Heatwaves and Tope

The Azores high centered over Ireland, four weeks of continuous sunshine, blue skies, slack winds, and regular 20 degree plus temperatures, what more can three pale skinned Irishmen do but go tope fishing of course. Greeted on the harbour slip by a millpond sea, Gary, David, and I prepared Jean Anne before embarking to catch the last of a very neap ebb tide in the deep channel east of the Moulditch bouy.

Gary Robinson displays a fine male tope.

Gathering enough fresh mackerel for bait, year on year becoming an increasingly bigger issue raised its head yet again. In a repeat of last weeks struggle three anglers boated four mackerel in two hours flitting between various known drops off Bray Head. Well into slack water and really wanting to put David, who had never caught one of these sleek marine athletes, over a fish I decided to make a run for our chosen mark anchor up and catch the flood as it picked up.

Gary Robinson playing a good tope off Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

In a repeat of last week Gary had no sooner lowered fresh whole mackerel into Davy Jones locker when his ABU 7000 started purring. Off the tope went only this time everything went according to plan which was wonderful as David, still to land his first tope, had a grandstand view of not only what these fish are capable of but their graceful beauty as well. Scissors hooked, quick photo and away, a fine male tope that certainly looked and felt 30 pound plus.

David Murphy with his first ever tope.

Enthused by the spectacle David had to wait a further four hours before his wish came to life. Having been teased by an earlier dropped run just as the flood tide was easing Dave’s ratchet buzzed. Rod now in hand 10 seconds in David leaned and the fish tore off. Adrenaline flowing everyone on Jean Anne wanted this encounter to end happily which thankfully it did. Five minutes later the smile said it all as the female tope swished her tail and glided back into the depths…….

See also: Tope Antics off Greystones.

Click on: Tope Alley.

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