G
Guest
·Fished Monknash after work yesterday. I debated all day whether to go or not as the wind was pretty stiff all day. Spoke to a couple of lads coming back of the beach for the afternoon low and thay had a few small small-eyeds and reported that someone who fished wick ledges had had a 5-6lb bass and double figure smalleyed. So that clinched it, I was off.
Got down to the beach 2 1/2 hours before high and just managed to get round the point before access was cut off by the tide, walked the shingle beach to Wick ledges and set up one rod to start as the wind was still whipping. High tide at 7.47pm and had numerous doggies, pout and one strap conger till 2 hours after high, by which time the wind dropped to a light breeze and the sea was perfect for the rays, then it stopped dead till 2 hours before low, when it picked up again. I had already lost count of the dogs and thought they would reappear at low, not giving the rays a chance to pick up. But they did'nt, just the occasional ones.
Then the rays came on the feed, best session I have had anywhere from the shore (or boat) for rays. Had 7 smalleyeds in all, biggest went about 6 pounds, and only had the one small one of 2 1/2 pound. Luckily I had brought enough bait for the extended session and it was now on the flood about 1 1/2 after low, I was getting more rays than doggies which makes a nice change. I had been fishing one rod at range and one about 60-70yrds out, I had been catching all the rays on the close in rod, except the one small 2 1/2 pounder. I blasted out another sandeel, it could not have been in the water more than 5 minutes and get the moster of all slack liners, I grab the rod wind down and connect with something Big. It felt like another ray, alot of weight, but then it started peeling line off the drag and making several runs. I slowly wound in and loved every minute of the fight, especially as I knew there were no snags to steal the fish.
In comes another ray, I think it a huge double smally, but no a nice blonde of just over 20lb, not my first ever blonde from the shore, but it beats my last one by about 16lb
. A quick self timered photo and she was released.
left the beach at about 3.45am absoultley knackered as I had worked all day on the farm and then fished for 10 hours, but it was worth it. The rays were still feeding when I came off the beach I still had another pack of sandeel, but I was quite content with the session I had.
Got home and thought that would do me for a while, but I might go out again tonight seeing as the weather is spot on for them again .
Anybody facy a go, great session, just a pitty I was the only one on the beach.
I took the pics on a film camera, but am going to get them developed today and put on a cd too, I am hoping they come out it was a bit of a prop, push, lift fish and hope they come out type of shot. Pics to follow.
Tight Lines
Got down to the beach 2 1/2 hours before high and just managed to get round the point before access was cut off by the tide, walked the shingle beach to Wick ledges and set up one rod to start as the wind was still whipping. High tide at 7.47pm and had numerous doggies, pout and one strap conger till 2 hours after high, by which time the wind dropped to a light breeze and the sea was perfect for the rays, then it stopped dead till 2 hours before low, when it picked up again. I had already lost count of the dogs and thought they would reappear at low, not giving the rays a chance to pick up. But they did'nt, just the occasional ones.
Then the rays came on the feed, best session I have had anywhere from the shore (or boat) for rays. Had 7 smalleyeds in all, biggest went about 6 pounds, and only had the one small one of 2 1/2 pound. Luckily I had brought enough bait for the extended session and it was now on the flood about 1 1/2 after low, I was getting more rays than doggies which makes a nice change. I had been fishing one rod at range and one about 60-70yrds out, I had been catching all the rays on the close in rod, except the one small 2 1/2 pounder. I blasted out another sandeel, it could not have been in the water more than 5 minutes and get the moster of all slack liners, I grab the rod wind down and connect with something Big. It felt like another ray, alot of weight, but then it started peeling line off the drag and making several runs. I slowly wound in and loved every minute of the fight, especially as I knew there were no snags to steal the fish.
In comes another ray, I think it a huge double smally, but no a nice blonde of just over 20lb, not my first ever blonde from the shore, but it beats my last one by about 16lb
. A quick self timered photo and she was released.left the beach at about 3.45am absoultley knackered as I had worked all day on the farm and then fished for 10 hours, but it was worth it. The rays were still feeding when I came off the beach I still had another pack of sandeel, but I was quite content with the session I had.
Got home and thought that would do me for a while, but I might go out again tonight seeing as the weather is spot on for them again
. Anybody facy a go, great session, just a pitty I was the only one on the beach.
I took the pics on a film camera, but am going to get them developed today and put on a cd too, I am hoping they come out it was a bit of a prop, push, lift fish and hope they come out type of shot. Pics to follow.
Tight Lines
