Friday 30 September 2011

For no mean achievement

More details later on four days of hectic crawling, climbing, catching, slipping, sliding – ‘I think my toe tails emerged through my boots in an attempt to grip the rocks’ type of times! All part of the Wexford bass fishing experience.

Availability 2013 update

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Take your fucking rubbish home

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If you are going to fish in special places why not have some respect for the environment. Braid, bottles, packaging, plastics, and a greys platinum wader belt amongst other things – trying to burn them doesn’t work either.

Monday 19 September 2011

Alan continues in Wexford

Having dropped my much loved Nikon D40x – its been with me through all the fishing and experiences you can see on this blog for nearly four years now – I’ve had to fall back to my little Fuji XP for a while. Christmas is coming ……

Alan continues to take fish on a day by day basis in challenging and interesting environments.

Saturday 17 September 2011

Alan lands in Wexford

Log Book Kit from B.A.S.S. UK

Its always nice to get a present and even more so when its unexpected. Alan gave me a brilliant set up from BASS UK this morning, he arrived on the early ferry. This is the log book kit containing a log book, tweezers, waterproof pens, envelopes for scales, length to weight conversion tape – all perfectly contained for data collection in a handy wallet.

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Friday 16 September 2011

Saltwater fly fishing for bass


Bass fishing with Jim Hendrick
Took a chance this morning over the top of tide in a strong southerly - whilst conditions were excellent at first , I found it more and more difficult to track the fly properly as the wind and waves increased.

Fishing Gear
Rod: Redington CPx #8
Reel: Vision XLA #8/9
Line: Guidline Coastal Intermediate #8
Leader: Airflo poly leader - 9'-0"
Fly: Bulky Bunker from SS Flies

The guideline coastal line is a real discovery for me - exceptional running line allows super control and maximum fishing time - the head presents beautifully and it has had a very positive effect on my personal fly fishing especially when drifting


Bass fishing with Jim HendrickPerhaps you might like to take a Workshop in saltwater FF - please visit here for more detail, all workshops are fully bespoke to your needs and operate around your timing and 'life schedule's.

The Wexford coast present us with many opportunities to fish and learn in a myriad of different locations.

Jim Hendrick

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Striper stock decline ?

Is fishing mortality the cause of the striped bass decline? A recent study claims otherwise. Scientists researching weather patterns at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration are pointing to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation as a likely factor in striper ups and downs.

The AMO, a combination of wind and ocean currents in the North Atlantic, seems to flip flop every 35 years or so. When such a shift happens, it affects local weather along the Atlantic coast, providing deliberate temperature and precipitation shifts, and subsequently river flow and salinity changes. When the AMO is in a warm phase, springtime along the East coast tends to be wet and cool – more rain,more water, more food. In the years following that phase, striper numbers go up. The the AMO flips – drier springs less rain and less food, which results in a decline in striper numbers.

Taken from Fly Fishing in Saltwaters – Sept/Oct

The future of the striped bass by John McMurray.

John has been guiding for striped bass for over a decade and has noticed a decline in catch returns since 2006. His personal opinion for the decline is that too many fish are killed in the recreational, poaching and discard arenas. It needs corrective action – reducing fishing mortality.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

After the storm, after the storm is gone…

To fine away, down, off, gradually to become fine; to
diminish; to dwindle. I watched her [the ship] . . . gradually fining down
in the westward until I lost of her hull. --W. C.Russel.
Conditions should improve somewhat over the next 24 hours – who knows what the possibilities might be after a blow like that at this time of year. Get it done before friday

Sunday 11 September 2011


Today will be a extremely windy day. Southwest winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 80 km/hr, gusting 90 to 130 km/hr, with the most severe winds affecting exposed parts of Connaught and Ulster this morning. It will be rather cloudy at first with some patchy rain or drizzle, but sunny spells will develop in more areas later with just scattered showers, some heavy and prolonged over northern parts. Relatively mild, with top temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees.

New Website

The beginning AND the end…

Forwarded to - The Irish Bass Policy Group (David McInerny, John Quinlan, Shane O Reilly, Mike Hennessy, Dr William Roche, Dr Nial O'Ma...