shore Tope in Fahan (July) and advice for Gortahork (June)

[dave316]

Hi, I am planning a session in this area in July and will probably work it out so i could fish a beach like Fahan and move to a harbour mark in the evening. Obviously, I will mainly be after Rays and Flatties, but plan to set a few rods up with big baits off the beach as i know Tope are possible. I saw in the Letterkenny News that the 1st few Tope of the year have been caught early this year in the Swilly on a boat btw. I just wanted to see any opinions/advice from local experts on anything to do with this subject and my likelihood of success in the 1st half of July as this trip is a once-a-year affair.

ps. I will also be staying in Gortahork for 5 days in June. Would a Tope be possible from a beach in that area and I did read about a guy apparently catching a couple of Anglerfish in one session which I know is not something I would be likely to emulate. In any case, it would be awesome to hear any tidbits of information to get the most of this area for a few days. I will fsh alone for a couple of sessions, but will have the wife and our 3 and 4 year old boys with us. The 4 year old, I would like to take on a session one of the days (especially not fishing at height) to get him properly started, so an estuary would perhaps be ideal. Also a nice sandy beach would be great so i could squeeze in an extra few hours while spending time with the family. I heard there are good beds of lug in that area, but any info on bait suppliers would be most welcome.

Thankyou for any advice offered, it will be greatly appreciated.

[Tanglerat]

You want a nice sandy beach and an estuary?

Gortahork?

Either you're having a laugh, or you haven't been over the road to Magheroarty yet. Take a look on http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0,10

Buy tackle/baits at The Donegal Angling Center outside Letterkenny. John can arrange worm bait also, but he'd need a week's lead time for those.

[dave316]

No, i've never been in that area, lol, is it crap? i intended to book a donegal cottage, but we have been offered free accomodation in Gortahork so will save 500-600. Is Magheroarty strand a decent mark and is it further than i thought to fish anywhere good. Damn, looking more like a family holiday now plus the in-laws will be staying for 1st few days. The way it was described, i was under the impression i was pretty much walking distance from the sea, ffs.



Might just cancel that and try to get the cash together to book another location in Donegal. Any recommendations for a good fishing area (walking-distance) with perhaps good beach and rock/harbour marks along with bait supply(either buying or digging). Combine that with decent shopping, food, kids entertainment and all-around nice place to go for a young family.

thanks

[Dingle]

Hi,
I fished Fahan last year in early july, theres a deep channel that runs parallel with the beach that can be reached with a lob cast when the tide is out, got 4 ray's Between 60-70 cm on mackeral strips.

Hope this helps

[Ronan]

If you want a nice place to relax with the family and do a bit of fishing then i would recommend Downings area. Theres so much fishing to be done in the area and most species can be caught. You have countless beaches and rock marks for the usual species like Turbot, flounder, coalie, pollock , mackeral etc. Then you have the choice of fishing Mulroy Bay which is just out behind Downings where you would get Rays, Dogs and the possibilty of Skate and Tope(have been on a boat and see them caught close to shore). The added bonus then is that you can dig as much lug as you want in the estuary out behind Carrigart just beside Downings or under the Mulroy Bay Bridge. You will also pick up small white Rag when digging the lug!! Like any rural part of Donegal you won't get much shopping but Letterkenny is only a half hour away! Hope this helps!

[dave316]

thankyou very much