Winter Fishing East Cork

[shortcircuit]

Missed the best part of the bass season due to getting engaged and spending every minute/cent on wedding stuff, looking to get back into it now.
Will be fishing the usual east cork beaches, will be after cod (of course) and maybe a few flatties. Havent targeted these species before so pointers would be welcome.
I'll have a decent rod for punching out a bait to distance and a 3-4 Oz Rod for close in work. Be fishing at night.

What does everyone think of the points below? Not looking for trade secrets just general pointers! PMs welcome of course

Rigs
Thinking of flappers for close in. If I'm targeting flatties and/or coalies/whiting would size 1,2 hooks do the trick?
At range (for cod, so Im led to believe), going to use pulley pennel or single hook clipped up rig. Do you find the second hook on the pennel catches a lot?

Baits
Do not have a clue! Was thinking of lug and crab for the cod?
Is there any place for frozen mack in the mix?
I know the biggest part of this is trial and error

Tides
Again I know trial and error is the thing. Have heard that these beaches fish better on the bigger tides is that right?
If anyone wants to advise which tides are best at which venues that would be great, but obviously I would not expect that kind of info.

Any help for a rookie winter angler would be great! Thanks

[lucky13]

congratulations on getting hitched lad...probly your best catch
try a baited spoon trace for the flatties with loadsa of beads orange and black work well for me,i usually double up on snoods too,with a size 1/0 or size 1 hook, (depending on how lucky you feel) with a big fresh lug tipped with squid just to keep him on the hook,bring his head over your hook knot too,tie him with bait elastic over the hook eye below the knot,the tag of the knot should stop him squirmin tryin to get off...

[shortcircuit]

Cheers lucky, have her hooked now all I have to do is land her . . !

When you say double up on snoods do you mean two snoods off the same swivel?

Anyone else with tips don't be shy!

Tight lines all

[lucky13]

Cheers lucky, have her hooked now all I have to do is land her . . !

When you say double up on snoods do you mean two snoods off the same swivel?

Anyone else with tips don't be shy!

Tight lines all

something like this one...i usually put a deadweight on my shockleader,with a bead either side,before tying the snap swivel on that holds the rig to your mainline...plastic tubing on the snoods can be good too to stop it from tangling too much...

[seanie35]

Missed the best part of the Bass season due to getting engaged and spending every minute/cent on wedding stuff, looking to get back into it now.
Will be fishing the usual east cork beaches, will be after cod (of course) and maybe a few flatties. Havent targeted these species before so pointers would be welcome.
I'll have a decent rod for punching out a bait to distance and a 3-4 Oz Rod for close in work. Be fishing at night.

What does everyone think of the points below? Not looking for trade secrets just general pointers! PMs welcome of course

Rigs
Thinking of flappers for close in. If I'm targeting flatties and/or coalies/whiting would size 1,2 hooks do the trick?
At range (for cod, so Im led to believe), going to use pulley pennel or single hook clipped up rig. Do you find the second hook on the pennel catches a lot?

Baits
Do not have a clue! Was thinking of lug and crab for the cod?
Is there any place for frozen mack in the mix?
I know the biggest part of this is trial and error

Tides
Again I know trial and error is the thing. Have heard that these beaches fish better on the bigger tides is that right?
If anyone wants to advise which tides are best at which venues that would be great, but obviously I would not expect that kind of info.

Any help for a rookie winter angler would be great! Thanks

I always found the neaps good easier for your lead to grip the bottom, i tried the pennell rig a few times but always reverted back to a larger one hook offering 4/0-5/0 making sure the bait was well wrapped on hook point proud as possible. Ive heard of cod taken on mackeral baits but crab seems best in youghal anyways, good luck