Sample Tour

Steve from Scotland contacted me in early summer 2007 looking for an angling guide to the West Clare region.

He was coming to visit West Clare with three friends for a week’s sea fishing in August 2007 and he did not want to waste time searching for productive marks and looking for bait. He indicated that they would like to do some rock fishing and would like to catch a few different varieties of fish. If the weather turned bad he wanted an alternative venue that would be fishable.

I explained that on the West Clare Peninsula because of our unique location if the western Atlantic side was stormy the Shannon Estuary side would be sheltered and that we can always find a place to fish.

I assured him that as his fishing guide I would provide the bait and the venue but that he would have to catch the fish!

I met Steve and his angling buddies at Michael Burkes Tackle Shop in Kilkee early on the morning of 11^th. August 2007 where they stocked up with various hooks, leads, spinners, conger traces etc.

I already had fresh crab collected that morning and also fresh mackerel. 

We headed towards Loop Head to The Bridges of Ross. Here rock platforms slope down into deep water with heavy kelp beds that are the home of large Ballan Wrasse, big Pollock and Conger. Rare Trigger Fish turn up here every year with Codling, Ling, Gurnards, Dogfish and Garfish.

Steve and John opted to fish for Conger fishing hard on the bottom with a wire trace, 6/0 hook loaded with a fresh mackerel head. Kenny fished crab hard on the bottom for Wrasse while Barry spun a German Sprat for Pollock and Ian tried a Jelly worm for Pollock.

Steve was into a Conger almost immediately and a good Conger was brought to the surface only to throw the hook!

Kenny shortly after had a vicious take from a Wrasse which went into the kelp but Kenny teased it out and landed a Ballan Wrasse of 4 lbs. – his first! Meanwhile Barry and Ian were into the Pollock with fish to 5.5 lbs. coming in. Steve finally nailed a Conger of 20 lbs.

Several Wrasse, Pollock and Conger were landed to be returned to fight another day.

The fishing ebbed and flowed for a few hours until hunger and thirst got the better of the anglers and we all headed to The Light House Inn in nearby Kilbaha for some ‘refreshments’!

Plans were made for further trips to catch Bass, Flounder, Thornback Ray, and Mullet.