Please help me catch a sea trout!

[scrob]

Can anyone improve my chances of landing a trout? I have targetted them a few times using the usual methods but never had so much as a bite.. in fact in my whole life I've only ever caught 2 and they were both in fresh water on the worm!

I have fished both Culdaff and Dunfanaghy beaches, using sandeel on a running bullet lead with a size 2 aberdeen hook. I'm fairly sure this is the tried and tested method?

Are there any other places within reach of derry that would be better to try? Should I stick to the sandeel or would it be worth giving spinning a go?

Ps before anyone asks, YES I HAVE A ROD LICENCE!

[corbyeire]

get loads of manky mack - refreeze it - dont dump it after other sessions away from the seatrout areas

this is the stuff thats nearly gone bright orange on the outside of the flesh

remove most of the flesh to about 5mm thickness attached to the skin - about 2cm by 5cm strips on 1/0 hooks

have your lead according to the conditions keep it low if possible - 1s and 2s oz

fish away for flounder or whatever else on your other rod - but always have this out there with the manky mac

only in the first 30m no further

down around galway this method is good at times

only ever seem to get decent ones 3,4,5lb at this

have a light rod and the reel set to give a bit of line - some of the takes will knock the tripod - you could hold the rod - but usually its so baltic and wet when these lads are about my hands are in the pockets

hope this works

[Viper]

And wait until next year, when the season opens again...

[scrob]

And wait until next year, when the season opens again...

I am going to look like a complete rookie here, but I didn't know there was a closed season in the sea, I just thought you had to hold the rod licence I assumed that the closed season in the rivers was to allow spawning, but once the trout are in the sea they were an open season.

[contender]

Season closed here in the north on 22nd Oct and the licence should be sent in to DCAL within 7 days. If you have a loughs agency licence the dates may be different, but check it anyway I think its the 31st Oct

[coolseabreez]

http://www.loughs-agency.org/angling/co ... p?catid=36

http://www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk/

http://www.fishinginireland.info/

http://www.salmonfishingforum.com/forums/

above are a few usefull web site for info

[scrob]

I have a nil return, is it a big deal that it goes back? Also surely I need my loughs agency licence to continue coarse fishing?

[contender]

I have a nil return, is it a big deal that it goes back? Also surely I need my loughs agency licence to continue coarse fishing?

They must think its a big deal when they ask for it and supply a free post envelope .
plus i dont course fish, but is that not a different bit of paper? So it would just be he game licence that goes back

[doggie3131]

Well first off,a salmoniod licence allows you to Kill a seatrout during the season,if this is allowed in your area,it does NOT effect you if you catch and release,many sea anglers will still catch seatrout during the traditional closed season,as long as the fish is released there is no problems,down our way,the same methods used for flattie fishing works,just up the hook size to a 2 or 1,sandeel,lug,rag,and bluey/mackerel work,and maybe cast out a bit futher,stay within the surf line,and if the fish are around you have a chance.

[corney]

You should head to the Isle of Doah in Jan or Feb with your sandeels
and you will catch loads of sea trout ,and dont worry to much about the lience

[Queequeg]

How's it going there. I fish a fair amount of white/sea trout up here in Donegal, mostly in spate rivers. I find for me the best way of targeting trout in salt water for begineers is to fish a slowly spun natural sand eel. They are a bit expensive, but for E3-4 per 10/12, it's not that bad value if you take two or three fish. The fish are spawning from now until Feburary, and when they return to the esturary/sea they will require around two months to recondition, you can still fish them but they will not be good to eat until they have fed a bit. I tend to concentrate around sheltered bays and channels, not to far from the parent river 2/3 miles, and usally start in mid March. St. Patricks day is my traditional opening day. I mostly like to use a large bubble float on a sliding set up with a barrel lead about 4 feet under the float and 3-9 feet to the hook. The eel is hooked through the mouth and slide up the hook, then with elastic thread, tie tight turns arount the snout of the eel to stop him sliding off. Best on a flooding tide/spring tide early morning or evening. For me it is best to cast out and let it settle for 30 seconds and then retrive super slow, 1 turn of the handle every 10 seconds. I get far more fish by retriving very slowly as the bait swims more or less naturally. Also cut the tail of the eel with siccors to stop him spinning unnaturally. Gweebarra esturary is decent early in the year E10 for the day and best on dropping water in the channels. Good luck hope that you figure it out.

[Viper]

Well first off,a salmoniod licence allows you to Kill a seatrout during the season,if this is allowed in your area,it does NOT effect you if you catch and release,many sea anglers will still catch seatrout during the traditional closed season,as long as the fish is released there is no problems,down our way,the same methods used for flattie fishing works,just up the hook size to a 2 or 1,sandeel,lug,rag,and bluey/mackerel work,and maybe cast out a bit futher,stay within the surf line,and if the fish are around you have a chance.

Your wording there is very misleading. A salmonoid licence allows you to FISH for salmonoids. Without a licence you cannot target salmon or sea trout at any time in any place.
Sea anglers may catch sea trout out of season, no more than freshwater anglers do, that does not mean that they can actively target them, C&R or not.

I have a nil return, is it a big deal that it goes back? Also surely I need my loughs agency licence to continue coarse fishing?

Yes it definitely is, I was fined 80 quid last year for not returning mine!

[saving private brian]

dont worry buddy theres no big trout around at the moment.i was gettin 2-4 lbers in the summer but now im gettin less than 1 lbers.wait till next year for ur good sized 1s to come backlot of people seem to like to get the trout at the estuaries which is a good spot but most of the 1s i caught were no where near an estuary.seatrout like to roam the beachs and r like the bass in a way that love scouting the surf..fresh sandeels are the best i find on a flapper.turn of the tides are important too aswell as dusk and dawn.im gonna pm u 3 areas up ur way i heard where thrown up some whoopers earlier this year and i think still cud be,

brian

[doggie3131]

Well first off,a salmoniod licence allows you to Kill a seatrout during the season,if this is allowed in your area,it does NOT effect you if you catch and release,many sea anglers will still catch seatrout during the traditional closed season,as long as the fish is released there is no problems,down our way,the same methods used for flattie fishing works,just up the hook size to a 2 or 1,sandeel,lug,rag,and bluey/mackerel work,and maybe cast out a bit futher,stay within the surf line,and if the fish are around you have a chance.

Your wording there is very misleading. A salmonoid licence allows you to FISH for salmonoids. Without a licence you cannot target salmon or sea trout at any time in any place.
Sea anglers may catch sea trout out of season, no more than freshwater anglers do, that does not mean that they can actively target them, C&R or not.

actually,a salmonoid licence allows you to fish for salmoniods in a RIVER, if you are only sea fishing and want to bring home sea trout, then you need a salmon licence to KILL the fish to bring home.unless the area you fish does not allow you to kill fish,an example would be clew bay.sea trout are caught regulary while targeting different species,as long as you return them safely then no laws are broken.

[shaft666]

I have a nil return, is it a big deal that it goes back? Also surely I need my loughs agency licence to continue coarse fishing?

A friend of mine in Cork was taken to court last year for not sending in his nil return so def a big deal!

Paul

[cd07]

spin in the suff using a small silver kilty works every time

[Tanglerat]

actually,a salmonoid licence allows you to fish for salmoniods in a RIVER, if you are only sea fishing and want to bring home sea trout, then you need a salmon licence to KILL the fish to bring home.unless the area you fish does not allow you to kill fish,an example would be clew bay.sea trout are caught regulary while targeting different species,as long as you return them safely then no laws are broken.

The licence says nothing about fresh or salt.

You simply need a licence to fish for Salmon/Sea Trout, regardless of whether it's river, lake, estuary or sea.

If you catch a Sea Trout whilst fishing in the sea for other species and don't have a licence, then you're in trouble if the Protection Officers find that fish dead in your bag/box. Release it unless you have a licence.

Rob, get in touch with me in March. I'll take you to a spot or two. Be sure you have a pair of chestwaders....

[scrob]

Cheers Ger, will have to take you up on that