Techniques

This page contains information on the shore techniques most commonly used and the standard tackle necessary for successful fishing in the area. These are just guidlines, and most of the time, you will just have to rely on your own judgement. There are basically five types of sea angling commonly encountered in West Cork.

Rock

Beach

Pier

Estuary

Rock Fishing

In every rough, rocky area in West Cork, there are dogfish. If the water is deep and weedy, there are likely to be pollack and wrasse. Depending on the place, there is also the possibility of conger and bullhuss, as well as bass, garfish, whiting, rockling and sea trout. Quite often, distance casting will lead onto smoother ground, where rays and a variety of other species can be found.

Much of the south and west coast is covered by rocks. Anywhere that is reasonably accessible can be a good place to fish. Many of the best areas cannot be reached because of cliffs and it is because of this that the full potential of rock fishing has not been discovered. For example, the west coast of Clare is known to produce tope, and even porbeagle shark from the shore. I know that it is possible to catch tope from the shore in West Cork, and I firmly believe that there are a number of places where sharks, not necessarily porbeagle, and all sorts of wierd rarities can be caught. It is probably because of the excellent fresh-water fishing that so few people actually go sea angling in Ireland. If you fishing from the rocks, anywhere in West Cork, and see anybody else, the chances are that they will be spinning for mackerel or pollack.

Spinning from the rocks requires fairly heavy line to cope with the snags, strong tides and heavy pollack. I use 12 - 15lb line. It takes a bit off the cast, but it saves on the lures. When you're fishing for mackerel, you could use lighter line, providing you retrieve quickly, especially when you are approaching the rocks. Most fish are found close to the rocks.

If you choose to fish on the bottom with a leger, tackle loss is inevitable in many places. Weak links, rotton-bottom leads and pulley rigs can help to save money. In these situations, you are either fishing for big fish or small fish. If you are fishing for pollack, wrasse, sea trout or dogfish, you can use spinning tackle, with a good hook. If you are fishing for anything bigger than a pollack, I advise you to use some heavy gear. 25lb line may sound like a lot, but it is quite necessary in some places. A stiff beachcaster, or even uptide rod, with a robust reel will help. Again, make sure to use a quality hook.

Float fishing using light tackle will catch a limited variety of fish. Wrasse, pollack, mackerel and garfish are the obvious ones. It is very enjoyable in calm weather.

Beach Fishing

There are a number of good surf beaches in West Cork. Ballydonegan strand, Barleycove beach, Long strand, Red strand and Inchydoney, are just a handful of beaches which are great for flatfish and bass. Farther east, there is greater variety. Most of the beaches will also produce dogfish, and ray, with occasional codling.

Long Distance casting is not necessary in most cases, with the majority of the fish being caught within 90 yards. In the gently sloping beaches, waders are essential. A light beachcaster with 15lb line will suit most conditions. If you are targeting conger or ray, heavier line (20lb+) is needed along with a good beachcaster and reel. A long flowing trace usually does the trick for flats. Local knowledge can be very helpful.

Pier Fishing

A pier is a great place for the beginner. There are usually mullet, dogfish, mackerel and garfish in the summer, with small wrasse and blennies, and often conger eels close to the side. Depending on the pier, there can be flounder, whiting, ray, and a variety of other fish available. One of the main benefits of a pier, is that deep water is usually a short cast away, if not immediately under your feet. There is room to cast, and it is safe, with plenty of things which can act as seats and rod rests.

Because of the fact that pier fishing is so varied, there are no general tactics to use. Distance casting from a pier should be treated just like beach fishing, and yields similar results. Conger eels living in a harbour often reach 25lbs, and while a handline is the obvious choice, strong boat rods with a good strong multiplier are the rods to use. Don't let the conger go back under the pier with your bait, because it can be very difficult to get him back out again. Use a very strong hook, as well as very strong tackle. I have had swivels, wire traces and size 8/0 hooks broken by harbour conger eels. Beak hooks are the most commonly sold hooks in West Cork, but these snap easily in the jaws of a good conger.

To catch the tiddlers, let a small bait, on a tiny coarse fishing hook over the side of the pier and watch them snatch it. Float fish for mullet and garfish. Feathers are the best way to catch mackerel.

Estuary Fishing

There are small estuaries all over West Cork. Unlike the big ones to be found elsewhere, there are few species to be caught within. Flounder, mullet and eels can be caught in every estuary at the right time of year. Again, a long flowing trace is a safe bait for flounder, with peeler crab often the only bait which will produce good catches. You will catch eels alongside the flounder, with crab and worms working well. Mullet can be quite tricky, and groundbaiting is often essential. Bread flake is probably the best bait in an estuary.

Bass are also commonly encountered in muddy estuaries, usually closer to the sea. Peeler crab is the best bait again, though other baits can also work well. In the deeper parts of some of the larger estuaries, a greater range of species can be caught. Sometimes, sea trout, and even codling can be caught.