normal float fishing style.

dave

[billy the fish]

Well done monty, must try floating the feather rig myself

[Monty156a]

Float was attached at extreme end of feather rig at the sinker clip with the sinker on a 6" trace below it to cock the float. It then allowed all 6 feathers to drop at the same depth, I know it sounds a bit of a wierd setup but when it was in the water it looked fine.

Did the business too, well pleased (apart from the lack of mackerel)

NB: Just been told its actually a Coalfish in the picture Ah well, not about to change it all now

Monty

[fagan]

good man monty,

nice coalie 2, never tryed that way of fishing before, must try it some time.

im for swilly 2moro morning te wednesday so hope i get a few ray, taking my nephew, hes showed an interest in fishing this past while so goin to start taking him with us.

fingers crossed he catches his first ray.

cheers fagan

[Monty156a]

Best of luck Fagan, just bought some 3/0 hooks today to make some Thornback pully rigs. My wingman is back Saturday and I have to tempt him out for a days Ray fishing in Swilly on Sunday.

I've a couple of marks scoped out, hope they do the business

Enjoy the trip, look forward to reading the report

Monty