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Print versionEast Ferry, Midleton, Co.Cork
Come off the N25 at Midleton turning left towards Ballynacorra and Saleen. Past Ballynacorra, take a right turn to follow the 189A running along the shore. There are plenty of places to park, but the road is narrow so choose carefully.
This is the eastern flank of the natural inlet that forms Cork Harbour. Estuary like in scenery with trees growing almost down to the waterline, the shoreline offers good protection during gales and is fishable at most times. There are numerous pathways along the road giving access to a variety of marks.
The high tide area is a mix of mud, shingle and weed covered rocks with casts made out on to muddy sand with the occasional snag.
The marks give a wide variety of fish including bass, eels, conger, dogfish, flounders, dabs, and even the chance of rays on the more seaward marks. In winter, expect codling, whiting, coalfish and dabs.
For the bass, take a 2-4oz beachcaster and small multiplier loaded with 15lb line. Keep your casts close, most of the bass are taken within 20-yds of the shore. Choose either a single hook rig with a 3/0 Mustad Bass hook for fishing in amongst the weed, or go for a flowing trace and light 2oz lead to swing the bait round towards the shore.
The same basic tackle also does for the eels, flatfish, dogfish, codling and coalies, but a two hook rig and small Aberdeen's take the flatfish, with 2/0 hooks better suited to the cod and coalies. During the early flood tide, it pays to let the bait trot across the bottom for the flats, codling and coalies.
A heavier 5oz rod and 7000 sized multiplier with 18lb line targets the rays and conger. Grip leads can be used, but a moving lead finds the snags better for the conger.
Some of the rock outcrops look ideal ambush points for anglers using spinners and plugs.
Dawn or dusk low water and the early flood is excellent for the bass which arrive in numbers from April on and stay until November. The eels take best after a blow has stirred some colour in to the water, and expect some big 2lb plus eels.
Codling move in here in late October and are still caught in March, but fish the dark hours for these. Whiting appear from October to January. Expect coalies from November to February. The rays, mainly thornbacks, are summer and autumn fish, with congers and dogfish always on the cards. The biggest flounders are taken through the winter.
Big storms outside will flush weed in which can cause problems as its moved about on the bigger tides, and expect a downturn in catches during periods of heavy rain.
Peeler or soft crab will take the bass, eels and flounders. Rag is also good for the bass. Try sandeel or mackerel for the dogs, conger and rays. Lug or rag is best for the codling, or tip it with mussel.
Bass move very close in during darkness. Try a cast of just 5-yds with a freelined piece of peeler crab during the spring tides.
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