Autumn in Ireland is when estuary fishing comes into its own and whisper this, we do not concentrate on them enough. Not easy to fish being heavily influenced by tidal movement, muddy, full of pesky bait robbing crabs, expansive in area the angler often faced with limited access points and of course so full of food items that one wonders would the fish be bothered at all taking a random bait. Well brothers and sisters the piscatorial inhabitants of estuaries do take a well presented offering so long as it is the correct one with green shore crab, especially when they are moulting, top of the hit parade.
Targeting flounder yours truly ordered and collected two dozen ready to pop fresh peeler crab from Joe Carley of South East Bait Supplies before heading towards a new location for this angler with exploration in mind. Estuaries by their nature are not designed for static fishing most species moving up and down the main and various side channels with the tide quartering for grub. Usually following a set pattern it is not unusual to meet fish like clockwork at a particular point relative to tidal movements and the time of day, only regular fishing trips unlocking these secrets. Experience will suggest ambush points such as estuary mouths, the main channel and the entrances to creeks and pills and it is these that one should gravitate towards if unfamiliar with a particular estuary location.
Commencing to fish an hour after high water having checked where the main channel was located relative to my chosen mark on “Google Earth”, a flowing two hook paternoster baited with whole peeler was precisely cast into the slowly emptying creek. Setting up another identical rig ten minutes later it happened, down went rod number one, a true wrap around bite delivered with real purpose. No messing here, surf pole in hand leaning into an obviously large angry bass the rod kicked, thirty meters out the surface boiled and thrashed before dicentrachus moving up through the gears exited stage right. Negotiating an inshore bladder wrack bank no sooner did its belly hit the muck then the hook fell out, quick finger under the gill and a 7.lb plus silver beauty lay safely above the tide line.
Lighting up a grey, damp, blustery day estuaries can do this, flounder were the target species however coalies, codling, gilt head bream and bass all in season frequent the same locations creating opportunities for mixed bags and welcome surprises, this fish being no exception, wonderful. Safely returned, it was not long before a good old tap, tap, lean indicated flounder, the first of five it topped a pound and a half in weight. Two quality fish in the space of ten minutes, within an hour as the creek emptied bites ceased necessitating a move to a deeper location and a date with gadus morhua but that’s another story……..
