Graduating from Mackerel

[bluebeard]

Hi All,

I've gotten some great advice on this forum over the past few weeks and I'm hoping for a little bit more.
I'm new to the sport and I've had great fun catching Mackerel over the summer at different marks near Dublin.

Now I'd like to go for something a bit different.
What is the next fish I should go hunting for (that's as tasty as Mackerel)?

I was lucky enough to bump into a guy digging for ragworm out on Bull's Island.
After watching me dig random holes he decided to have mercy and gave me great advice on how to catch the monsters.

So, armed with some king rag and my trusty beach caster, where should I head next and what should I be hoping to take home for dinner?

[donal domeney]

Rag are a nice bait for float fishing.
Species for the pan would be pollack. Species best put back would be ballan wrasse.
Best advice is to make sure your rod is either in your hand are secured as both species like to run with the bait.

Look for some rocky head land with a bit of water 10' or deeper, some of the harbours around Wicklow can produce these species as well.

I'm sure you'll get a few more posts with more tips.

[Rob Millard]

Have to agree with Donal, float fishing for Pollack & Wrasse takes some beating, great craic. Try back of the east pier in Dun Laoghaire.

[bluebeard]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I'd love to get my hands on a tasty Pollock.

I went down near Baily Lighthouse on the hunt for Pollock today.
Started off with a silver toby lure, after about 10 casts something that felt like a monster went for it.
I'm only used to Mackerel so I wasn't expecting such force, unfortunately the line snapped so I'll never know what was on the end of it.

Then I tried black feathers for about an hour, nothing went for them.
A nice Polish guy I got talking to gave me a small Mackerel to use for bait.
As an experiement I cut it in two, put in on two hooks and sent it out....let it sink to the bottom and very slowly reeled it in.
Again, not a nibble.

It was about to be a complete loss when a scuba diver appeared and gave me a lobster!!!
He's sitting in the freezer right now (thought I'd dispatch him the humane way) and will be going in the pot in about half an hour.
That was a great surprise and really made the day.

I'll try again for Pollock next weekend, might head out with a float to Dun L. as advised.
I'm sick of using my old beachcaster off the rocks, I really need to buy a decent spinning rod.

If any anglers based in dublin could recommend a good rod/reel/line I'd really appreciate it.
Budget would be €100-€200 for the whole lot.
A nice decent spinning rod that can throw out 2oz weights that could be used for Mackerel/Pollock and who knows maybe even sea bass when I've learnt a bit more.

[sparkey+1]

Pm sent

[samo]

You could try inside Dun Loaghaire Harbour also but use a one up one down rig with size 1/0 hooks and you will pick up dog fish, flats and whiting on the rag worm.