They say a good angler is never content. Whether I'm a good angler is yet to be seen, but never content is a dead cert. No matter which marks I visit I always wonder how good the fishing would be somewhere else. Call it curiosity, or just plain weirdness, I always ponder - would make a great name for my boat.
Early May: Off to a local beach for an early morning session, two rods out in the hope for a few flounder and turbot and possibly a bonus seatrout. This is a mark which fishes great in rough weather and didn't disappoint. I could see the birds diving just beyond the surf and I hoped that would encourage some of the larger turbot on this mark to venture in close to feed on whatever baitfish were present. I was rewarded with around 20 turbot and a single flounder, decent turbot, but nothing massive. Again, I looked beyond the surf and wondered would the big one be just out of casting distance, maybe be a good spot to visit on the boat I thought?
Mid May: With the sea and tides not suitable a shot at the pike was in order. There are a few loughs in South Donegal which hold pike and perch and I still think of them as quite a treat as there’re none of these predators in my area within an hour’s drive. The draw of catching something different is always nice and although I missed a few fish an angler I brought with me who has never fished pike before connected with two Jack's and saved the blank for the day. Although not content with my own efforts I did find solace in seeing somebody catch their first pike and that's as good as a fish for me.
With my business with pike still very unfinished I decided a try at the other fish I obsessed over as a teenager looking at sea angler magazine, the elusive Donegal bass. Tides and conditions were suiting perfect, I arrived at the beach and set up in twilight, baited up with some master baits lug and blasted them out to the horizon. As the sky darkened and the moon appeared I moved back up the beach and found myself casting into a small gully with some lugworm casts beside it, looks "fishy" I said as the tide started to fill. 15mins later my rod tip goes and a nice wee bass comes up the beach, 45cm and perfect for the pan. I release 90 percent of what I catch and I'm as happy to see them going back as going to the table, but I had never eaten bass I caught myself. So, this was the one. Out go another 2 lug and again I connect with another bass. A slightly bigger fella this time and back he goes. Content for dinner and content to see one going back, a perfect evening!
Late May: With some lovely settled weather forecast the boat had to be launched. Straight to horn head and the usual haunts, a few hours on the reefs produced some nice pollock and some very welcome mackerel, with fresh bait on board now the sand was a target for some bottom dwellers, some rays and dab showed up. I was delighted with my brace of his and hers rays, small, but my first of the season and very welcomed.
End of May: A little trip to a new part of a beach which I fish regularly, mainly to test out my new agility flattie rod, and flattie it did. Nice mid 30s flounder and a few turbot to back it up. Rod truly christened and hopefully many more to come. As for being content, I couldn't complain. 21degrees on a lovely Donegal beach and no need for waders. Wonder what the fishing would be like in Kerry this time of year???
Words from our member and talented angler Martin
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