1 - Rossbehy Creek
Past Glenbeigh village, heading
west there is a spit of land (held there by a stone causeway) that holds
two marks, the first of which is on the eastern side of the land. There
are excellent popportunities for digging lugworm in the vast mudflatsin
teh area. Species
& Techniques: There were sea-trout available to spinners near the creek but the
population has declined. The best option is to bottom
fish for Flounder and Bass on the seaward side of the causeway.
There is another similar mark in the village of Cromane just short of
Glenbeigh itself. February 2004.
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2
- Rossbehy Strand
The surf fishing beach is another of the
quiet little jewels in Kerry. Access is from Glenbeigh village, down
the road to the car park. Species
& Techniques: Surf
fishing will find Flatfish and Bass, with the possibility of Ray in calm
weather and the occasional marauding Tope also recorded almost every
season. A big Mackerel cone on a wire trace is essential for Tope,
usually from the point. The Bass are located just about anywhere but
under the rocks on the extreme left hand side is good after dark. February
2004.
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15
- Kells Bay
"There is a very good, easy to access rock mark into deep
water at Kells, which is near Darby's Bridge on the northern side".
As you rise up a hill on a decent stretch of road, you will see a small bay and
pier tucked into the side of the hills down to your right. A tranquil spot, this is
Kells Bay. My thanks to Tim Hoy and Roger Baker for their insight
and information about this mark. Species
& Techniques: Surf
fishing off the small beach will find Flatfish and Bass, with the possibility of Ray in calm
weather. The Bass are located just about anywhere but
under the rocks on the western side is good after dark. Tom
adds that he caught "Loads of Dogfish but I know Bass have been
caught there as well as Mackerel, Wrasse etc. If you go to the eastern
side of the bay, there is a good deal of room there". April 2004.
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3 - Lough Kay Another quiet beach fishing mark on the Kerry
coast... Species & Techniques: Beach fishing here is mainly for Flatfish
with the possibility of picking up a Ray in calm warm conditions, but no Bass.
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4 - Valentia Harbour Now we are getting into some interesting marks,
but the Harbour is not great. Species & Techniques: Bottom fishing will find Conger and
Dogfish. especially at low water. The odd Ray has been caught here too, and Mullet
are commonly seen during the summer with the usual difficulty - getting a
bite can be quite frustratingly slow! The island has no fishing on
the northern side due to the massive sea cliffs, but how spectacular might
the boat fishing be?
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5 - Culoo
Off to the western end, near the lighthouse there
is a series of reasonably safe rock marks offering decent fishing.
To get to the rocks, you drive down a terrible pot-holed road to a gate
which you can go through and drive a bit more. It's a few hundred
yards to the sea front on foot then. Wear a lifejacket and fish as a group
- see below. Species &
Techniques: Bottom fishing on
foul ground takes Dogfish, Bull Huss and Conger. Pollack and Wrasse
will fall to worm baits, and Mackerel are always available for spinners or
feathers once the water warms up. "There is a high platform,
that was popular with several guys for fishing each day. Not sure
why people fish there - there is a huge drop where you could easily lose a
fish whilst bringing it in. We fished to the left of that where
there are some good flat platforms at low tide. It can only be
fished on a calm day - a guy was swept off and killed a few weeks before
so care is advised. Very deep water - cast out and count to 20 and
you still wont reach the bottom. So, heavy spinners are required."
Update thanks to Cormac Dalton. June 2004.
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6 - St
Finans Bay
Here is the most westerly and deserted surf fishing beach in
Europe! A lovely spot, if an awful road down, it is acquiring new
holiday homes so expect it to be busy in the summer. Species
& Techniques: Flatfish are the main catch on the beach, with the
possibility of a specimen
Bass in the surf. You can also fish off the rocks on either side for
Pollack, Triggerfish and Mackerel in the summer, with Conger and the odd
Huss also taken from legered baits. Some Mullet taken here also with
groundbaiting advised.
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7 - Inny Strand Coming in towards Waterville, you traverse an estuary and Inny Strand. Near the estuary is the main
mark, and you are best to park near the golf club and walk the rest of the
way.. Species & Techniques: Flounder
and Bass are the main priorities for surf fishing anglers and bear in mind
that the
main beach is likely to be as good a bet for
surf fishing as the estuary. The odd Ray is also reported off the
beach away form the estuary, at night and in the height of summer.
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8 - Waterville Another pristine beach, popular
with families during the daytime and in summer... the chances are you will have it to yourself any time outside of
July and August! A river drains Lough Currane to the south of
Waterville town, so it is quite possible that Sea Trout and
Salmon would be available to the enterprising angler. Species & Techniques: Flounder, Plaice,
Dogfish and Bass are the main species mostly caught surf fishing just
below the car park. It has the obvious benefit of food, drink and
lodgings being available within a stone's throw of the mark. It is
noticeably steeper than the usual beaches in Kerry and the rocky outcrops
will interest Bass at low water. It looked a very attractive
proposition - ask Tadhg O'Sullivan in town. My thanks to Malcolm
Gilbert for the corrections. |
9 - Hogs Head
Most people fish the inside of the Hogs Head,
pointing into the deep water across to Ballinskellig. Like all rock
platforms washed by the Atlantic care is required. I would love to
hear from anyone who has tried to fish the outside of the headland.
The road is poorly signposted, you need to drive down towards the shore
after leaving Waterville. Ask in Tadhg O'Sullivan's tackle shop in
Waterville for directions and you can hire a local guide of you want... Species & Techniques:
This is very mixed ground and often extremely deep - Codling feature on
the list here as do Flounder and Dabs, Pollack, Conger, Wrasse and Mackerel.
Bring plenty of junk leads and lots of bait. February 2004.
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14 - Lamb's Head
Another rock platform mark, this is on a spectacular piece of
coastline. Species & Techniques: You will encounter
all the ususal suspects including Pollack, Conger, Wrasse and Mackerel.
We have reliable reports of substantial numbers of Bass arriving inshore
around here in the early Autumn. Fly fishing has been shown to produce
Pollack, Wrasse and even Triggerfish in the summer. February 2004.
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13 - Derrynane
Another beach, tucked into a bay protected by Lamb's Head and Hog's Head -
do you reckon there are many vegetarians in Kerry!?! - this beach is
accessed from the village and most of the way by road. Quietly
popular in the summer, it fishes best on the flood and near dusk. Species & Techniques:
Bass and Flounder are the main quarry taken here, with Mullet in the
estuary. Warning: Tim Hoy has reported a lot of
poisonous Lesser
Weaverfish caught off the beach using legering techniques; check the
species guide to see how to avoid their spines! February 2004.
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10
- Gleesk Harbour The handy thing about this mark, and the
remaining two marks is that they face onto the Kenmare River - we know it
is not a river, but read the postscript and prepare to be amazed. Facing
due south, even south east, these marks offer good fishing out of any cold
northern winds. A word of warning - there is a dangerously blind
bend on this remarkably busy but terribly narrow road that requires
careful navigation. You can avail of limited parking at the pier
itself, but that said, it is a lovely spot. Species & Techniques: The fishing is
surprisingly mixed with Wrasse, Triggerfish and Pollack falling to float fished worms,
Pollack and Mackerel taken on spinners, and finally Dogfish, Conger and an
odd Ray apparently falling to bottom fishing onto the sandy patches... No
reports of winter fishing here.
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11
- Oysterbed Pier A small pier, almost lost in time, but
sheltered, quiet and tranquil... Mind you don't nod off! Access is on
the shore road - take directions from the locals in Sneem. Species & Techniques:
Pier fishing for Conger on the bottom, Wrasse on a float, Mullet on both,
and the chance of an odd Ray and Flatfish.
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12
- Blackwater Harbour You can fish from both the harbour itself and
the rocks to the west of the harbour, provided you check the swells.
Species & Techniques: Spinning will take Mackerel in season,
small Pollack, and there is even the possibilility of a Sea-Trout.
Ray and smaller Conger have both been caught here with bottom fished rigs.
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