Small Thick Lip

I attempted to add a Golden Grey to my tally for the year after a couple of suspect catches including one of my own in the SW earlier this year. I managed this little Mullet of 11 oz, the smallest Mullet I have caught the quest for a GG goes on!

Clyde Wrasse & Pollack

Myself and Rodney made our annual trip today and as usual the weather played ball as did the fish ...eventually. Things were slow to start with but picked up nicely. Rodney after a shaky start got into his rhythm and added fish after fish . I dodged on and tried for quality over quantity sticking with hardback crab for quite a while, less bites and I guess proven to catch the bigger fish.

Rock Cook & Dragonet

I ticked another two boxes tonight when I finished work adding a Dragonet and a first for me the Rock Cook Wrasse, beautiful little fish.

The weekend finishes on 35 species for the year so far

Port Logan mixed bag with Huss & Tope thrown in

Scott invited me aboard Scary Mary for a Logan session based on a great forecast and flat calm seas we headed out for what was to be a really good days fishing with a mixed bag of fish and a total of 12 species. One of the fish I caught turned out to be a potential Scottish record Launce of 9oz and more like a Gar than a Launce. We fished more towards Portpatrick than Port Logan with the rain for the better part of the day staying off. We had a laugh and caught some good fish.

Porbeagles and Bass

Gordon and Kenny have recently managed to catch a couple of super fish. Gordon had a half share in this boat caught Bass that took a Tope bait that Matty Burrett had cast out and Kenny managed a Porgie on an Irish trip. Cracking fish both returned.

Bass on the Z Claw

I took the opportunity to the throw a few lures for an hour or so within the club match at the weekend. The Zenith Z claw really is a cracking lure with a smashing wide lazy walk when worked properly. The fish seemed to be interested in it when it was stationary or with the slightest of movements after a short walk. The Bass action was as good as it got with only some predictable dogfish turning up as darkness fell.

Dunure

I tried for some bait briefly at the weekend and a local rock mark which is normally pretty good for Mackerel but even these proved hard to get. I managed a few Coalies and a stray Launce hardly what I need for a next weekend and meagre tally for an hours hard feathering when you need about 20 Mackerel .....sometimes you just need a boat.

Wexford memories

Had a great time in Wexford. It was one of the toughest weeks fishing I've had. Jimmy was great and we put in some fruitless shifts which were as hard for him as they were for me. I learned a lot and put eyes on some fantastic spots that we just don't have the like of in Scotland. I will be back that's for sure.

Cobh- Cork Harbour

Here is the impressive cathedral in Cobh ( note the gill net in the foreground apparently banned but 20 ft from an inland fisheries car which was parked....)

I stood in a nice little harbour with a cruise ship where the Titanic once sat anchored before its maiden voyage. I fed the Mullet for 40 minutes before they decided to play.

Cork Harbour

The Irish are lucky in many ways as we we know. Cork Harbour what a place! So many options and angling possibilities. I spent a morning afloat and then in afternoon in Cobh when Jim attended a fisheries meeting the Mullet whisperer's idle hands were at play.

Wexford plastic fantastic

What can I say about this place on my first visit? Tough fishing, tough weather some nice fish on a new method in tough conditions....


I visited Jim and took part in the Hendricks experience. The man does not stop. Miles we drove miles we walked covering the water and what water it is. I had the pleasure of visiting some interesting and varied Bass environments that even when the prospect of a fish seemed distant the possibilities kept us both focused as Jim knew and I was aware what might happen next.

Jim talked me through the use of soft plastics and how to fish them in the strong tidal environment with some success on my virgin Irish Bass outing.

Starters orders

Bags packed of a fashion, weather playing up and I hope the Bass are playing as well....

Somersualting Sea Trout

Hooked up with my old mate Rodney tonight for a long overdue session for Sea Trout. It has to be said that Rodder's mood was less than positive for some reason. But it is amazing what a take on on your first cast can do to lighten the frame of mind....I've got one, he says in the most surprised manner...

We had some fantastic fun, lost more than we caught and also had these two cracking fish of 2.7 and 2.5. My fish will stay in my memory for a long time,superb scrap with 6 or 7 high jumps and screeching runs on a light drag, happy as Larry as the man says and a satisfying way to hit number 30 in the species hit list. Really pleased with this one and Rodder's was the cheshire cat at the end of night!

Rock Goby & Common Goby

Another one for the species list.... 28, edit from Monday 29 another addition on Wednesday without too many posts about Goby's had a few other Rock Goby's and three Common Goby's..

First Mullet of the year!

Imagine trying to sleep in a caravan with a Harley Davidson ticking over 3 ft from your pillow? So off I went as a result of Les and his snoring and landed on the chosen spot at about 5am. Having spotted the fish on a scouting mission the previous morning they were there in the same spot at roughly the same time. Having fed them with an offering the previous day I was optimistic about my chances. With the forecast being what it was for Sharkatag I had packed my Bass and Mullet gear planning this as a possible back up. Anyway, had an offer on my second cast and missed it and then struck at a line bite so when the third offer came along I was now warmed up and off the fish went. Nothing like it at that time of the morning to get the adrenalin going, better than an espresso! 5 minutes later my first of the year was beaten and some pictures taken and the fish returned. I then headed to Ardwell to meet with Gordon for the next leg of the Sharkatag but the weather unfortunately beat us on the day with a straight southerly no good to anyone. So...will post some pictures shortly but in the meantime here is a shot from the caravan with Michael and Jason's pup (which was seasick on Saturday) Its doesn't seem to have put Sinbad off by the looks of it !

The fish above shows some conflicting ID points according to the National Mullet Club site, the jugular space under the chin too wide- not a Thick Lip as well as the lips a being different, gold spot behind the gill like a GG but no slime, no black patch on the pectoral fin like a Thin Lip ??? Watch this space this needs further investigation, better pictures and a closer look the next time I'm in the area.

Sharkatag Event

Home early due to the weather today...lousy too much wind in Luce Bay. I did manage a 5am start this morning thanks to big Les and his snorning but more about that later. It was worth it but with 4 hourse sleep on Saturday night I'm a tad tired today as the troops rocked in a 3.30am to start a snore fest!

Thanks to Gordon for another good day aboard Tickety Boo, Tope, Smuts and Thornbacks with more Scad than Mackeral as they were very hard to come by we still managed on frozen baits and fresh crab.

Another local session

Works was grim today so I required to empty the head went in search of another addition to the species list specifically trying for a Rockcook ( sad but true). These as well as any form of Rockling seem to avoid any offering cast forth for the time being, anyhoo added this meagre Pollack but caught lots of fish nevertheless but only this was a new one for me this year.

Back to some real fishing this weekend if the weather plays ball...

So so far this year 24 species to date

Bass....about time

Decided to scratch the itch and eventually focus on getting a Bass this morning. Went to where I caught my first Bass ,cut my teeth on them and also had my PB. Some things you don't forget.... decent fish as well,really thick set.

Thanks to Rodney for taking me there many years ago.

Self timer picture here so not the best, also need to remind myself to iron my face before I leave the house.

Been getting around..a Turbot here and a Smoothie there

Up in Aberdeen for a few days so packed a rod with the intention of targeting Turbot. I headed north after work tonight with some mackerel for bait to the Pirates Graveyard area, nice surf, incoming tide but lots of weed and thankfully some fish...two Turbo's and five Flounders. The best Turbot was 1pound 1oz not big by any stretch of the imagination but a welcome site as its zipped across the sand in the clear water. This is also a new club record as we don't seem to get too many down Ayrshire way or possibly not to date yet...

Will post a few pics od the Turbo when I get home.

We also had a club shore match last Sunday in Luce Bay despite favourable conditions the fishing was lousy. I managed to get lucky and catch the only Smut of the match(34 inches) to add to some Dog's. It provided a nice little russel on my light BTB amorphous rod. The Bass were strangely absent and Ian dropped a nice Huss estimated at 12 pounds. No pictures of my Smut which is a pity, it was raining heavily,I had a bitch of hangover and Jamie is still limping around. We gave it about five pounds and was the real point scorer that counted on the day with Dog's only worth 10 pts.