Wicklow Boat Charter’s skipper Kit Dunne welcomes the start of some great Spurdog action in 2012. After a few exploratory trips we found the Spurs on Sunday, including 2 fine specimen fish, one of 18lb 10oz for Paul Heffernan, and one of 14lb 3oz for Anthony Morris. Having tried the proven spots over a few trips recently it was time to get serious, with the homework done and a plan in mind, we put the wheels in motion Sunday morning. The tides were big so we gathered on the quay early to make the most of the early slack water, we would get at least 2-hours comfortable fishing maybe even 3. Eric Salmon’s crew were geared up well and I had quality bait sorted, herring and mackerel were ready to go. I set the anchor in a deep channel about 10 miles off Wicklow, where I had picked out a feature on the bottom. We fished with anticipation from 9 o Clock, I have to be honest I had a feeling it would be all or nothing today as I waited patiently.
It didn’t take too long and Boy was I pleased to see Anthony Morris land the first Spur for 2012 at about 9.30am, it wasn’t big but I could have kissed it, bingo ! We were on them. Now everyone was revved up and fresh baits went down fast and furious. It wasn’t too long after when another one was landed, bigger again but no specimen, I was just happy to see Spurdogs and a specimen would be a great bonus I thought. And it wasn’t long coming, Paul Heffernan pulled into a fish which showed great promise, the tide was still running and this fish gave a great fight, it was definitely a big one. As Paul concentrated hard, I waited anxiously beside him with net at the ready, then she appeared, a beauty at least 1Metre long with a massive girt. She was no longer on the surface when she was plucked up in the net. Well done to Paul, he calmly brought in this fine specimen spur at 18lb 10oz. We had a few more spur, 1 BullHuss of about 10lb then in the hard run Anthony Morris’s rod bent over as he hauled into a fish. After a very cool and calm retrieve we considered it must be another big female, and it was. Safely netted, specimen hunter Antony had his first specimen Spur in 2012, weighing in at 14lb 3oz it was another beautiful fish. Well done and thanks to the lads, all of them, for helping me find the Spurs.
Both specimen fish were kept alive in my large water-filled cool box with the deck hose running through it, on return to Wicklow they were measured, weighed, recorded and then released.
Kit Dunne
Wicklow Boat Charters,
Telephone: +353 (0)87 6832179 +353 (0)404 67031
Email: [email protected] Website: www.wicklowboatchaters.ie
