Ballycastle 22nd July 2018
This was the second of five scheduled trips on board Skipper Sean McKays boat the Lady Lynda.
7 Club Members were on board
John McCourt
Paddy Trainor
John McKillen
Alan Buchanan
Marty Buchanan
Mark Buchanan
Stevie Burns (2)
With a perfect weather forecast and tide predicted the skipper suggested setting off for the Pinnacle marks off Rathlin Island. The club has had some decent days fishing off these marks previously so everyone was excited as we set off.
Sean had noted that mackerel were in abundance the past few weeks and after a couple of drifts we filled enough boxes for bait. The quality and size of the mackerel was excellent with Stevie Burns landing a lovely mackerel which weighed in at just over a pound.
With the mackerel on board we set off for the pinnacles. On the first drift Alan Buchanan had some immediate success landing two nice Pollack on the same drop with both fish weighing in at around 8lbs. Paddy Trainor, who has had some excellent days on these marks previously, then hit into a cracking Pollock which equalled the club record of 11.5 lbs. A superb fish.
The fishing didn’t let up for the first few hours and over the next few drifts Marty Buchanan, Alan Buchanan and John McKillen landed multiple Pollock up to 7.5lb with a few nice Ling up to around 6lb for good measure. Paddy Trainor then had a long tussle with another big fish and eventually landed another cracking Pollock of 11bs. Paddy had managed to hit the bar twice in one day with regards to the Pollock club record! A fantastic effort.
Paddy looked to have the pool and most of the Club Competition points wrapped up before Mark Buchanan hit into what looked to be substantial fish. After a bit of struggle he managed to land a lovely Ling of 16.5lbs which was a personal best and only 2lbs off the club record which Dan Boyle set two years previously on the same marks.
The fish kept coming for the next hour or so with Mark Buchanan taking another good ling which topped the scales at 10.5lbs and Marty and Alan Buchanan landing some decent Pollock up to 7lbs.
As the tide picked up the Skipper decided to move on and try a Spurdog mark. Despite our best efforts the fish just weren’t biting and Sean decided to call lines up to end a great days fishing for the club with plenty of fish brought home for the pan.
1st Place Mark Buchanan 16lb 8oz Ling 15 points
2nd Place Paddy Trainor 11lb 8oz Pollock 10 points
3rd Place Paddy Trainor 11lb Pollock 5 points