Sids Fishing Adventures

 

my spur of the moment fishing trip last year  with friends Glenn in Lanzarote was, by his own admission, crazy but i was rewarded with a big butterfly ray and  my first hammerhead shark off a boat. this year we have decided to go and try it for our-self on the 16 February so far we have 4 booked in Glenn, Ross my son Derick and myself. we are hoping to fish the beach for four days and nights and hopefully get a boat trip in on the last night. keep an eye on https://www.offthescaleangling.ie/ to see how we got on.

 

Part 2 of my trip last year

As we headed to the beach, we each drank a can of red bull as we had a feeling that we could be in for a good night. As we arrived,  our guide said he had a butterfly ray landed already.  He then was trying to explain that the tide is at the right stage. As we unloaded the car, our guide was delighted to see we got some fresh bait off the charter boat.

A miked box of table fish, fish like this can be purchased in any fishmongers at a fear price

As we walk along the beach towards the rods, Oscar shouted fish on and as Glenn did all the organizing with my flights and guides, he deserved the first go. With Glenn running for the rod and me scrambling for the camera, I could hear the reel screaming and Glenn saying o my god. As I got there, Glenn was sitting down on a rock. With The reel locked fully the rod was able to put the maximum pressure on the scary weight hard fighting fish. I could not believe the pressure, the rod was bent so much that it was starting to lift Glenn of the rock, unbelievable. After forty-five minutes of super back braking sport the fish was in the shallows. the guide said stingray, [ it was gigantic.] It made the stingers I caught in Fenit look like a flounder.

Glenn was into a super heavy fish, after five minute of arriving some start to the night

PICTURE TAKING BY GUIDE. Glenn with a monster stingray what a monster, well done Glenn and tanks to our guide

As all rods had to be taking in it was time to re-bait and get them back out. With the guide in the kayak, he was ready to put out two rods at a time.

We knew it would be a big animal that could get there mouth around this [fingers cross]

With all four rods out two with Bonita heads for sharks and two smaller baits for all other species. We were buzzing with excitement in anticipation of what could be out there,[ it is the total opposite in Ireland were our sea fishing  stocks are at an all-time low]. It was thirty minutes later before my reel gave a few clicks, as I stood next to my rod I turned on the go-pro  in hope the reel would scream off , and it did what a rush. With the rod in my hand, I leaned into the fish. Even do I was using penn 12/o reels and 60lb shark rod it still bent over and line was peeling off my reel. With the fish running up tide first, I was able to steer it towards the beach. I think it could feel the water getting shallow; it did a sudden you-turn and ran down the beach like a bat out of hell. It started to strip line off the reel once more, what a buzz [I was  praying it would stay on.] Suddenly the rod was vibrating, I could feel the line rub agents some rocks. All I could think was no, no, no,. All I could do was, put my thumb on the spool and as the fish was bending the rod I would easing into it, just enough that the line was just slowly coming off the reel praying that line would not brake. I was doing this for a few minutes until the fish turned on the surface and headed back towards me. I knew if it was as big as Glenn;s it would have broken off. As the fish was all most in, we could see it was a good size butterfly ray. As the guide grabbed the ray, I put the rod back in the stand and helped him pull it safely on to the shore.

My first shore caught butterfly ray, too heavy to lift estimated to be well over 60lb +

our guide making sure that the ray safely swam back to the depths

Two cracking fish landed [in my mind the trip was well worth it,] any other fish would be a super bones.  About an hour later, we had another two-dropped runs only a few minutes apart from each other. As the line kept going slack on the rods, we knew that the rocks that we were using as leads had broken away from the 20lb brake away line. We had to re-bait and reset the two rods, the guide recons they were Tope. It was now 5am and we were starting to get tiered. but the fish had other ideas,  Again we got a blind run it was on the long-range rod and after five minutes, it was around the other lines. Then it got off. As you know this happens when fishing. It was some type of shark probably a large Tope or a small hammerhead. It took a bit of time to sort out everything and it was starting to get bright.

Our guide dropping out our baits over 300yards on his kayak

 our shark baits that we had out that night

With the rods out, we sat back and enjoyed the heat of the sun. We were saying if we only had weather likes this at home, we could plan more shark fishing trips. As we got our gear sorted, we could see charter boats trolling for tuna only a few hundred yards from our baits. It was so relaxing sitting back in the morning sun I nearly forgot I was going home in a few hours. As we were falling asleep Oscar shouted fish on, as it was Glenn;s turn he ran for the rod then the guide shouted two fish on.    With no chance to get cameras ready, we both had to run for the rods. They were not fighting like monsters but we were delighted to be into fish. As we were gaining line on both fish, they were almost in the shallows at the same time.  I could see a shark type fin cruising through the surface of the water that I believed was attached to my hook. In addition, when it tried to make another run I knew it was. Nevertheless, what type of shark could it be? To my delight, it was an angel shark [monkfish] my first angle shark what a crazy and beautiful looking fish estimated to be about  40lb what a trip

My first angle shark what a crazy and beautiful looking fish estimated to be between 30 to 40lb what a trip it turned out to be

with my fish safety at the edge of the water glen was able to land his

To top it off glen landed a 30lb + long noes skate what an end to a 26-hour stay in lanzarote

Glenn and I enjoying our last fish of the trip some good sport and I would like to thank Glenn on organising everything.

As we traveled back to the villa, our smiles were brighter than the lanzarote sun. as we had a few hours to kill before our flights we relaxed in the Jacuzzi

Some way to end a fishing trip. I would like to thank Jason and his dad Frank for my short and welcome stay and for dropping me to the airport

A daytime shot of our rods set up imagine walking along a beach in Ireland and seeing this you would think they are off their game

Our rig set up 3ft of 250lb steel wire tied to ten feet of 300lb mono and off the swivel about 4ft of 20lb to 25lb mono that is tied to a cable tie that is around a rock instead of using a lead

 

 

Last year I was on to the Fenit marina , my 6.2-meter boat there for two months ‘April and May.  As those months are off-season, it was at a lower cost, under 30 euros a week. Cost will vary…. for different sizes of boats. My first trip was with Dan at the start April it was cold and the water temperatures were well down. We fished all the areas that should have fish but there was not even a crab. We put in ten hours and we decided to take a trip out of the bay to see could we save a blank with a dogfish. We were at least four miles outside the lighthouse in deeper water we sat there for another hour without a touch. Dan dropped the size of his hook to a 2 and a smaller peace of crab looking for some type of flat fish. He got that lovely bend on hid quiver tip rod then the reel screamed off. With only a size 2-hook and 15lb line, the fish was bend and pulling every part of the fishing gear to its max.  When it came to the surface, it was a cracking size stingray. with Dan battling it for another few minutes I slipped the net under it and brought it on board. What a way to save a blank. We have fished the same spot a good few times without even a dog. It was the only fish we had for 12 hours fishing. Weekend one over

Dan with this cracking 33lb stingray it was the only fish for 12hours fishing

 

Weekend 2

I made a promise to my six-year-old daughter that if the weather was good and warm i would take her out on the sea boat. In addition, low and be hold the weather was super, now it was time to see had she her sea legs. The plan was to aim for a two-day session; this would be down to Amy if she were up for it and if there was fish around. As we arrived at the pear Amy was all excited for her first proper boat trip. As the boat was on the marina, it did not take long before we were at anchored and fishing. It was a slow start with only a few dogfish much improved since the last day. To be honest I was delighted to see her handling the dogs with ease. As the hours passed and the tide turned twice I taught it was going to be a bust until her rod bent over. It was crazy watching her fighting a ray. as the fish dove you could see her little feet move up to her toes and back down. I had to put my hand onto her life jacket for safety, as she was starting to struggle with it. As the leader came out of the water, I grabbed it and pulled the ray to the boat.  It was a large undulate, Jorge grabbed the net and put it under it. As there is a length base specimen for them, [85cm is the target] we put it on the measuring mat. With the undulate on the mat, it measured 87.5cm what a good start to her boat-fishing specimens

With the undulate on the mat, it measured 87.5cm what a good start to her boat-fishing specimens . contact shane.oreilly@fisheriesireland.ie for the measuring mat

Amy’s first undulate and it was a specimen. I was over the moon and she had a smile on her face that made the trip worthwhile.

We had another small male before the sun started to set, and as Amy wanted to stay out a bit longer, we decided give it one more hour before we headed into the marina. With the rod and bait settled it was amazing watching the sun disappear over the water and land.

Our boat and rods sitting still as the sun started to set

 

With the hour disappearing fast, I decide to give the boat a light wash down. As I lifted, the bucket of the water into the boat the butt of the rod hit me in the mouth and as I was just go to curse the reel gave a good few clicks. As I looked up the rod, it was bent over. Then Jorge said he was in a fish. With both rods bent, it did not take long before we had them to the surface. It was a male and a female undulate. That was it for another 10hours day

Amy gives the thumbs up for a good days fishing

With ever week that passed the fishing slightly improved but not as good as resent years. I think it is down to the lack of knowledge that the see anglers have. I say this because I have seen numbers of dead undulate and thornbacks dead along the pair [ especially after 2am] and I do believe if sings were placed along the pear with photos saying  what fish were protected undulate, sting rays and angle sharks] a lot of the dead fish would have been put back alive.

With my good friend Jim Leahy living a few minutes from feint and he has a very good grasp of were the fish could be, he said he would shear a few marks to try out.

 

Jim and mike Dennehy showing us a mark in the middle of the bay that produced some nice rays

The next session [6] [over 57 hours of fishing for a hand full of undulates a few thorn-backs and dogs]  Terry Jackson joined me, the weather was warmer and the water temperature was up and still it was hard going but we got what we were after, specimen undulates, Terry had two and I had one. Terry did his own article on it. See http://www.angling-ireland.com/

My first undulate ray length was 87.5cm the same as Amy’s, I fished a lot of hours for it over 80 hours [I am so so happy to get it]

My next trip [7]was two weeks later with Terry and Amy the week after tag a ray. However, the fishing that weekend was good for the taging, when we were there it was awful really really bad. There was not a ray to be caught. Therefore, I phoned my friend Jim for some advice. He said the fishing was shocking for the last few days the only fish that was being caught was Tope. With that, he gave me a mark and I headed for it. It is a good spin from where we were but we had known choice but to go.

With the boat at anchor and the Tope rods out we decided to put some smaller baits out to see was there dogs and rays about. We were there for only a short time when we got a Tope run but it dropped the bait.  By the end of that day, we had fore Tope, Terry with a forty pounder and Amy had two, the biggest was 26.5lb and I had one about the same.  See http://www.angling-ireland.com/ for full story

Amy with her first Tope over 26lb

My next trip was a few weeks later, it was going to be for smoothhound off Wicklow. So with that trip planed by one of the lads i had to take my boat home and gave it the tlc it deserved, but sadly at the last minute the lad that planed it pulled out what a lot of time wasted getting ready for it. With the weather going to be super, I decided to go back to fenit. The main reason was my friend Jim and mick were going to head out to the 200ft plus marks looking for spur dogs, it is a fish I had not caught in years. It was going to be a double type of fishing trip, first day Tope and Undulate with Amy and Glenn. The next day was a two-boat trip for spur dogs. On my boat with me was Ross, Glenn and sidekick Amy on the other boat was Jim and mike.

As Glenn had a long drive from Dublin, we decided if he drove to my house, I would drive to Fenit with the boat so he got some sleep. As we arrived in Fenit Glenn opened his eyes and said what an amazing looking place and you could see the excitement building up in him. With very little effort, we had the gear in the boat and the boat in the water. the only thing was the chum bag

My boat ready for launch, feint bay was a flat as a pancake, what a morning

Amy getting stuck in and helping with the chum bag that had about ten different types of fish and smells to go with it

We were heading for the Tope mark first as the tide was pushing too hard for the monk hole. With the rods ready for action Glenn was saying a Tope of ten pounds would do him, as he never caught one before. As Glenn was taking some video shots I looked up, I could see his float running towards the boat. It was a Minnie version of when jaws was pulling the yellow barrel around

With the balloon passing the boat I said it is heading for the anchor, Glenn tightened up just as it hit the rope and with his quick reaction he got up to, the bow of the boat and got his rod and line under and away from the anchor rope

Glenn with his first Tope that weighed just over 25lb he had another over twenty about twenty minutes later. What a start to the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JTG6FOke9c

 

As the tide started to slow, we decided to fish the slacker part of the tide in the monk hole. With the boat re-anchored and rods out it was time to sit back and take in the amazing weather we were having. As my eyes were starting to close Amy’s reel gave a few clicks and then nearly started to melt, what a run, as Amy got the rod in her hands I was hoping that she could manage the blistering run. With the Tope after taking a few hundred yards of line off the reel, Amy looked very comfortable fighting it. With nearly all the line back on the reel, I was able to grab the  trace and pull it towards the boat. With the Tope on the deck and Amy in the cabin for safety [until I unhook the Tope and get it under control for a photo] it weight over 30lb her new PB

Amy’s new PB Tope just over 30lb she did a great job fighting it. Go to 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr6JYLcdBEE  to see the run

As the tide slowed, I got an unexpected run off a Tope, it was on the ray rod that has 40lb mono and a small strip of bait. All I could do was try to enjoy it before it bit be off. As the fight was getting longer I was thinking the hook was in the corner of it mouth. Even if it was all it has to do is turn its teeth towards the line and it could be game over. With every head-shake my hearth was in my mouth. it was only until the net was under it that I could relax.

This mid thirty gave me grate sport on light gear

 

As the light started to fade Amy’s and myself were into an undulate ray each. With the rays in my red recovery bucket. I re-baited and dropped back down, as Glenn got the camera ready. As we were just going to lift the rays out of the water, the rod I just dropped down bent over. that turned out to be thorn-back ray

Two nice undulate and a thorn-back ray ready for their picture after been kept safe in the recover bucket

Buckets like this are necessary if you are thinking about fish safety, it keeps the fish active in water until you get yourself ready for a picture.

As the day was ending glen was still praying for a new specie that was an undulate. And just as I said five more minutes Glenn was into a fish, I had my fingers crossed that is was the fish he was after. In addition, as it breached the surface it was the second of his target fish for the trip. Spur dog next

Glenn with his first ever-undulate ray

As we were heading out of the Fenit bay at 6am in pursuit of spur dogs. we decided it was time to head in and get some sleep. As my alarm went off at 5.30am, I stretched my arms and legs and I could feel the heat of the morning sun rushing through my sleeping bag.it is so nice to have good weather.

With the jeep packed and everybody on board the boats, we started our engine and headed for Jims and micks mark. With a few stops on the way looking for mackerel, we were still there just over an hour and a half. The way they fish down there is drifting over a grid area [that Jim marked for me] then keep moving and searching until we find the fish. It only took a few drifts before we were picking off small spurs. Then we were getting a mixed bag of small fish [red gurnard and whiting] the fishing was like that all day, good fun and enjoyable. Then Ross had a large red gurnard that was lightly hooked, and as Glenn went down to grab it. Ross tried to pull it over the gunnels and by doing so the fish flew off the hook and swam back where it came from. [It was easily a specimen] we also had some octopi that Amy had some fun with. The fishing was enjoyable but as Glenn had a five-hour trip ahead of him when we got to dry land. We decided to go while the going was good.

 Amy first time holding an octopus

 

Glenn with his largest spur of the day.

Remember life can be shorter than you thing so try to enjoy every minute of it. the resin I say this is that on the way home a deer hit glens car as he was on the motorway and he spun off the road the car was a right off, he was very lucky that there was no one killed or hurt

some pictures of the trips in Fenit

 

Boat fishing tips

1. Fresh mackerel or good quality frozen is perfect other baits to try sand eel and crab
2. when at anchor be quite and if the boat is moving side to side use heavy leads up to 12oz and loosen your drag on the reel just enough that when the boat moves the line will come off the reel. Your bait will stay in the same place and the fish can find it faster. You will get more takes by doing this.
3. Tandem hooks 4/o 3/o are about the right size tide to 40lb or 50lb mono
4. 20lb to 30lb rods are super but I still love putting an up tide stile rod out
5. Multipliers reels and good fixed spool reels loaded with 40lb 50lb braid
6. There are some large crabs called spiders crabs and will take you bait of your hook faster than a ninja and sometimes your hook will be gone

Spider crabs weighing over a kg can be common at certain times of the year

7. when making a chum bag put the onion bag in a bucket and over the rim this will stop the deck of the boat getting slippery

8. a large bucket that can fit a large ray or 3 is necessary when you are into taking photos

looking forward to this year

tight lines

FISHING WITH MY GOOD FRIEND TERRY THIS YEAR

http://www.angling-ireland.com/

I have done a peace in off the scale magazine about my common skate and mullet trip with Glenn that should be out before the end of the mouth

https://www.offthescaleangling.ie/

 

 

 

 

 

In many cases when fighting common skate they will turn upside down showing they under belly and there mouth. This seems to help through the hook. In many cases when returning the skate they will turn upside down again, i think it is because they have fought hard this way [upside down] and seem to react the same way as they go down the first few meters. Therefore, at the end of this video Glenn got a few comments saying the fish was dead. As the fish was still in camera focus, the skate had our ready started to turn and flap its wings hard.

When any fish comes on board my boat it is treated with the full respect that all fish deserve, with buckets of water being pored over it and it is un-hooked and pitchers taken as fast as possible. To be honest it is a shame that you have to use fish baits to catch most sea fish.

i hope you enjoy the video

 

mullet fishing west cork