A planned trip to fish bass in south Wexford with marine scientist Ed Fahy finally came to pass. Recently retired, it is a pity that there are not more people in the service with his passion, intellect, and desire to do the right thing instead of pandering to vested interests, our inshore waters would be in a far better state if there were. I digress, Ed and I arranged to meet in Gorey before driving on to dig lugworm at Rosslare. Through contacts Ed had a supply of fresh razor clam, along with the lug and a few bonus gaper clam collected while digging we hit the chosen beach and were fishing by noon.
A force 5/6 westerly wind created a nice rolling sea, the water was clear and there was no floating weed. Grey and chilly we were in no doubt that winter was not far a way, however once wrapped up we never noticed the elements on the windswept strand. High tide was around four pm, our chosen beach fishes well during the middle stages of the rise and two casts in to the session a slack line signaled positive interest. Grabbing the rod while striding up the beach contact was made, its fighting curve and the thump thump resistance screamed bass. A run to the left, into the breakers a spiky fin, silver thrashing and that big eye, moving forward in unison with the receding wave, beached on the following a grand bass of four pounds.
Taken on razor at forty metres two casts later in a repeat performance bass number two hit the beach this time on lug. Recasting with razor on the bottom and lug on the top no sooner had the rig settled on the bottom then bang bang in again. This time a spirited but lesser tussle signaled a good schoolie touching two pounds returned to fight another day. Shortly after that a flounder flapped up the strand and with that everything went quite. Not unusual for this particular beach, it is all or nothing. In saying that the strand is very consistent and I have never not caught fish on it and the quality is usually good.
With the lull Ed broke out the spinning gear prompted by a mackerel that grabbed my lug baited hook on the retrieve. In summer mackerel run this strand particularly in August, but October, we were surprised. Soon after another hit the shoreline contributing a welcome brace and a nice supper to look forward to. Ed and I fished on until six pm before calling it a day. Chewing the fat and landing a few fish a productive and enjoyable day had passed quickly. We promised to repeat the exercise before too long.
Tags: Angling, Bass, Bass fishing, Beach fishing, Ed Fahy, Flounder, Ireland, lugworm, Mackerel, Razor Clam, Sea Fishing, Surf casting, Wexford
