[blowin]

The whole coastline from Sligo going west to Ballina looks like it has to hold loads of good fish but I can't catch them . The beaches don't seem to produce much and I have found only 3 or 4 rock marks which don't cost you your tackle every cast . I am sure that half the problem is my lack of experience of these waters , and very few locals have any interest . Does anyone else fish this part of the coast ? Or anywhere else , for that matter !

[wayland]

I shall be off tomorrow to beach fish around the Kilmore Quay area providing I can get some bait. I am still trying out likley looking marks but to date I have had one blank day out of three. Loads of Mullet off the rocks taken on a small hooks on a running trace and heavy float. Flounders are the other catch taken from the sandy beaches. Underated I think as an eating fish. Like you say Blowin. The beaches are deserted How does that song go? Only mad dogs and English men.

[blowin]

Haven't been there for a while but I used to find this sea angling forum pretty good . AFAIK it is the only Irish one around .
The core of the boat anglers moved to another site a while ago . I'll find out what theirs is called .
www.sea-angling-ireland.org

[wayland]

With a very strong westerly blowin I thought I would go on the east coast. The bag was . Two Cod, One Whiting and a dab. Looks good here but they were all undersize and so went back Still I got a chance to try out me new floatation suit. Warm as toast in such fearsome weather

[blowin]

Hey , nice one -- at least you got out and had some sport . Not a chance up here at the mo' .
A tip which I hope my Skipper friend won't mind me passing on --- try livebaiting if your conscience will let you . We don't do it very often because it just don't seem right but it put us ( well , him ) straight into decent tope and cod which had totally eluded us until then . ( Not at the same time , of course ) .
Keep letting us know how you get on , will you ? Cheers .

[blowin]

[wayland]

I have found the Mullet not to be shy biters but are buggers to hook. They with their up pointing mouths seem to have trouble grabbing hold of bait of any size. This is why I use the larger fresh water hooks and small bait. I have sat on the rocks and thrown on pieces of bread which they go with gusto, but they do appear to prat around with it. I am sure it is just because they have trouble getting a hold of it. By reducing the bread size untill they take it in one shows the optimum hook bait size. Well thats my theory anyway

[squirrel01]

Used to do quite a bit of sea fishing, went to plenty of places on the west coast, never had great success apart from dog fish which there are plenty.
And the amount of tackle loss was a nightmare.
so took up piking, don’t get out as much as I would like but not so far to travel….

[wayland]

I am keen on Pike fishing also, but I do it for the pot. Not much of a sportsman me. Found a great beach yesterday with very deep water close in. The sea was like a mill pond. Fished there all day and blanked!!

[wayland]

I have`nt been beach casting for a month or so and plan a couple of days out next week. I usually go to the Kilmore area. Any of you lads been out lately, can you give us an idea on what is likely to be about?

[blowin]

I was thinking the same thing myself
Pollack should be inshore by now -- that deepwater mark you described sounds promising . Firetail jelly worm on an 8 ft trace and a very slow retrieve ?
Still a bit early for mackerel -- or is it ?
Let us know what you find . Good luck

[greentree]

Wayland - markod and I go fishing in wexford too. We should be planning something pretty soon and will let you know!! Sometimes we have good days, other days we can run a blank... Thinking about the pier at courttown....

[greentree]

Caught a nice sea bass yesterday at newtown beach near ballygarret co. wexford:



Also caught lots of small flatfish and a few dogfish.

Mike

[wayland]

Hi Greentree. Nice one on the Bass. I have not been into one in Ireland yet. Knowing my luck ill get my first in the close season. I have been fishing at the Combe near Carnsore point lately. Had a few Flounders and quite a few Doggies. The mark looks good and I`m into deep water close in. Perhaps we might meet up some time. Good luck.

[blowin]

It seems about the right time to bring this up again .
Is anything happening off the beach or rocks ( pollack ? ).
Does anyone fish the north Sligo or Mayo coastline and fancy meeting up sometime ? I am determined to get out a bit more this year .