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Eric Bird,a resident of Drummore had kindly invited me out for a few hours fishing on board his boat the Scorpion. His boat is kept moored in Drummore harbour which is tidal and in fact completelty dries out at low tide. There is a gravel bar that runs right in front of the entrance and you have to run in towards the beach to clear it. I took this shot of the harbour at lw to show how dangerous it can be to those who do not know this fact.
Anyway by the time I arrived down at the harbour Eric was almost ready to go so I ungainly paddled over to the Scorpion in his little transfer boat. There were supposed to be 4 of us on board for this trip but two had cancelled at the last minute so I was "deckie" for the day.. I cast us off and Eric carefully steered us out of the harbour.
For this fishing session Eric had decided to fish over the "drop off" which lies a mile or so straight out into Luce Bay from Drummore. Its slightly deeper rougher ground from which we had done well in the past.
Even though mackerel had been scarce of late we both rigged up for them and also baited up the bottom two hooks with some mackerel I had brought out with me,just in case the mackerel did not show.
Eric got hit straight away and seemed to have a decent fish on. I tell you what,he should be called Snatcher and not me !!!!!! He had two hooks into a codling of about the two pound mark,none of which were in its mouth and it was also trussed up in his trace. Eric carefully unhooked it and back it went to fight another day.
My first drop down produced two of the biggest mackerel of the day,an ideal pan size.
As well as the occasional mackerel we were picking up a lot of small pollack and up to three at a time. A good sign for the future I suppose that there are so many small pollack around. In fact on some of my dusk bass sessions off the shore using 6" holographic sandeels small pollack averaging about a pound have been hitting me on nearly every cast.
We fished for about 3 hours,keeping drifting back over this rougher ground. In total Eric caught four codling,none of which he decided were big enough to keep. As well as small pollack I picked up a few launce which I kept for bait. I never touched a single codling so Eric took the "Cod Cup" Our mackerel total between us was about 40,not a lot for three hours/two rods. As we were tackling down I noticed a gannet circling the boat. I am sure they must know the score so I duly chucked him two mackerel which he deftly beat the black backed gulls to.
On the way back in we noticed a familiar boat approaching. It was "Posh John" aka John Coleman in his boat "Splasher".
He had two mates on board and they were just out for a fun trip with handlines. After a bit banter between us we left the "Three Men in a boat" behind us and headed back to the harbour.
Fishing wise it had not been a great session but the craic between us had been good and the weather had been kind. A most enjoyable few hours out in the bay. From where we tied up the Scorpion to the harbour breakwater was only about 5/6 yards but I still nearly managed to finish up in the drink!!!. I seem to have a bad relationship with transfer boats LOL
Back at the caravan I was cleaning up the mackerel and noticed this,thought it was worth a picture.
Thanks for a good day out Eric
John
Anyway by the time I arrived down at the harbour Eric was almost ready to go so I ungainly paddled over to the Scorpion in his little transfer boat. There were supposed to be 4 of us on board for this trip but two had cancelled at the last minute so I was "deckie" for the day.. I cast us off and Eric carefully steered us out of the harbour.
For this fishing session Eric had decided to fish over the "drop off" which lies a mile or so straight out into Luce Bay from Drummore. Its slightly deeper rougher ground from which we had done well in the past.
Even though mackerel had been scarce of late we both rigged up for them and also baited up the bottom two hooks with some mackerel I had brought out with me,just in case the mackerel did not show.
Eric got hit straight away and seemed to have a decent fish on. I tell you what,he should be called Snatcher and not me !!!!!! He had two hooks into a codling of about the two pound mark,none of which were in its mouth and it was also trussed up in his trace. Eric carefully unhooked it and back it went to fight another day.
My first drop down produced two of the biggest mackerel of the day,an ideal pan size.
As well as the occasional mackerel we were picking up a lot of small pollack and up to three at a time. A good sign for the future I suppose that there are so many small pollack around. In fact on some of my dusk bass sessions off the shore using 6" holographic sandeels small pollack averaging about a pound have been hitting me on nearly every cast.
We fished for about 3 hours,keeping drifting back over this rougher ground. In total Eric caught four codling,none of which he decided were big enough to keep. As well as small pollack I picked up a few launce which I kept for bait. I never touched a single codling so Eric took the "Cod Cup" Our mackerel total between us was about 40,not a lot for three hours/two rods. As we were tackling down I noticed a gannet circling the boat. I am sure they must know the score so I duly chucked him two mackerel which he deftly beat the black backed gulls to.
On the way back in we noticed a familiar boat approaching. It was "Posh John" aka John Coleman in his boat "Splasher".
He had two mates on board and they were just out for a fun trip with handlines. After a bit banter between us we left the "Three Men in a boat" behind us and headed back to the harbour.
Fishing wise it had not been a great session but the craic between us had been good and the weather had been kind. A most enjoyable few hours out in the bay. From where we tied up the Scorpion to the harbour breakwater was only about 5/6 yards but I still nearly managed to finish up in the drink!!!. I seem to have a bad relationship with transfer boats LOL
Back at the caravan I was cleaning up the mackerel and noticed this,thought it was worth a picture.
Thanks for a good day out Eric
John
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