A little bit late, apologies. It’s a cool morning with a little bit of mist in Foxford. We have had a few very pleasant days and overall the weather has been good for the time of year so plenty of opportunities to get out fishing. Part of the problem for us at the moment is that we have too much fishing to do and between Stocked trout ,Pike and a bit of sea fishing there’s just not enough days in the week. As we all know You cant be in two places at one time so we have been mixing it up a little and trying to be in the best place at the right time. On this occasion it worked.

A wet and Windy Sea Bass Session

Unlike the bass strongholds of Wexford and Kerry, the west coast isn’t exactly famous for Sea Bass fishing. They’re there, but they’re thin on the ground and you have to find them which doesn’t always happen. On the last spring tide P.J. and I loaded up the lure rods, grabbed a box of Patchinko lures, and headed off for a session on a wild and windy west coast beach. It turned out to be a session to remember

As I mentioned it’s about been in the right place at the best time and from the research I have done and the information gleaned, the Spring tide is the one to go for. The theory is simple,  bigger tides mean more water movement, more current, more feeding and hopefully, more active fish . We fished the last two hours of the coming tide and the first hour of the ebb. Like sea trout I’m sure it is possible to catch them at all stages but we have found this period the best.

Along with the best time and location, to optimise ones chances it is important to have the best bait.Natural baits work well for Sea Bass but we opted for Lures and the one that has been geeting the big reviews locally is the Xorus Patchinko. This was our weapon of choice and If you haven’t fished one, it’s a topwater lure that has earned a serious reputation as a sea bass magnet. It’s a floating walk-the-dog style lure, and on a calm evening or a choppy surf, it does exactly what you want it to do. it skips, slides, and hops across the surface, imitating an escaping or injured baitfish (Sea Gulls also Like it but that’s another story.)

The beach we headed for was an hours drive from Foxford and when we arrived it was wet and windy. The sort of weather that makes you wonder about whether or not to face it. We did though and to be honest, once we got the wet weather gear on and were properly togged out it was Nice. You would need to have had the experience to know what I mean by It was nice. There is a certain feeling when walking on a beach or a hill in a fresh breeze with driving rain knowing that your protected from getting wet and cold. The freshness of the breeze and the rain on your face is invigorating. Add to this the sound of the Ocean and the seagulls calling, a fish was only going to be a bonous.

We had fished for about half an hour when I got the first take. A sudden explosion in the water and my rod doubled. A double thud and the line screamed off the reel, there was no doubt about what it was. I shouted to P.J and he made his way up to me. By the time he arrived the Sea Bass was running parallel to the beach in shallow water with its dorsal fin breaking the surface. It was like something you read in a fishing magazine, it was a strong fish using every trick in the book to get away. On a couple of occasions when I though it was giving up, it ran back out into the surf and headed for deep water. Eventually as it came towards me on a wave it got carried up the beach and was left stranded. A beautiful fish of about five pounds.

I had said that I was going to take a fish to eat and at this stage I wasn’t certain I would catch another. While still lying on the sand it gave a couple of flips, the hook came out and at the same moment a wave washed in. My dinner gave another flip turned towards the open water and before I realised what had happened it headed for New York. I wasnt going to be eating this one!.

The blow by blow account of each fish would only bore you. We were rewarded with four beautiful sea bass, all in the three to five-pound bracket. Two released to fight another day, one made the great escape and one kept for the table. Certainly the perfect result for a short session. It could be hard to repeat but we will try.

If you want to own your own Patchinko follow this link 😁

https://themoy.com/product/xorus-patchinko-125/ 

How to fish the Patchinko

It’s an interesting lure to use and the action is excellent

• The Retrieve: The classic approach is a “walk the dog” action. Keep your rod tip down and twitch the reel handle or the rod tip in a rhythmic motion. The lure should zig-zag left to right across the surface .
• Pauses are Key: Don’t just retrieve it constantly. Add a pause every few twitches. This is often when the bass hits—it gives them a split second to commit. The Patchinko almost works itself on the retrieve, so you don’t need to overdo the action .
• Watch the Water: Keep your eyes on the lure at all times. The strike can be violent, and if you’re not ready, you’ll miss the hook set.
• keep an eye on the sky: I ended up flying a living seagull Kite, I did release it without injury. It wasn’t easy!

Tips for Sea Bass on the West Coast

• Location, Location: Look for structure. Off-the-beaten-track beaches, rocky outcrops, and estuaries are your best bet. The Mullet Peninsula has been known to throw up the occasional bass, but they require patience .
• Tide Matters: As we did, target the change of the tide. The last hours of the flood and the first of the ebb are prime feeding windows.
• Regulations: Remember, in Ireland, there is a bag limit of two sea bass per angler per day (and a minimum size of 42cm).