5 - Red Rock / Sutton There is a wonderful hike around Howth Head and it
starts at Red Rock. At the Marine Hotel in Sutton, turn right - and
right again onto another small road along the seafront. Parking can
be difficult. A gate marks the entrance. The marks are down a
precarious but well worn path, past a small artificial swimming hole and
ruins (an old lifeboat station). Much further on, and accessible by
road from the top of Howth Head, you come to the Bailly Lighthouse.
Although fished extensively in the past, and to some extent still today,
the lighthouse is owned and run by the Commissioners of Irish Lights
(www.cil.ie). "There is a private
residence and a private road to the Lighthouse. Access to the steps is
only via this private road, owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
I'm more concerned that individuals will pass the no trespassing and no
fishing signs ... not because we are anti fishing but because the steps
and access are quite dangerous". My thanks to Kevin
O'Higgins from the CIL for this clarification. May 2004 Species
& Techniques:
At Red Rock, bottom fishing onto foul and mixed ground offers Conger
especially at night, Dabs,
lots of Dogfish, Pollack, Coalfish and Wrasse on the float. It is
rarely fished and bring lots of tackle, including rotten bottoms and
'junk' leads. Autumn and winter Codling are a
possibility.
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5 a - The Lions Head on Howth Head.
A big thank you to Kevin Conlan
for information on this little known mark... The Lions Head is on the city
side of the Bailey Lighthouse. The
only problem is access... down a steep slippery slope to the point and if
you slip you are in trouble. Don't bring kids. It
fishes at all stages of the tide but especially two hours either side of
high water. Species
& Techniques:
It is the best spot in Kevin's
opinions for spinning for Pollack, up to 6lbs. There are plenty of Wrasse
using organic baits and he has seen Conger here while snorkeling -
definitely an option fishing at dusk. Bring lots of lures - it is a snaggy
mark.
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5 b - The Telegraph Pole on Howth
Head.
Yet another big thank you to
Kevin Conlan for information on this little used mark... Driving from the
Summit to Sutton Cross there is a left turn into a cul-de sac about
half a mile down the road from the summit. Park at the end of this
and walk down to the cliff walk and turn left. About 15 minutes later and
after passing above the little swimming pool down below you will see an
old Timber pole with a diamond shaped board on the top that
says Telegraph Cable. Fish below this pole. Species
& Techniques:
It offers innumerable Dogfish
with Codling and Coalfish available if the Dogfish do not get
your bait first! Try offering really massive baits for the Codling.
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6 - Balscadden Bay, the
Cat Rock and
the Split
Rock, on
Howth Head
Probably the best known and most heavily fished
mark in all of Dublin, the rocks at Balscadden Bay, just past Howth
Harbour, will fill to bursting point with people seeking Mackerel in the
summer. The Split Rock, near the Nose of Howth is found from off the
path at the end of the road. Take the first turn to the left, down
steeply towards the sea off the path. You can now go left down steps
to a deep hole popular with scuba divers, or skitter right along the cliff
edge on a tiny wet and slippery path (a head for heights is essential),
down the sheer rock face and out onto a big rock with a split in the
middle seaward face. If you fall, you will die on the rocks below - no
joke. The Cat Rock is accessed before you reach the low rocks at
Blascadden, just look for a sign stating "No Admittance" and
steps down to an ancient concrete swimming pool. Species
& Techniques: Balscadden is so busy serious anglers will
probably want to avoid it. It is also fished out bar the Mackerel on
late summer evenings with an incoming tide and scavenging Dogfish at low
water. The Split Rock is better. Cast slightly to the right off the
rock onto and ideally past an underwater reef for Pollack and Mackerel, or
into broken ground to the east for Dogfish and Dabs, and for distance
casters there were a few specimen Wrasse under the rock pinnacles beneath
the bird colony. The crack itself at high tide often offers Coalfish, and out there
somewhere you can bet there are big Conger waiting to feed, but you will
have to overnight for him! April 2004.
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7 - Howth Harbour Bizarrely there are four marks in or around Howth
Harbour. Just as you drive up the steep hill at the eastern end of Howth
heading for Balscadden there are steps down to a small shingle beach that will
give the odd Bass and some Flounder, especially near the rocky margins on both sides.
Behind the far pier, there is a small strand with dangerous currents but it is
also a known Bass mark. Species
& Techniques: The Harbour itself is another matter. The
East Pier fishes similar to the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire, with rough ground
to the seaward side, leading to sandy patches for distance casters, whereas the
West Pier is less popular, but offers similar fishing. The sand between
the piers is the best mark for Flatfish. Mackerel and Garfish will fall
to feathers during the summer and Mullet feed on offal off the big
commercial fleet. Dabs are taken, with the odd
Plaice. The east pier has a resident 50 lbs + conger.
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7 a & b - Claremont
Beach and Sutton Golf Club
Claremont Strand, heading from Howth Harbour towards Malahide is a beach with
very dangerous currents. Wading is not recommended however it has
produced Flatfish, Dogfish and the odd Bass (especially on the rocks behind the
pier). Again our thanks to Kevin Conlan for the following information: -
a safer and more promising mark is the beach behind Sutton Golf Club leading to
the channel towards Baldoyle. Species
& Techniques: Fishing from low water as the tide starts to rise
produced some big Flounder if you can avoid the crabs. Moving a Flounder spoon
worked with fish over 2 lbs recorded. Schoolie Bass were also caught -
check they are above the legal limit of 40 cms - and Kevin reports seeing Sea
Trout always jumping in the channel, mostly small ones though. A new
report is sought. Warning:
Steve O'Hanlon had a close escape from the tide flooding the beach and
stranding himself and a companion on a sand bank nearing darkness. The
beach is well signposted with regard to this danger - read steve's account in
the fourm if you think you should take them lightly!
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8 - Velvet Strand,
Portmarnock What is it about Golf Courses and beach
angling! The velvet strand in Portmarnock is a popular mark but mostly at
night after the walkers and sunbathers have disappeared. Species
& Techniques: Bottom fishing will produce Flounder, Plaice and
Dabs, particularly behind the Golf Course (a bit of a walk from the public car
park at the promenade) and near the Rocks. Bass have been taken here as
well, and distance casters will take Codling, Whiting, Pollack, Coalfish and
Dogfish.
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9 - Donabate Heading further north, into the countryside (well
almost), the first of several "village" marks is Donabate. The
area below the Martello Tower (now the site of a Romaneque settlement
excavation, the only one in Ireland!) is said to be the best hotspot. Species
& Techniques: Surf and bottom fishing is for Flatfish, Bass, the
odd Dogfish, with Codling in the winter and autumn. Specimen Flounder and
Bass were taken in the mouth of the Malahide estuary but the
mosquitoes (protected by law) will eat you alive!
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10 - Rogerstown
Estuary This estuary is known as a remarkable big Bass
mark. Species
& Techniques: Freelining sandeels on an incoming tide is the
key technique for Bass. Spinning can be effective on a flooding tide,
with possibly an odd Sea-trout. Bass and Flounder are taken off
the beach in strong surf conditions.
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11 - Skerries Home of the Stoop Inn, Skerries offers two types
of fishing, spinning off the pier and bottom fishing for flatties. Species
& Techniques: The pier offers small Pollack, Coalfish and
Mackerel in season to spinning gear, with bottom fishing onto the sand
offering Dabs and Flounder. Mullet are often taken on the float, mainly
using fish or offal baits. Wrap the offal (a Mackerel's liver is the
best) in a single bit of muslin and whip it onto pennel rigged freshwater
roach hooks with shirring elastic. Ground baiting
helps.
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12 - Balbriggan Further north again, and thanks to the bypass, we
come to the quiet village cum suburb of Balbriggan. Species
& Techniques: If you want to catch Mullet, the small harbour
here has some reputation for them, mainly on the float or even freelined,
and by using small fish or offal baits. The fishing there has diminished
in line with the commercial fleet as the Mullet were conditioned to
feeding off the boats as they cleaned their catch! A more like scenario
therefore is Flounder on bottom fishing from the back of the pier onto sand, with Whiting and Codling also reportedly caught during the winter.
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