Garfish???

[Dave78]

While out fishing last night in East Cork, I spotted a dozen or so eel like fish swimming on the surface, they were moving slow and striaght but had a tremendous burst of speed when startled,
They appeared to have very light stripes on them, I'm 99.99% sure they were garfish but I always believed they shoaled up with mackerel, there were very few Mackerel around last night.
I put out a float with a stripe of mackerel on it but no joy, has anybody else seen these lately,I have only ever seen them landed abroad and last year I heard of one or two caught from the shore in Cork Harbour, I'm in work now planning a trip out again this evening.
I'm assuming they will take feathers and lures, has anybody else spotted these in the last few days?

[donal domeney]

how long would you say they were, gars would be about 2' long. They may have been launce.

[Dave78]

I have seen lance swimming around ballycotton pier.
2ft would be a good estimate of the size of what I saw last night,I was thinking they were a little bit too big for lance although I wouldnt dismiss the idea they were lance after seeing the size of the mackerel being caught lately,
The most important thing Donal it was a real life fish we havent been seeing a lot of them lately

[m.b3]

had them in the harbour in july last year. never had them in great numbers, 1 or 2 in a session. they seem to just pass by the places i fish and don't stick around. all of them have taken a small piece of mackeral on a size 10 hook just under the surface. recent weather has been ideal for them. evening seems to be best. i wouldnt bother with feathers for them personally- they don't seem to like a big lead coming in on top of them. small lures will probably work as anglers fly fishing for bass have taken them. great fish to catch, something different.

[Dave78]

Thanks m.b looks like im going to have to raid my fresh water gear for smaller hooks, I might even try a fly for them.

[agardiner22]

little sabiki traces are good for them

[finding nemo]

Had two of them in kerry two weeks back on feathers. Both taken at the top of the water about a foot away from the pier. was morning time.

[Dave78]

It was after dark when I spotted them nemo, the lights from the pier seemed to draw them in close. Im going to invest in a few sabiki traces at the weekend, I have the floats rigged up and ready to go with size 10 hooks.