1 - The Sea Wall at Monkstown
Monkstown is now a properous suburb of Cork city
but you can still fish from the sea wall provided you take care with
passersby and pedestrians. The pier is also a good spot at night
especially if you like really big congers - it is well lit and has easy
car parking. There are several miniature hotspots along the Monkstown
seafront that will invariably be taken unless you get there early! Species
& Techniques: Monkstown
is well known for its winter Codling on an incoming tide, mostly to bottom
rigs baited with copious supplies of lugworm. Several species of Ray are taken here during the summer and early
autumn in amongst Dabs, Flounder, Dogfish and large Conger Eel straight
down. A reef to the left that leads out to the main channel is the
ideal spot to fish, especially on an incoming tide. The fish will
search up through this system.. The pier mark on the seafront has been
known to produce loads of small Coalfish and Pouting as well. Beware
the pub after closing time too! March 2004.
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2 - Deepwater Quay,
Ringaskiddy
This is probably the premier shore mark in Cork
Harbour. You can fish from the deepwater quay in Ringaskiddy in the
heart of Cork's industrial sector. Species
& Techniques: Bottom
fishing will produce all the Flatfish, Whiting and Codling in the winter
months, Ray in the summer, Coalfish and Conger all year round, and
specimen Three Bearded Rockling. Most of the local use
Mussel for bait on this mark. Dino Macropoulus reports that the quay
may be closed to anglers, however on a recent visit, he account for
Dogfish and Whiting in the autumn and winter month (predominantly) over
all tides, with Thornback Ray and some Bull Huss taken only at high water.
October 2004.
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10 - Cobh, Deepwater Quay
With thanks to Wally and Matthew for the details. This is a
full commercial working port so you have to be aware of the incoming
traffic and movement of the local fishing fleet, quite apart from the
tide. The main benefit is that it will fish at any stage of the
tide, although the flood is typicallty more productive, especially in
darkness. Equally it is a sand and mud bottom bar the odd snag,
probably old metalwork and rocks from the pier's construction. Species
& Techniques: Bottom
fishing will produce Flounder, Dabs, Whiting and Codling in the winter
months. Dogfish will colonise the sand on occassion and you will pick up
strap Conger Eels and the occassional bigger fish under the pilings.
Excellent three bearded rockling have been reported here also. In the
summer it gets busy with people spinning for mackerel. Pollack and
Garfish can be tempted to float fished mackerel strips. Rays have
been taken at distance in warmer weather off this mark - almost all
thornbacks with sandeels the best bait. Legering will pick up Coalfish
in the late winter months but to no significant size. There are
rumours of large Bass taken on live baited sandeels and launce, but a more
likely capture would be one of the large Mullet that will shoal in around
the harbour, especially if you have taken to groundbaiting a particular
section.
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11 - Cobh, Lynch's Quay
With thanks to Wally and Matthew for the details. Another
small quay, not nearly as popular as the deep water quay, it offers decent
fishing with less angling pressure. Species
& Techniques: Bottom
fishing will produce Flounder and Dogfish with Whiting and Codling showing
up in the winter month. Coalfish and Bass have been reported here.
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3 - Brown's Island Tucked in behind Fota Island, there is a tiny promontary that gives access out into deep water, especially on a
flooding tide. Species & Techniques: Bottom fishing here will produce Ray
(mostly Thornbacks), Dabs and Flounder, and Dogfish. Fishing
tends to fall off after the first 3 hours of the flood. The odd Bass
has also been reported here.
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4 - Aghada Pier Moving east down towards Roches Point, the first
mark is the pier at Aghada. Be warned: Upper Aghada is a
village a mile inland! Species & Techniques: Bottom fishing will find Dogfish, Dabs and
Flounder. Conger are taken on night tides, Codling in
the winter, and Mullet on the float in the summer. The odd Thornback
Ray is also taken here from April onwards, but it is quite a busy location
with a small flotilla of boats moored within casting range and a high tide
venue only.
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5 - Carlisle Pier You are now moving out into less sheltered waters
and as a consequence the fishing is more impressive if less civilised in
strong winds and bad weather! Species &
Techniques: Bottom fishing
off this pier will produce Bass, Homelyn (Spotted) and Thornback Ray, Dogfish, and
Flatfish. Mackerel Pollack and Coalfish will all fall to spinning
gear. Codling are reported caught here each but you need to use
peeler crab - the preferred bait for Codling all over the Cork Harbour
area.
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6 - White Bay This is probably one of the best known marks
around Cork, and it fishes best on a night tide - it also helps if you can
cast the necessary 130 metres plus to be able to fish into the deep water
channel. Species
& Techniques: Most
people bottom fish hoping for Flatfish, Bass, Codling in winter, Conger and Dogfish,
but the mark comes into its own when you mention Rays... provided you can
cast the necessary distance. Several varieties have been encountered
including Painted and Blondes.
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7 - Roches Point
You have heard about it often enough on the
weather forecasts so why not fish from it!?! It is a tricky spot to
fish from - only a fair weather mark. Follow the road down as there
is a small car park down from the lighthouse. Please respect the
privacy and signs. You can walk around the lighthouse to the rock
marks on the far side. There is a very deep cleft almost directly
underneath the lighthouse and some more marks further east. Species &
Techniques: Mackerel Pollack
and Bass will all fall to spinning gear, the latter being quite
rare. With the rough ground there is you would expect that float
fishing will produce Wrasse as well. Bottom fishing
off this point will produce Pollack, Rockling right on the bottom on an
unadorned (no sequins beads etc.) baited hook, Wrasse and
the odd Conger Eel. Jul 2004.
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8 - Inch
Strictly speaking this is not in Cork Harbour at
all but it is still a good mark, offering excellent rock platform fishing
and anice small strand to boot!
Species &
Techniques: Bottom fishing
off this mark will produce Bass, with Codling taken in colder weather. Pouting
are also recorded. In the mixed ground you can find Flounder
(especially near the small stream), Dogfish and the ever present Conger
Eels. Lugworm and crab seem to be the preferred baits. There are
very strong tides here, especially across the beach so wading is not
recommended. Most anglers try to pick up the Bass on an incoming
tide, ideally at dusk. There is some reports of large Bass being
taken on plugs off the rocks, heading towards Guileen, a good idea if the
beach is being carved up by surfers during fine weather. March, July
2004.
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9 - Fort Camden, Crosshaven
Keep Cronin's Bar in the village on your left, drive up the hill and park
near the gates. Sadly, the gates to the fort are usually closed so
you have to skirt around it at low water in order to access the mark,
which means you will be there, rain or shine for four to six hours minimum
so pack your bag accordingly! This is a deep water venue so you can catch
fish here regardless and bear in mind that some of the target species are
low water specialist (dogfish, congers, bull huss and rays). The bottom is
predominantly sand however there are spines or rock and the odd underwater
hillock to snag rigs. Species &
Techniques: Bottom fishing with standard rigs will bring flatfish,
msotly Dabs but some Plaice, and occassionally Rays near dusk or
dawn. Pollack, Mackerel and Garfish are reported in the summer, with
the odd Wrasse in amongst the rocks. Whiting and Codling are taken
in the winter, with Dogfish, Conger Eels and some smaller Bull Huss taken
all year round. Some Bass reported too.
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