Fishing Ireland's East Coast
Thursday 03 September 2008
Angling Report
Sea Angling
The spell of settled weather experienced over the last weekend in August prompted some fine catches of Bass in the South East counties of Wicklow and Wexford.
Ashley Hayden (Marketing Coordinator, ERFB), Jonathon Dukes (Irish Bass Protection Group), and Diego Leccardi, Caught numerous Bass up to 8.5 lbs on surface lures. Over a four day period fishing specific times and tidal conditions 32 Bass were landed. Of which only three were retained.
Great fun was had by all, smash takes, missed takes, Bass jumping clean out of the water. The highlight of the sessions was Diego catching his first ever Bass. It weighed 8.5 lbs, and he went on to catch two more.
Smooth Hounds weighing up to eight pounds are patrolling the Ennereilly area north of Arklow. They are falling for Lugworm, as against the usual Crab or Ragworm baits. Dusk into dark is the best time, and they are not far out. Try a lob of 40 – 50 metres.
Mackerel in good numbers were being caught off the shore along various beaches between Courtown and Cahore. Unfortunately a lot landed were small joeys, a sign of the times maybe.
The Coombe and Rostoonstown beaches of South Wexford are also delivering their customary catches of August and September Mackerel. Evening is best with the stamp of fish here being larger. Try Hokais and or strings of three feathers as against the usual six. Better still use a German sprat or a Kilty Catcher matched with a light spinning rod, and enjoy the fight these tigers of the sea can give.
Ashley Hayden, 03/09/2008 ©