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Guide to Sea Fishing(shore)

  • 06-07-2008 2:01am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭


    Hi,
    I have noticed that there is many people starting to ask questions on how to sea fish from the shore. I have decided that every day that I will write a small article on a certain species which will be combined with my knowledge of fishing and that I have researched. I WILL NOT refer to any locations on where to fish because there is tonnes of them around the country but I will tell you where to fish for a certain species on how you would determine where they are and what rigs and baits to use.
    My first atricle/statment will be what every angler needs to start fishing properly.
    2. Bass
    3. Pollock
    4. Conger.
    5. Cod.
    will continue in due time.


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    For my first statment I have decided to focus on the setup and equipment needed for fishing.
    Ok to get into sea angling properly it is advisible to have two rods.
    A spinning rod and beach caster.
    WHY: Well a spinning rod enables you to work artifical lures such as softplastics(jellyworms, shads), Plugs and spinners etc.
    4a647e918868e8a43f92f04a49ab06f9.jpg[URL="javascript:void window.open('http://www.tackledirectireland.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/b116fe8ea1368da3bcd7e839c2c5a074.gif', 'win2', 'status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=520,height=240,directories=no,location=no');"]b308fd08e7f87a787734b699f38b94cf.gif[/URL]74c6aa5bbf6662086ac82507585e9cdc.jpgdabf9a630d32458da530b2fa08011bca.jpg
    Spinning rods allow you use these lures in such a way that fish will think that they are real fish/food and basicially try and eat them.
    Beach Rods can be used to cast baits at different distances so that you can fish the sea bed. Baits include peeler crab, mackerel, lugworm, ragworm.
    Choosing the write setup: to ensure that you will get the most out of your fishing tackle each piece of gear has to be chosen so that it will work well with the other piece. For spinning a 10ft rod is perfect that is able to cast lures up to 1oz-1 and 1/2 oz. A spinning reel which is normally a fixed spool or baitcaster should be able to take 200yards of 10-12LB line. If you are going to be spending a nice sum of money on a spinning outfit then add braid to your reel instead of monofilament. Basically for those who do not know the difference braid offers better bit detection and lower line diameter so you can fit more on your reel compared to monofilament but it costs a good deal more. For those who wish to spool there reels with braid be sure to put 30-40yards on monofilament on the base of the spool before putting braid on and to add a shockleader of the same breaking strain when spinning with braid.
    For Beach/Pier/Rock bottom fishing a 12-16ft rods is used able to cast leads of up to 7oz. The rod can be fitted with either a fixed spool or multiplier. Fixed spools are easier to use for beginners. The line rules are the same as above but be sure the braking strain of the line is mimimum 16LB and 20-25LB if fishing over rough/mixed ground. Always add a shockleader when using a beach caster because this takes the shock off the main line and adds and a rubbing leader so you wont lose gear over rocks etc. Shockleaders should be about two rods lenghts in measurement and have a breaking strain of 50-60LB, clear colour is the best to go for to avoid detection by the fish.

    Terminal Tackle: To get the most out of all situations you should have a variety of tackle.
    Lures can be chosen by yourself and see what you find works best in the area you fish, its all trial and error until you find what works, I am not going to give any particular makes or colours because different lures work well in different areas around the country. One rule of thumb is to match bright colours with bright days and dark colours with darks days and not the other way around.

    Hooks: A variety of hooks from size 2-5/0 will be what you need for shore fishing, I will explain what hooks best suit each fish when I go down the list of species.

    Trace Lines: Come in about 30meter spools and get two breaking strains for general sea fishing 40LB and 20LB.

    Swivels and quickchanges are needed but not nessicary.

    Beads can work very well for attracting certain types of fish or used in murky water condtions pick up a few colours at the tackle and they will make the difference plus they are cheap.

    Weights: Pick up a mix ranging from 1oz-7oz both plain and grip. (grip leads have wire protruding out of them thus giving a better hold to the sea bed)

    Optional:
    Filleting Knife: handy to proper fillet both baits and your catch.
    Thin Block of wood/chopping board.
    Tackle box: Choose your own depending on how much tackle you are bringing.
    Rainwear.
    Fishing Shelter.
    Weighting Scales.
    Disgorger(to unhook fish)
    Digging fork and bucket (to gather your own bait)
    There is many more items and its up to you the angler to make the step into wether or not to buy them, you will find after time when you get more expericed you will opt for optional gear to enhance your time out fishing.
    If you have any questions please ask.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    seabass.jpg

    BASS
    Habitats: Piers, Rock marks, Beach Esturaies
    Best Baits: Peeler Crab, Lugworm, Ragworm, Fresh Mackerel, Live Sandeels.
    Introduction: Bass for one of the most valued fish in the Irish Sea. They have silver body can grow to weights of 17LBS(Irish record). They have a spikey dorsal fin and razor sharp gill blades. Their teeth are tiny and there tail and eyes are large. They swim in schools when they are small(schoolies) but roam freely once they reach a certain age and weight. Bass are very slow growing and it may take two years for a fish to reach the 1LB bracket. Anglers are only allowed to have two bass in their possession in any one 24-hour period and they must be over 40 cm in total length. There is a closed season for bass from the 15th of May to the 15th of June each year. If you accidentally catch a bass during this period, just return him alive to the sea. Specimen bass cannot be claimed during the closed season.The specimen weight for bass is 10 lbs and the Irish record currently stands at 17 lbs 13 ozs. Bass are predators and will attack both lures and dead baits.
    Tactics: The best way to fish for bass is by spinning or bottom fishing.
    Spinning provides great sport and when using surface plugs it can produce some dramatic takes. Spinners and plugs are the main artifical lures used.
    Bottom fishing using peeler crab or any of the above dead baits can also be deadly for bass. Live sandeels can be extremely productive when fished under a float.
    The two basic bass rigs are a clip up trace with grip or plain leads depending on tide flow and if you want to allow more bait movement.
    Bass.gif

    And a float setup which you would use on the spinning rod, use the main line as the snood for the rig.
    175-mackerel-float.jpg

    Other info:
    When using soft baits such as peeler crab and ragworm or frozen baits use bait elastic to bind the bait to the hook.
    When fishing both calm and rough can be very good for bass. A surf causes the seabed to be mixed up which puts bass on the feed, look for throughs at low tide to cast into a hide tide, the bass will be lying in these. In calm weather float fishing from a beach can work well but spinning is normally the most preductive, bass can be caught as close in as 10 yards. Look for fresh water streams running into the sea bass will ly here in calm weather because flatfish and fresh water eels congrigate here making this spot a reliable food source.
    Don’t grab a bass by the gills, razor sharp prtective plates will cut your hands, grab a fish my the mouth or tail. Or simply use a net or beach him on the shore.
    If spinning for bass keep light and move regulary thus covering more ground and increasing your chances.
    If you don’t get any bites off lures change the colour of the type eg diving depth and colour etc.
    If schoolies are caught cast to the same location, the odds are that there will be another one there.
    Dawn and dust are the most preductive time for bass.
    Bass are mainly present all year round but you cannot fish for them or kill one during the bass ban preiod.
    Never keep more then two bass over 40cm , there is a heafty fine.
    Try and practise catch and release methods when fishing thus conserving them for future anglers.
    Always tell someone where you are going fishing and how long you will be gone for.
    Other sources of info:
    www.cfb.ie
    www.rapala.com


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,080 ✭✭✭Neil_Sedaka


    Great bit of info, please keep it up :-)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭little buda


    can someone please sticky this!! so it can grow it sounds like a great idea:cool:


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭Doc Farrell


    this is brilliant. please keep it going.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭jArgHA


    Fair play to you Popanddrop! Excellent articles thus far and would really appreciate if you keep this up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭jArgHA


    What kind of lengths would you use for the mainline & snood in this basic bass rig?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    jArgHA wrote: »
    What kind of lengths would you use for the mainline & snood in this basic bass rig?
    My main body lenghts are about 60cm, now you can change this depending on how much of a trace you can cast with and how far you want to keep the bait for the lead, for snoods about 20cm-25cm is good but shorten or lenghten thes depending on the tide(shorten for a fast run on the tide) also shorten the snoods if you are using more then one hook on your rig.
    Hope this helps.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    If people would like me to do an aricle on a certain species or anything else to do with fishing even comparing gear please pm me. I would really like to develope this more after the articles on the all the species and safety condtions and because this is for the benefit of you the reader please pm with any questions or any suggestions that you would like me to write on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    pollack.jpg

    Pollock
    Description: Ranging for Brown/Gold to completely black Pollock are much known for their sporting qualities and eating qualities when served fresh. They are slow enough to grow and the average Pollock weighting 5 pounds may be 4-5 years old. Pollock have a wide range of habitats, from Piers - rock marks - offshore wrecks. Pollock in general in Ireland are smaller around piers then rock marks, this is because pier walls are normally used as a nursery for young Pollock until they reach a big weight a move into different water. This is not to say that there is not good size Pollock around piers, if you fish threw the younger ones then you will eventually come into bigger ones. On rock marks Pollock tend to be a lot bigger, finding the location will produce double figure fish. On wrecks its normally uncommon to catch small Pollock unless you are close to shore. A wreck or reef is your best shot a double figure fish.
    At rocks Pollock spend their time in the Kelp, their eyes are positioned high up on the head thus giving them a overhead view. These fish will swim out of the kelp if the bait is spotted. Pollock are both teritorial and predatorilal fish and employ smash and grabs techniques to catch their prey. Once the fish has hold of its prey it will dive back for the kelp to seek cover. Pollock use the kelp both as an ambush point and cover from other predators such as seals and conger eels. Pollock when both young and old will hang in shoals, but you will find the bigger fish more on there own, except if on a wreck or reef. Pollock have both small teeth and small scales. There is no spikes on this fish much like the bass so handling is not an issue.

    Tactics: Pier : for fishing for Pollock from a pier the best tactics are to either spin using spoons or float fish for them. Baits for float fishing include mackerel strips, live/frozen Sandeel, and ragworm.
    Rock marks: The best way to fish for Pollock from the shore on rocks marks is spinning using jelly worms, shads, spinners. The setup for a jellyworm is very simple.
    coalfi2.gif

    Also you can using float tactics or bottom fishing using a very simple rig, you may want to only use one hook on this sort of trace or maybe use a different bait for a different species. Use 40LB trace body min, and 25LB snoods. Another productive method of fishing for Pollock is freelining a chuck of mackerel in the current, its simple setup of just a 4/0 hook(circle hooks work best) straight onto the shockleader and then just cast it out and let it drift. Feathers can also be a good way to produce Pollock but for bigger ones stick to the tactics that I have listed, plus it feathers get caught it the kelp you are more likely to loose them then any other rig due to the number of hooks.
    See bass tactics for Float rig, adjust length of float rig according to depth and keep the bait about 10ft off the bottom to avoid kelp.
    1up1down.jpg

    Other Info:
    Best times to fish for Pollock are Dawn and Dusk.
    Pollock is best to eat when caught the same day, after that it losses a great amount of taste.
    Jellyworms/Shads come in many different colours, experiment in your local marks, find which ones work well and what scents work best.
    If you like using lures a lot why not try make your own, get the materials and makers at
    www.jannsnetcraft.com
    .
    Don’t waste any part of the Pollock when filleting them, the head and guts can be used as bait for conger eels.
    If you catch a small or even a big Pollock cast to the same area, the odds are that there is another one there.
    If a Pollock strikes and you miss, keep winding, they will often follow the bait and hit again.
    Overcast conditions are the best for Pollock, if it sunny and bright move to deeper water to find them.
    Shore Pollock fishing is good from May - Mid October.
    Remember Pollock have big beady eyes and have a keen sense of smell, plus a leteral line that detects movement in the water, use this to your advantage.
    Fishing for Pollock of lit up Piers means the fish are ust to light, I have caught pollock from the surface in these cases.
    If you are fishing from a pier or rock mark and see bait fish scattering don’t assume this is mackerel it can sometimes be Pollock or Bass.
    Pollock are great sporting fish so use the lightest tackle possible in the given situation.
    Don’t mix a Pollock with a Coalfish even though they are from the same family(
    Gadidae
    ) they have a different colour as coal fish tend to be mostly grey-black.
    If you catch a Pollock which you intend to eat, cut open its stomach and examine the contents so you can match the bait/lure more presisely with what the Pollock are consuming.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    attachment.php?attachmentid=9955&stc=1&d=1090028623

    Conger Eels
    Description: There are two types of eels caught In Ireland and that the freshwater eel and conger eel. The freshwater eel can live in the salt water but is only present there when its making its way from the fresh water to its breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea. The Conger Eel is main type of eel targeted in the sea in Ireland, it is also the biggest.(Irish Record 72LBS and Speciman is 18KG). The Conger eel is found on rocky and sandy bottoms, staying near the coast when young and moving toward deeper waters upon reaching adulthood. It feeds mainly during the night but if fishing in deep or murky water it can be caught during the day. It feeds mainly on crustateans and fish.(mackerel, pollock, whiting, pouting). It is marketed fresh and frozen, and eaten fried and baked. The conger does not have a very distinctive taste especially as the age, so if you caught them throw them back. The conger eels only produces once in its life. The Conger Eel can be found inshore on mainly rough bottom and in around piers.The Conger Eel is a voracious predator, which eat lots and grow fast.
    It has a Anal fin which strecthes 3/5 its body length and then under neath it. Its one of the only types of fish that can swim backwards thus giving great sporting qualities.Conger Eels have a reputation as fearsome beasts which will attack divers and swimmers, but in-fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from when it is feeding, the Conger Eel is a quiet, shy animal, and will swim away from a diver or swimmer rather than attack. It is a powerful, solid fish, with strong jaws and razor sharp teeth, but unless you are stupid enough to stick your finger in its mouth, it poses little danger. Congers can range from black to a sandy colour depending on the type of ground on which they live.

    Tactics: Really to target Congers the best way is to fish hard on the bottom, using mackerel, squid, or pouting as bait . The two best rigs are the flowing trace(1) and the Paternoster(2) with only one large 6/0 hook, make the trace line heavy as in both body and snood are at least 60LB breaking strain.
    1.Running%20Leger.jpg

    2.Paternoster%20rig.jpg
    Use the appropriate weight to deal with current but not so much as the fish can sense the lead when taking the bait using a flowing trace. When using the flowing trace the only problem is that the fish can back into its hole and then you are pritty much snagged because they are to powerful to haul out.

    Other Info:
    If you are looking to catch a big conger eel then going on a boat trip is best, there are some very big fish in the shore also.
    Use heavy shore gear when dealing with Conger Eels so you can be sure they wont get into structure.
    Bring plenty of spare traces with you when fishing for Conger Eels because the breaking off heavy gear if not played properly, also they wrap around traces so have another ready to go when your untangling the other one.
    Conger Eels give a very sensitive bite so be sure to strike when you see it, give it a small bit of time to develop and don’t think it’s a small fish knocking at your bait.
    Use circle hooks when fishing for Conger Eels because they can be difficult to handle when you land them, to calm them down place a rag/towel over their head and then hooking them is faster and easier so they can be released.
    Bring a selection of baits when conger fishing.
    Check any used traces after catching an eel to ensure that there is no abrasion, if there is replace the snood or put on a new rig.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    Cod.
    Sea Trout
    Proper Filleting.
    More to be annouced.....much more.
    Requests welcome.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    v3_slide0009_image016.jpg

    Cod
    Description: A sandy-dark brown even red in some places, the Cod is known for only one thing and that’s its eating qualities. The Cod has a big mouth and quite a big tail and is also know for its sporting qualities with anglers. There main diet is Crabs, worms, small fish, squid, mussels, etc. basically it will eat nearly anything but that’s not to say you can just toss a bait at them. When in feeding the Cod will normally home into just a few types of baits eg at a beach it will be used to finding worms and crabs but not out at a wreck where its main diet would be fish and squid.
    They small fish stay close inshore until they reach a bigger weight, they can be caught all year round from some deep water shore marks. There habitat is widely dispursed with them locating in estuaries, beaches, rock marks, harbours, wrecks and sand banks. In recent years Cod have become a bit of a rarity, well at least the bigger ones, this is due to global warming and the Cod during studies have moved further away from Irish coasts each year with fewer and fewer returning.
    Cod has many related species including pollock and coalfish, and many in other international waters. Cod these days is becoming both an expensive fish to buy and a rarer one.

    Tactics:
    Cod along the shore are primarily bottom-mid water feeders. Rigs are these species are very simple and the one rig can be used for all the locations you will find along the shore and that is simply a paternoster rig. (see Pollock). Snoods can be varied in length to coup with the tide and main body lines and be lengthened or shortened depending on your casting skills. Hooks should be either a 3/0 or 4/0 long shank/circle hook. When making your traces be sure to use clear line. Baits can be of your choice but bring at least two types.(list in description). A beach casting outfit is the best to use for Cod. As always vary weights depending on tide, use grip leads over clean bottom.

    Other Info:
    When catching Cod put back the bigger ones and keep the ones that are just over the legal size.
    This will help conserve the species due to the bigger ones breeding sooner.
    If you are not getting any bites, then switch to a different bait or mix two together.
    The best times of the year for Cod are November - Start of March.
    Check stomach contents o kept fish to determine a better bait presentation.
    Cod are great eating be sure to experiment when cooking them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    I have decided that I will not be doing the Sea Trout piece due to that they are 1. A Game fish and not a sea fish.
    2. They are hard to target in salt water thus they are normally caught by mistake, and so are normally targeted in fresh water.
    Sorry for inconvience.

    On the subject of filleting, instead of writing it up and posting diagrams i thought it would be more helpful for you to see a video instead enjoy.
    http://www.nesa.co.uk/Articles/how_to_fillet_fish.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    Upcomong Pieces:
    Dogfish
    I would like to ask does anyone want a particular piece done before I make out a new list, reply on this thread please or pm me.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭jArgHA


    Here's a suggestion - How about an article on bait presentation? I know nothing about this and am starting bait fishing this week! Also, what to do with frozen bait etc..


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭growler


    Popanddrop wrote: »
    Upcomong Pieces:
    Dogfish.

    Dogfish:

    tactics: try for another other fish in the sea and you'll get one
    Bait: anything

    :-)

    annoying feckers but better than a blank !


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭Doc Farrell


    brilliant thread.

    tell me more about what you personally like to fish for and what you detest (for example, i hate to see anglers drop a fish on the ground and let it suffocate instead of just killing it quickly. do you know that cuttlefish can make a strange sound while dying slowly? its very creepafying)

    also perhaps do 20 things about sea fishing that you should definitely know but are too stupid/embarressed to ask: for example what if you stick a bait bloodied hook through the bit of skin between your thumb and forefinger? :o

    a great read corkonian!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    Dogfish%20P1010358-01.jpg

    Dogfish
    Description: In Ireland there is two main types of Dogfish, the lesser spotted dogfish commonly known as the `Dogfish` and the greater spotted dogfish commonly known as the `Bullhuss`. This piece is going to focus on the Dogfish.
    Dogfish to most anglers are a pest, those who know they are going to catch them use as light tackle as possible to get the most out of the fight. Dogfish are considered valuable in fishing competitiions because there is normally plenty and where there is one there is always more. Dogfish come from a line of small sharks that inhabit Europe, none of these grow to any huge size. The average dogfish measures about two feet with larger ones measuring between three and four feet. Dogfish commonly inhabit harbours, beaches and rock marks. Their main diet includes fish, squid, crab worms, etc. Basicially they are a scavager and will clean up anything, this is why they do play a big part in our eco-system. Dogfish are a good eating fish but the trouble is skinning them.
    Their skin is smooth running down there body but rough like sand paper when rubbed up the body.
    There colour can range from sandy cream to black depending on the habitat.

    Tactics: We anglers with experience have the memory of catching dogfish with the bad memory of the mess they leave behind. To battle this use a clip up rig. Basicially the hook is clipped up at the top of the rig during the cast and falls to the bottom when the lead hit’s the sea floor, when a fish is hooked the lead will up off the bottom and also the dogfish will be away from the main body of the trace so that it cant wrap around it. As always vary leads both plain and gripped depending on tidal flow. Dogfish also like attracters so experiment with different colour beads. For baits: fish baits, mackerel etc are brilliant as well as frozen sandeels, but they will take squid ,crab or worm baits. Snoods should be the standard 20LB and body of 40LB. In the diagram with this two hooks are shown, you can do this or only use one and lengthen the snood, the choice is yours.Use 3/0 hooks.(long shank or circle depending on bait)
    G2551_Rig%20Drawing.jpg

    Other Info: When handling dogfish grab both the head and tail, this prevents the Dogfish from wrapping on your skin causing irritation or ripping your skin.
    Best time to fish for Dogfish is at night.
    You don’t have to cast far at night for them.
    Found a video on to skin a Dogfish.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dye0aK4FG6A&feature=related


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    jArgHA wrote: »
    Here's a suggestion - How about an article on bait presentation? I know nothing about this and am starting bait fishing this week! Also, what to do with frozen bait etc..
    yes no problem that will be my next piece
    BAIT PRESENTATION 6 top baits, where to find and how to rig.
    Thanks for the suggestion.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    growler wrote: »
    Dogfish:

    tactics: try for another other fish in the sea and you'll get one
    Bait: anything

    :-)

    annoying feckers but better than a blank !
    Yes I completely understand you but I continued to write up to benefit the beginner anglers and to give a bit of info on the species.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    brilliant thread.

    tell me more about what you personally like to fish for and what you detest (for example, i hate to see anglers drop a fish on the ground and let it suffocate instead of just killing it quickly. do you know that cuttlefish can make a strange sound while dying slowly? its very creepafying)

    also perhaps do 20 things about sea fishing that you should definitely know but are too stupid/embarressed to ask: for example what if you stick a bait bloodied hook through the bit of skin between your thumb and forefinger? :o

    a great read corkonian!
    Thanks.
    I will definely write about myself soon.
    and each week I will do a piece entitled 20 facts about fishing with new ones each week. and i take it that your example happened to you.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    Upcoming
    1.Bait : 6 top baits, picture to identify, where to find and how to rig.
    2.Plaice.
    3.A little about myself
    4.20 facts about fishing you might not know.
    Please keep the suggestions coming.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    Bait
    crabfront.jpg
    Peeler Crab: Can be bought from any good tackle shop or bait provider. Can be collected in traps such as tyres at load tide but get permission to collect them first from the owners of the tyres.
    To keep fresh leave in bucket in cool place with some seaweed, when you get to your mark give them a drink of sea water to liven them up. To put on a hook break of the claws and legs and crack the shell and the rest of its body, remove the shell and lungs at the side(they should be grey) then cut the crab in half mount on a long shank hook or circle hook and bind on with bait elastic.

    lugworm.jpgLugwormCasts-021.jpg
    Lugworm: can be purchases sometimes fresh but mostly frozen(black lug). Can be dug in silty or muddy areas such as esturaries, etc. They leave a tell tale sign of a worm in a coil made of sand on the surface. Keep in newspaper to harden for a few hours or you can keep them in a fridge for a few days. Mount on a long shank hook and start with the tail, no elastic is required only if the were frozen.

    ragworm.jpg
    Common Ragworm: Same as lugworm.

    mackerel_large.jpg
    Mackerel: Available in tackle shops or fish markets. Or you can catch yourself. Mount on ling shank hook or circle hook and use elastic if the mackerel was frozen.

    fish_squid_499.jpg
    Squid: Normally bought frozen but can be purchased fresh from markets. Rig on a long shank hook in half or whole depending on the size of the hook. Use some elastic if the bait was frozen.

    25062076.JPG
    Sandeels: Mostly bought frozen, fresh if you can get them yourself. Rig frozen on long shank in half or whole and bind on with elastic. When alive rig on float rig with the hook point going through their nose. To obtain fresh sandeels look up on sandeel traps, to find how to make one.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,455 Mod ✭✭✭✭coolwings


    Excellent posts popanddrop. Very useful thread esp for noobs


  • Registered Users Posts: 570 ✭✭✭stevecrow74


    Use 40LB trace body min, and 25LB snoods.
    thats a tad over the top for pollock :eek::eek::eek:

    you only need maximum of 15lbs main line and snood.. anything more than that and your taking the fun out of fishing :mad:

    as for some of the snood lengths.. they seem to be more for boat fishing..

    like "4foot of 30lbs mono" for conger.. how are you supposed to cast that ?? 2foot is more than enough for a snood length for most sea fish from the shore..

    "Snoods should be the standard 20LB and body of 40LB." for dogfish..
    are you mad.. that means you can only cast with a 4oz lead..
    you should know the rule of thumb with terminal lines (i.e. shock leader and rig body) 10lbs for every 1oz of lead

    "The line rules are the same as above but be sure the braking strain of the line is mimimum 16LB and 20-25LB if fishing over rough/mixed ground. Always add a shockleader when using a beach caster because this takes the shock off the main line and adds and a rubbing leader so you wont lose gear over rocks etc. Shockleaders should be about two rods lenghts in measurement and have a breaking strain of 50-60LB, clear colour is the best to go for to avoid detection by the fish."

    i see so many flaw's here...
    i use 15lbs for all types of shore fishing... and even then i feel its too much in some instances.. the only time i use heavier line (20-25lbs) is when targeting tope of 20 - 40lbs from the shore... as for shockleader... as i mentioned before "10lbs for every 1oz of lead" colour doesnt matter... unless fish really like the red shockleader i use:confused::confused:.. the shock leadter takes the strain of the line as you are casting, hence why you see mackerel fishers lose feathers when casting a 3oz lead and only using 10lbs mainline, the main line cant handle the strain of the lead's g-force while being swung around.. and there is only one thing that can happen. hence why it is actually dangerous to stand near such people during mackerel season.
    its the snood line that you have to be careful with.. but even then it doesnt matter that much either.. a snood can be from 8-15lbs and 20-30lbs if dealing with conger ray or huss(but not necessary)


    Hooks: A variety of hooks from size 2-5/0 will be what you need for shore fishing, I will explain what hooks best suit each fish when I go down the list of species.

    what are you after with 5/0??? tope??

    size 4 - 1/0 is ample for all shore species.. 2/0 if your going for large ray10lbs+ or conger of 15lbs+

    i've caught a 12lbs conger on a size 6.. but i bet you never thought of doing that:eek:

    as for this bit
    coalfi2.gif
    how do you expect to cast with a snood length that is longer than the rod???


    i could continue but i'm getting bored ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 333 ✭✭dbrock


    my my steve,,,:D:D:D

    but alot of what steve is saying is right bring the fun back into fishing,,, last year i hit a 50+lb tope from the shore with 18lb main line with a 5/0 hook on a 60lb pully pennel,,,
    if i had of been using 30lb or 40lb main line it would have took all the fun away:)

    any newbies into the sport should check out www.sea-angling-ireland.org
    its a great site with lots of info and some great people to,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Popanddrop


    hey i think in light of steves comment, I will give the readers a choice to wether I continue this thread writing about what I have caught fish on and the info I have gathered from the sea angler, etc. Or if ye want maybe steve could take over the thread and write something everyday. Its up to yourself and I hope people will comment back on their answer.
    regards popanddrop


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭jArgHA


    Well I for one have read many useful tips in this thread and it would be a shame if it ended. I think in fairness to stevecrow, his points regarding the various lines to use may well be valid from an experienced fisherman's point of view, but perhaps for a beginner who is not used to bringing in a fish on a lighter line, the heavier lines may offer a bigger margin of error.

    If the OP however believes that some/all of stevecrow's comments should be reflected in the guide articles, then perhaps they can be edited by the OP to reflect those points.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,455 Mod ✭✭✭✭coolwings


    jArgHA wrote: »
    Well I for one have read many useful tips in this thread ...
    I agree. Please keep up the good work Popanddrop.

    Others can add their experiences. But fishing can be done many ways. So criticism should not be taken too seriously. More it represents a different opinion. Readers will make up their own minds, or take on a combination of the views expressed.


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