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St Patrick's Bridge, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford

Mike Thrussell 01 January, 2006 08:25:00

St Patrick's Bridge is a natural stone causeway reaching from the shore on the east side of Kilmore Quay out towards the distant Saltee Islands. The causeway is raised above the surrounding ground with numerous surface breaking rocks showing on each side. It is a magnet for shoals of small baitfish and sandeel, with the rocky ground a haven for crab, gobies and small eels.

It fishes best on the rising tide, especially for the bass and codling during the bigger spring tides, though more resident species like ballan wrasse can be caught during smaller neap tides.

The reef is also an excellent venue to wade out on a short distance and cast plugs and spinners. It's also a popular venue for saltwater fly fishing during calmer weather.

SPECIES
Bass arrive in April and stay until January. Wrasse show from May, as will garfish and mullet. Black bream are caught occassionally from the reef using long casts, these appearing in early June and staying until September. A few smoothound are also caught in June. Mackerel are found as single fish throughout the summer months, though big tides in July and August during calm warm weather will bring big shoals in tight along the causeway.

Smaller crab sections take corkwing and goldsinny wrasse, also the occasional cuckoo wrasse.

Codling can show any time of year, but are most prolific from September on, with November to January the best time. Whiting and the occasional dab make up a mixed catch.

BEST BAITS
For summer bass and wrasse soft or peeler crab is the top bait. Alternatives are big baits of ragworm or lugworm, and for the bass tip off with squid. For specimen sized bass try a whole squid or mackerel in amongst the outside boulders.

Winter cod take big lug baits or frozen crab. Also try a squid head for the bigger codling.

TACKLE
It's rough ground, so choose a 5-6oz beachcaster and a reel loaded with 25lb line and a 60lb shock leader. Top rig is a pulley rig with size 4/0 hooks for the bass, codling, big wrasse and smoothound.

Change to a two-hook rig for the bream and smaller wrasse using size 4 Aberdeen's

For plugging try a surface popping Storm Chug Bug. Top spinners are a Dexter Wedge or the ABU Toby in 1oz chrome. A 9-weight fly rod is ideal with black flies at dusk and white flies by day taking the bulk of the bass.

GETTING THERE
As you head out of Kilmore Quay heading back towards Wexford on the R739, on the right hand side is a road turning right that leads down to a small parking area with the causeway immediately in front of you. The road is well sign posted with a Central Fisheries Board sign.

WSF Tackle
SEARCH FOR TACKLE
DEPARTMENTS

BERKLEY FRENZIED POPPER £3.91 Each
Berkley PopperThe most versatile topwater bait ever produced. The Frenzy Popper just might be the best ever! Its unique balanced design allows it to be fished several ways. Chug it or pop it, and it spits water like a big fish chasing little ones. Slow it down with soft twitching actions, and it walks with the best of 'em.

TIDEWATER LURE RIGS 83p Each
FeathersAs any boat or shore angler will tell you, lure rigs when used alone or with bait are great for catching all manner of species. We've selected the very best rigs from the Shakespeare TideWater range that are idea for boat and some shore work.

7" WSF Jelly Worms
Berkley Power WormsDeadly 7inch jelly worms that are deadly for all manner of predator fish, especially pollack. We allow you to buy individual colours so you can mix and match what you want!
Jelly worms are 30p each!

Get ready for the new Plugging Season, Buy 3 get one of them for free, Blue Pilchard Divers
Blue PilchardBuy 3 Devil's Own Diving Plugs you get one of them for free in our 3 for 2 offer.
Check out our Devil's Own Lures.
These lures are ideal for bass and other predatory species. Price: £2.74 each. or £5.48 for 3.

WSF NOW STOCKS SAKUMA HOOKS
Sakuma HooksSuper strong Japanese Hooks from Sakuma. We now stock the 545 Manta Extra, 540 Manta, 560 Stinger and 543 Pennel Manta Extra hooks. All hooks are supplied in boxes of 30.

Bass PoppersBASS POPPERS! FROM £3.67
These excellent long range casting popper lures are ideal for numerous saltwater species including Bass. Berkley Frenzy Poppers.

SALTWATER FLIES FROM FULLING MILL FROM £1.25
Saltwater FliesWSF Now stocks the high quality range of saltwater flies from Fulling Mill. We have picked out a deadly selection from the Fulling Mill range that will help any saltwater fly angler this season.

BACK IN STOCK PENN CAPTIVA CV2 REELS
Captiva ReelsPRICE FROM: £37.18
Sea spinning reel, ideal for use with the Shakespeare Salt Spin Rod. Packed with features including an ultra smooth front drag, permanent instant anti reverse and a metal spare spool. The 5000 is idea for use with spinning with heavier nylons between 12 and 15lbs and Braid.

BACK IN STOCK SALT / CAPTIVA SPINNING COMBO DEAL
Captiva Reel DealsIdeal spinning combo from Penn and Shakespeare. Featuring the hugely popular Salt Spin 10ft, 3 piece spinning rod, and the fantastic Captiva 5000 CV2 Spinning Reel from Penn. PRICE: £73.39

BACK IN STOCK ABU CARDINAL 304FD PRICE: £37.18
Abu CardinalThis Front Drag version of the popular Abu Cardinal range of reels is an ideal reel for braid. Each reel features 7 bearings (1AR) Bearing, Instant Reverse and a spare spool. It holds 210/10lb line. Each reel comes with a free Abu Cardinal Reel Bag.


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