Email to a friend
Print versionDunquin Strand, Slea Head, Co. Kerry
From Tralee, carry on along the N86 to Dingle. Turn on to the R559 coast road for Slea Head and Dunquin. Dunquin Strand lies on the north side of Slea Head and can be easily seen from the road. There is a track leading down to the strand with car parking at the top.
A small surf strand hemmed in by a rocky headland and shore. It faces roughly south-west towards Great Blasket Island. The fishing along the surf strand itself gives bass and dogfish but is inconsistent like many surf beaches and the bottom snaggy in places.
The alternative is to walk along the headland on the right and fish the rocks which give pollack, dogfish, wrasse, strap conger, huss, plus flatfish off the cleaner sand patches.
Care is needed along the rocks which can take a big swell in unsettled weather and never fish alone here.
Short casts in behind the surf with worm baits locate the bass and dogfish, and longer casts on to the rough patches will find ballan wrasse. A 5oz beachcaster, fixed-spool or multiplier and 15lb line is adequate close in. Fish a one hook rig and 2/0 hooks for bass, but a pulley rig and 18lb main line is better for longer range work on to the rough patches.
From the rocks, redgilling takes quality pollack to 6lbs, with bigger fish likely later in the year. Massive wrasse live on the outside edge of the headland in the deeper rock holes and a beachcaster and 7000 reel with 25lb line makes sense if you want a good chance of pulling one of these out. A one hook rig and rotten bottom is needed for these and strong 2/0 hooks.
Longer casts out on to the mixed ground will find, conger, huss, maybe rays and turbot. Go for a 7000 sized reel and 18lb line with a one hook pulley rig. Few anglers have fished here and you never quite now what might turn up, so stick to fishing slightly heavy.
Any bass are likely to show after rough weather and will work inside the strand for shelter and food. The two hours either side of high water fishes best, with low water poor on the spring tides. A night tide is better than broad daylight due to the clarity of the water.
The pollack take best over the early flood tide and again during the early ebb. Dusk is good if the weather is very still and the rocks safe with little swell. The wrasse feed all the time, but move marks occasionally to give them time to forget you if you've hooked a couple from the same patch. A group of anglers should try a night session off the rocks in perfect conditions for the best chance of conger and huss.
Carry ragworm and lugworm for the bass. Fish baits, either sandeel, squid or mackerel take the dogfish, huss, conger and anything else that happens along. Stick to crab or worm for the wrasse. Take plenty of Redgills as losses can be very high here when after the pollack.
del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
 Fishing Rods Fishing Reels Rod Rests Fishing Hooks Rig Components Accessories DVice & Leads |
Plugs, Lures Lines & Leaders Shore Fishing Rigs Feathers & Lure Rigs Luggage Clothing & Hats Deals |
BERKLEY FRENZIED POPPER £3.91 Each TIDEWATER LURE RIGS 83p Each 7" WSF Jelly Worms Get ready for the new Plugging Season, Buy 3 get one of them for free, Blue Pilchard Divers WSF NOW STOCKS SAKUMA HOOKS
SALTWATER FLIES FROM FULLING MILL FROM £1.25 BACK IN STOCK PENN CAPTIVA CV2 REELS BACK IN STOCK SALT / CAPTIVA SPINNING COMBO DEAL BACK IN STOCK ABU CARDINAL 304FD PRICE: £37.18 |
