Mackerel are in.

[walshie 2,804]

We went out for a few hours yesterday afternoon after some mackerel.

The first spot we tried had joey mackerel attacking the rig before it had got even halfway down. We were bringing in strings of 5 every time we dropped a line over. We moved out about 1/4 mile and although the catch rate went down, the average size went up considerably. 

We caught plenty to eat and were thinking of heading back when I felt the tell tale twitch of a mackerel attacking the feather. Winding up it felt like a fair size one again when all of a sudden my line shot off to the left. It felt like I'd hooked a submarine. I only had a 12-20lb rod and 30lb line as we weren't expecting anything except 1lb mackerel at most. Whatever this was slowed and turned but was still taking line against the clutch.

I wound the clutch up a bit and I could feel the fish diving for the bottom. In all my time fishing i have never felt anything as heavy or strong as this as the rod went from pointing nearly skyward to the tip in the water with each lunge.

After about 5 minutes I thought I was winning. Pump, pump, tiny bit more clutch.......

And the rod broke. I nearly fell over backwards but my biggest concern was if I could land this monster or at least get it to the surface with half a rod. It was still on the end of my line uit 30 seconds later, the line went slack and it was gone, trace and all. 

I thought the biggest thing in the bay was bass, but this was no bass. I wonder what it was. I shan't be swimming there just in case. 

[Blackmag 6,078]

Possibly a tope or conger walshie 

[fireman 10,884]

2 hours ago, walshie said:

We went out for a few hours yesterday afternoon after some mackerel.

The first spot we tried had joey mackerel attacking the rig before it had got even halfway down. We were bringing in strings of 5 every time we dropped a line over. We moved out about 1/4 mile and although the catch rate went down, the average size went up considerably. 

We caught plenty to eat and were thinking of heading back when I felt the tell tale twitch of a mackerel attacking the feather. Winding up it felt like a fair size one again when all of a sudden my line shot off to the left. It felt like I'd hooked a submarine. I only had a 12-20lb rod and 30lb line as we weren't expecting anything except 1lb mackerel at most. Whatever this was slowed and turned but was still taking line against the clutch.

I wound the clutch up a bit and I could feel the fish diving for the bottom. In all my time fishing i have never felt anything as heavy or strong as this as the rod went from pointing nearly skyward to the tip in the water with each lunge.

After about 5 minutes I thought I was winning. Pump, pump, tiny bit more clutch.......

And the rod broke. I nearly fell over backwards but my biggest concern was if I could land this monster or at least get it to the surface with half a rod. It was still on the end of my line uit 30 seconds later, the line went slack and it was gone, trace and all. 

I thought the biggest thing in the bay was bass, but this was no bass. I wonder what it was. I shan't be swimming there just in case. 

It'll be a shark i bet or maybe even a tuna,there off the Irish and cornish coast and your inbetween,i'd have a bet it was a thresher or a blue shark as you had 30 lb line on and that can land some big fish if your rod holds out ...

Does sound to me a trip out with bigger rods and wire traces and a good old chum slick is on the cards to see if it's still about what ever it was,just note the tide and time and match it next time as the shoals of makerel do have a routine and what ever it was is following them..

[dytkos 17,791]

Bet it wasn't as big as the one Ken hooked at the Wales comp.

Cheers, D.

[wilbur foxhound 480]

A seal

[dytkos 17,791]

22 minutes ago, wilbur foxhound said:

A seal

That's no way to talk about Ken.

Cheers, D.

[wilbur foxhound 480]

3 hours ago, dytkos said:

That's no way to talk about Ken.

Cheers, D.

And barbie 

[fireman 10,884]

6 hours ago, wilbur foxhound said:

A seal

A seal just spools you unless you hold the spool and snap it off and there's no slowing them in any way with a rod mate,well the two that i hooked were like that anyway..A pal of mine once foul hooked a basking shark whilst on a little rib in Cornwall and it took them for a mile or two before it spooled him off as he was playing with the clutch and having a laugh about it...

[Arry 21,775]

It's was a Shark mate.

Cheers Arry

[walshie 2,804]

A shark seems to fit the bill as I read a few big ones have been caught here in the last few years. I asked my mate at the time if he had a gaff or anything and he said "No, but I've got a knife to cut the line when it gets anywhere near the boat." 

[kanny 20,542]

Your Going to need a  bigger boat!

[walshie 2,804]

"Sometimes that shark he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark? He's got....lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes."

[socks 32,253]

Dirty dead eyed b*****ds .......

[Rickshaw swami 4,122]

Just made it home from a 2 night  shark fishing trip with a buddy.After the long drive staying up 2 nights, paddling bloody baits out at night,We managed one run and came off.Mr Walshie I could use some advice as evidently I'm doing it wrong

6 hours ago, walshie said:

A shark seems to fit the bill as I read a few big ones have been caught here in the last few years. I asked my mate at the time if he had a gaff or anything and he said "No, but I've got a knife to cut the line when it gets anywhere near the boat." 

 

[fireman 10,884]

So when you back out with a bigger rod and a bin full of chum Walshie  ?....