Duration: Thursday Evening to Saturday afternoon
Results: Painted Ray, Sea Trout and Bass
Report:
Having spent my usual two weeks holidays in the area earlier this year (with excellent results) I was still a little jealous to see Eoghan’s and Alby’s exploits recently. So a hastily arranged trip was made to the Dingle Peninsula for a couple of days fishing.
I arrived Thursday evening, dumped my stuff and headed to the beach having heard whispers of some Painted Ray being taken in the area. The whispers turned out to be true.
First up was a small bass of around 2.5lbs at dusk. My hopes were up as the surf was good and I expected to see a few more over the following hours as the tide ebbed and darkness came on. However I didn’t see another for the whole weekend! Fortunately just after darkness (and an incredible sunset) the Ray came on the feed. The fishing was incredible – 5 Ray over the next hour and forty minutes, in five casts, and all over specimen size – the smallest was over 8lbs, the largest tipped the scales over 13lbs. All caught on sandeel on a flowing trace and a great scrap on a light bass rod. All fish were released to fight another day which is more than I can say for my bass rod as the 13lber pinged two rings off the rod at the edge of the surf…. At this stage I was knackered after the drive from Dublin so called it quits despite the quality of the fishing in front of me.
Friday morning dawned and I hit Tralee bay to suss out some marks – spent a couple of hours fishing although I didn’t really expect to catch anything (which I didn’t). Still a worthwhile recce mission and (with a little help!) found some marks I’ll fish into darkness in the future.
Friday afternoon I fished a local estuary in the hope of a few lure caught bass – there were trout and bass jumping everywhere but they steadfastly refused to take any lure that was thrown at them. Eventually I managed two sea trout but called it quits as the bass weren’t biting.
Having grabbed a bite to eat I hit a different beach for the evening session. It was an absolutely stunning sunset and again with a good surf I was confident of success. Things were a bit quieter initially but eventually the Ray came on the feed again and I landed another 4 and had a couple more come off. Again all over specimen size, largest just over 10lbs. Just as the night before, I was knackered by this stage and hit the hay despite the prospect of having a double figure ray session.
Saturday morning was my last blast at the bass – but again despite perfect conditions I blanked. Still, not very often that you can strip down to a t-shirt in October in Ireland and it was a very pleasant mornings fishing. I could have fished elsewhere at rock or estuary marks and probably would have taken a few bass - but when I visited earlier this year the sea was like a pancake and I was determined to get back into the suds this time around. All in all it was a great few days and really opened my eyes to the quality of the ray fishing here given suitable conditions.
I have to admit that having holidayed here for the last 10+ years I know this area pretty well but there are always new things to learn – so thanks in particular to two gentlemen on the forum with whom I’ve been pooling information – I won’t name you in case you get a flood of PM’s but it’s much appreciated!!!
Steve
Congratulations on the specimen/s aswell 
