Davyred
Well-known member
Just returned from 3 days fishing over there. Weather was mixed, Sunday really blowy so couldn't fish the west coast marks, Monday was a lovely day, then terrible yesterday and today.
Sunday (Day one)
Arrived at 10pm and after getting some sandeel and Mackerel from Ardwell supplies, headed off towards the flat rock on the Mull. I chucked my big gear out with a flapper of mackerel on a wire trace to see if there were any stray tope about, but all I got were dogs. To be honest, things were pretty slow, had a couple of small pollack on floatfished sandeel and mackerel on feathers (which were kept for bait for the monday).
After fishing until 4pm, I headed back to my digs at the Tigh na Mara in sandhead. After a quick shower and change, I headed down to the bar where they were all having a karaoke night as part of owners wives 50th Birthday. During the night, I got talking to one of the local lads (Kev) who offered to take me out Pollack fishing on his boat the next day. I couldn't say yes quick enough!
Monday (Day 2)
Up at 9 with a terrible hangover to be greeted by a lovely day and a dying SW wind. I headed for my first visit to Crammag Head and was met by the farmer who kindly showed me the route avoiding the Bulls!
Crammag Head
The sea was still quite big at times, but I managed about 15 Pollack out, nothing massive, best just over 2lb although one did smash me up
. Fish were caught on spun sandeel/jelly worms and floatfished sandeel and mackerel. During the last hour of the session, the sea had flattened considerably and then in the space of 10 minutes, as soon as the tide started to run again, it was unbelievable - I've never seen a sea change as quick. On the way back, I headed towards the last field to be met with something that wasn't there before. It was full of bulls. I don't whether was having a laugh at my expense or not, but I had to walk all the way round, and I'm sure anyone who's done it before will tell you that its not the easiest walk in the world! Back to the digs I went to be met by Kev and Julie at 4.
We set sail from Logan and after stopping for mackerel, which were really scarce, we headed south. We rounded Laggantalluch head to be met with an unbelievable sea due to the tide rip there. Just as we go past that, it was the turn of Crammag head, which was the same. I was a bit concerned lol. Anyway, we got through it and started drifting not too far from the cliffs here...
Kev put the only launce we had on a float rig while I fished a long strip of Mackerel. After literally less than 2 minutes, Kevs float shot under and line screamed off his drag. His rod was bent double to such an extent, the spigot cracked. Try as he might so stop it, it headed for the bottom and that was that. I'd never seen anything like it, and just as I was getting over it, my float shot under and my Conoflex assassin bent double. After a great fight, out came a Pollack approaching 6 pounds. We fished for a bit longer with some smaller Pollack coming out but decided to try somewhere else a bit calmer. At our next stop, it was my turn to be smashed up. Again, on a long strip of mackerel, It took my float and I couldn't do a thing with it. In the end, it bit through my 25lb hook length. We worked our way back along towards Logan taking more Pollack, but no more smash ups. Kev told me that it had been quite a poor session, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, although there were a couple of times when I thought I'd be groundbaiting for us
Heading back from Laggantalluch
All I can say is its the most brilliant type of fishing I've encountered, and it makes me even more jealous of the people I see putting to sea in their boats there - I've got to get myself one. I love my Pollack fishing from the shore, but this was something else.
If you're reading this Kev, thanks again.
Monday (Day 3)
Woke up to be greeted with rain and a strong southerly wind, so that was the west side out of the question
I decided on a couple of hours plugging for bass beside Terally Bay
Alas, not a take, and with the wind getting stronger and rain heavier, I headed back.
And that was that. I was going to have a few hours today before I set off, but that wind had increased, so it was no good. All in all, a great trip, and I can't wait to try Pollack fishing from a boat up there again. A big thanks again to Kev and Julie though, for their hospitality, they really just summed up the people up there. I stayed in the Tigh Na Mara, and can thoroughly recommend it.
Sunday (Day one)
Arrived at 10pm and after getting some sandeel and Mackerel from Ardwell supplies, headed off towards the flat rock on the Mull. I chucked my big gear out with a flapper of mackerel on a wire trace to see if there were any stray tope about, but all I got were dogs. To be honest, things were pretty slow, had a couple of small pollack on floatfished sandeel and mackerel on feathers (which were kept for bait for the monday).
After fishing until 4pm, I headed back to my digs at the Tigh na Mara in sandhead. After a quick shower and change, I headed down to the bar where they were all having a karaoke night as part of owners wives 50th Birthday. During the night, I got talking to one of the local lads (Kev) who offered to take me out Pollack fishing on his boat the next day. I couldn't say yes quick enough!
Monday (Day 2)
Up at 9 with a terrible hangover to be greeted by a lovely day and a dying SW wind. I headed for my first visit to Crammag Head and was met by the farmer who kindly showed me the route avoiding the Bulls!
Crammag Head


The sea was still quite big at times, but I managed about 15 Pollack out, nothing massive, best just over 2lb although one did smash me up

We set sail from Logan and after stopping for mackerel, which were really scarce, we headed south. We rounded Laggantalluch head to be met with an unbelievable sea due to the tide rip there. Just as we go past that, it was the turn of Crammag head, which was the same. I was a bit concerned lol. Anyway, we got through it and started drifting not too far from the cliffs here...

Kev put the only launce we had on a float rig while I fished a long strip of Mackerel. After literally less than 2 minutes, Kevs float shot under and line screamed off his drag. His rod was bent double to such an extent, the spigot cracked. Try as he might so stop it, it headed for the bottom and that was that. I'd never seen anything like it, and just as I was getting over it, my float shot under and my Conoflex assassin bent double. After a great fight, out came a Pollack approaching 6 pounds. We fished for a bit longer with some smaller Pollack coming out but decided to try somewhere else a bit calmer. At our next stop, it was my turn to be smashed up. Again, on a long strip of mackerel, It took my float and I couldn't do a thing with it. In the end, it bit through my 25lb hook length. We worked our way back along towards Logan taking more Pollack, but no more smash ups. Kev told me that it had been quite a poor session, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, although there were a couple of times when I thought I'd be groundbaiting for us

Heading back from Laggantalluch

All I can say is its the most brilliant type of fishing I've encountered, and it makes me even more jealous of the people I see putting to sea in their boats there - I've got to get myself one. I love my Pollack fishing from the shore, but this was something else.
If you're reading this Kev, thanks again.
Monday (Day 3)
Woke up to be greeted with rain and a strong southerly wind, so that was the west side out of the question

I decided on a couple of hours plugging for bass beside Terally Bay

Alas, not a take, and with the wind getting stronger and rain heavier, I headed back.
And that was that. I was going to have a few hours today before I set off, but that wind had increased, so it was no good. All in all, a great trip, and I can't wait to try Pollack fishing from a boat up there again. A big thanks again to Kev and Julie though, for their hospitality, they really just summed up the people up there. I stayed in the Tigh Na Mara, and can thoroughly recommend it.