Ballycotton Pier, Co Cork, Ireland

SPECIES
Has opportunities for a wide variety of fish including rays, sole, plaice, flounder, dabs, turbot, codling, whiting, coalfish, pollack, huss, mackerel, garfish and bass. The Irish plaice and sole records were taken here.

A popular place to fish is on the "white knuckle" where the breakwater bends casting out in to the bay.

BEST BAITS
Mackerel, squid and sandeel are good for the rays and huss. Try big worm baits, crab or a live joey mackerel under a float for any bass. Codling take worm baits. Ragworm is good for the plaice and sole, but lug tipped with shellfish is also rated. The coalies take mussel and crab. Float fished mackerel strip is good for the gars and mullet, and spinners or feathers take the mackerel.

TACKLE
A beachcaster gives you the choice to fish far out for the rays, but many fish are taken simply making a short cast out or dropping a bait tight in to the pier's side. A 7000-sized reel and 25lb line is useful to enable decent fish to be lifted when required. A dropnet is useful for the bigger fish.

Light spinning gear or a freshwater float rod is ideal for the mullet, mackerel and gars with 5lb line.

GETTING THERE
Take the N25 from Rosslare through Youghal. Past Youghal, take the left turn on to the R632 sign-posted for Ballycotton. Parking is available on the right side of the road just past where the footpath goes down on the left to the pier. There are Central Fisheries Board signs indicating the way.