north clare 12/11/23, spikey at last

[corbyeire]

its been a while since i posted but inspired by JohnWest here goes.
I haven’t got a spikey fella yet this year, admittedly with less effort than normal. Conditions 6 weeks ago were ideal, pressure rising, wind changing, bigger tides after very settled easterlies going to south westerlies. As happens a lot these days life got in the way and I didn’t get out. Another fella did on the same venue and got a whopper 13lb 3oz!!!
I had, inverted commas, been bass fishing since but generally north of Galway bay and not a sniff.
Saw the wind was coming from the SE and the HW was coinciding with the dusk so got up early and went for lug at lw. The forecast had it raining for 8 hours but somehow it didn’t rain until I was getting back to the car after getting 30 lug – result.
Then it did rain for 4 hours and all the time I was going south – the red warning came and I checked again it was midnight – so finish up by 9 pm. The wind was picking up and the rain kept coming but I stuck to my plan. Got there at the last half hour of light and weed all along the beach – oh well I have the lug better go and check.
Went to the north end of the beach and could see a great northern diver in the first 7-8 metres paying no attention to me and feeding away – another positive, lets do this! First cast the weed pulled the line but it was near the rod – it seemed to be in first 20-30 metres. 2nd cast was lifted by a lump of weed I had to hand line and wade to grab it but the 2nd rod was ok. 3rd cast again just a bit on the bow of the line. Its fishable I thought just mind the rods.
With that thought in mind the tip started and this was not weed, definitely a fish bite. Bang bang bang and immediately more aggression, bang bang. Not a flattie! I lifted in and it wasn’t massive but very lively in the lively wash. To such an extent I was expecting a sea trout to bounce out of the waves – but no he stayed below. A few runs and a few rides of the waves and I could see the spikes – don’t spit the hook!
Picked a good wave with a hopefully nice wash and it spat him nicely with my reeling, up the sand, out of water – result!
If I was further south or this was another year I wouldn’t be as happy with a 41 cm schoolie but one mans stone is anothers gem. I had a small flounder on the other rod as the tide began to move. The wind now picking up and pushing the water northwards. It was stripping and I had another flounder over 30 cm who was beached and buried on the sand by the time I got to him. I hung on for another hour but the tide stripped hard and had no more bites.
That was it I packed up. Happy out I went through Clarinbridge on the way home. The bridge of the name would have had my car under 3 metres of water if I had been on it 6 hours later! What strength has Debi!

[MC]

congratulations on getting a bass, bet its worth all the long trips you put in

[MC]

congratulations on getting a bass, bet its worth all the long trips you put in

so true, great when the plan in your head works out

[simplywabs]

Well done nice report... I didn't brave that weather...

[chuckaroo]

Good effort Brian

[johnwest]

As The Lone Ranger might say if he ever went fishing,"Hi-Ho Silver!"
And now, inspired by Corbyeire, I must write my own report...

[corkconian]

Nice one Brian, Congrats