[616638]

Hi to you all,
Just a quick note from Ireland, where the blue fin tuna fishing is driving us landlubber beachcasters mad. In Donegal we can see the fish break just out of casting range (well about 150yds out of casting range, but you know what I mean!) and many are taken in sight of shore. But a couple of weeks ago the biggest one yet in Ireland was caught just 300yards from the shore!!
here is a link to the pic
Blue Fin Tuna
Hope to learn some new things from you all.

Myles

 

[615966]

Im curious, i was in killybeggs (spelling?)for two weeks in July with family. At the time i was more interested in golf. However, are there any hotspots near killybegs that would have been worth checking out at that time of the year.It was beautiful country. The golf at Donegal Golf Club was the most difficult i have ever experienced. Obviously, Killybeggs has ocean going fishing vessels....but are there smaller boats that can be chartered.?

 

[613595]

Have you ever thought of using a small boat(zodiac) to get you bait out to the fish from the shore. I have seen it done in Australia for sharks, guy rides your bait out and drops it whre you want it. Although if your feet aint planted that tuna may take you for a ride



This message was edited by fourtwenty on 11-1-01 @ 4:03 PM

 

[616638]

Hey Richfas and fourtwenty,
Killybegs is almost the spiritual home of the new tuna fishing scene in Ireland. But as Irreland most important commercial fishing quay the charter boat and angling opportunities are often overlooked.

Although in fairness I think July is a little early for the Bluefins in that area, there is great sport to be had with blue shark and porbeagle.

4-20 would you believe that in the 70s an Irish angler (Jack Shine) took a number of porbeagle shark from the shore with a regular surf casting rod? This sort of thing is a common(ish) thing now in OZ but at the time it was quite a thing, especially in Ireland!

Myles

 

[Scalawag]

hey I clicked on the link only to find a fishing website & no tuna picture, boy you Irish & Brits sure love your Spam!
Oh I found it at the bottom, nice fish, mustve been worth some big $$$,
Alan



This message was edited by Scalawag on 11-2-01 @ 1:23 PM

 

[616800]

How much line do you have on your pole? you might be able to get some more distance by using a baloon. I'm going to give this a try tonight ( even in the cold)

http://phartattack.tripod.com/balloon.html

 

[616837]

Hello Myles,
What a great report,I would give a weeks fishing to have seen that! Not to change the subject, but, do you have any information on Pike Fishing in Ireland? My Grandfather used to tell of great Pike being taken in Ireland. Are your Pike the same species as we have in the U.S. (Esox lucius)?
Well, thank you and tight lines.
Jim

 

[seaslug44]

Hello Myles.

If I were you and I lived that close to the action, I would have bought a boat at the very first sight of those monsters.

As far as trying to land one from the surf -you are going to need a ton of luck. When we attempt to catch giants from a boat, we actually use the boat itself to help tire & land the fish. This is how it works;

When a fish is hooked, if the vessel is anchored we attach a float to the anchor line and unhook the boat from the anchor so it is free to move. Then the captain will use the boat to fight the fish in several ways. He will often chase the fish with the boat to help the angler retrieve some of the fishing line. Other times, he will let the boat drift and let the fish tire from the pressure of towing the boat around the ocean. Finally, there is a method of circling the fish with the boat to help raise stubborn fish that refuse to surface.

When these great battles are successful, the fish are often landed MILES from where the hookup first occurred. Also, whenever a crew is too slow or unable to release the boat from anchor, giant bluefin will "spool" or completely strip all of the line off of their fishing reel. This happens to even the largest of big game fishing reels (130lb class reels).

So even if you are fortunate enough to hook one of those great giants from the surf, the likelyhood that the battle will last more than a few minutes is extremely rare.

 

[616638]

Hey pike53,
The pike we have and the pike you have is the same thing. There are stil loads of big fish being caught here, as in the last few years dedicated anglers have taken to releasing every pike they catch - no matter how big or small. Those who know the waters catch loads of 20 plus fish each season.

There is a bit about Irish pike at this address

http://www.cfb.ie/Angling/pike/pike.htm

and in the links section thre are a few more Irish pike sites.

hope this helps

Myles

 

[616837]

Thank you Myles
Jim

 

[613714]

I must admit I thought this was a Patrick Post!!!

Doctor Fish - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ - Pop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REally cool stry and great fish.

 

[seaslug44]

Billy40,

That's a good one!

You could not have said it any better. Down in the Florida Keys, 200lb+ tarpon often roam the marinas within casting distance of many fisherman. When they grab someone's line it's just like you said; zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz POP!. I've watched guys go down to the docks with standup tuna rods & 80 international reels spooled with 100lb test. It's still always the same song;zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz POP!. Either the line snaps or the hook pulls.

 

[613714]

I had one experiance with Tarpon in Fort Myers last May with a guide. Yeah, they're big, jump hihgh - I know, I know - how hard could it be I thought? Bow to the cow, - no Problem!!!

Live Threadfin Shad swimming around, do-to-do WHAT THE [email protected]#!!!!!!! zzzzz...zzzzz...zzzzzz. Guide yells to bow, I'm in shock Holy, Zooooom this huge fish hurls 8 feet out of the water, then I bow -- Set the hook, set the hook. I yank back..zzz.zzz.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..zz.zz Bow, Bow Bow, Huh??? Zooom Holy [email protected]#$. Set the hook again. Geez.

I got it to the side of the boat after about 20 mionutes - lucky as ****. I bowed 2 times, both tims after the fish had already landed. He swam right along side the boat, the guide wen tot grab th eleader, and the fish turned his head, shook once, and the hook popped out. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Too much fun!!! When I came to my senses, I realized the fish dragged the boat about 500 yards against the current. Whoa.

 

[615579]

That is one impressive fish. In Africa, where I hail from, a practice often used if the winds were off shore, was to fly the lure beyond the breakers using a kite. Initially the standard kids kit was used, while in the last decade with the development of these simple toys into sophisticated sports equipment it has become more of a science.
Last year i went after Garrick using the skills of a buddy on his windsurfer to get the lure beyond the waves.

 

[616638]

Whats Garrick Islander?

As an aside the other irish tuna possiblities are albacore off the south west coast, Cork and Kerry mostly. But they are always further offshore. If the climate changes keep up I might get one off the beaches in the next few years.

Myles