Articles

Brain Melt
Terry’s Travels Brain Melt! Cure? Take a few  days in the South-West.   When everyday life melts your brain, what do you do?       I can't speak for others, but for most anglers, the cure is simple. You go fishing! My brain had passed the melt stage and had moved to liquefied. I had to get away from the bulk of civilisation and into areas that  were less populated with humans and more populated with fish species. Tranquil fish pursuit in coastal water...

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In Search of Black-Mouths
Terry’s Travels In Search of Black-Mouths Black-Mouth Dogfish are a deep-water cat shark that prefer the deeper drop-offs around our Irish Coast. Predominantly found in 300-500 feet of water, they seem to be more abundant around the Northern coastline of Ireland, and in particular, the Antrim Coast and across to Western Scotland.     It is for this reason that my friends south of the Irish border travel up to me in search of this elusive specie, that and my radiant personali...

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A rare day out.
Terry’s Travels   A rare day out.         I have recently invested quite a lot of money on a trailer rebuild. It was long over-due and I didn't fancy forking out five grand for a new one! The renovation included shot blasting and re-galvanising the main chassis, with higher load-bearing axles, brakes, flushable hubs and accessories supplied and fitted by Indespension trailers, Belfast (they offer finance which is extremely handy!). My wee Red Bay Fast Fis...

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It's never too late to learn!
Terry’s Travels It's never too late to learn!             I have been hooking and landing Common Skate for many years now, and have notched up a fair number on the old Fast Fisher it has to be said. In fact, my first Skate tagged on my boat was back in 2004, having caught a few before that with top charter skipper Sean McKay. But I recently realised I have been missing a trick or two over the years. If only this was the "norm" for Irish weather! To...

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Wicklow re-visited
Terry’s Travels Back to the East Coast for Specimen Smooth Hound action!           I thought after my recent trip down to the south-east coast, my Smooth Hound adventures were done and dusted for the year. However, a surprise invite from my buddy Sid Kennedy saw me scuttling around the shed gathering up the gear, and more importantly, on the phone enquiring if fresh peeler crab were available. Without this particular bait; the ultimate delicacy for Smooth Ho...

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Smooth Operator
Terry’s Travels Smooth Operator Taking a long-overdue adventure to the south-east inshore waters of County Wicklow, in search of hard-fighting hounds.         It must be at least eight years since I ventured to the Wicklow Coast, too busy exploring other fishy areas of this wonderful country. I felt it was time to rectify this, and although you rarely need an excuse to wet a line, I had three reasonably plausible ones. The Greys "Toreon" GR75s. Twin tip. ...

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Healing The Wounds
Terry’s Travels Healing The Wounds   After several barren months, I finally managed to get out and chase a few specimens. The balance is slowly being restored!       I have hardly wet a line this year through one thing or another. A few personal issues have taken priority over bending a rod into a sizeable fish, but one problem in particular was my right hand seizing up! Having seen a consultant, it appears I have "severe Carpal tunnel syndrome" in both hands. "W...

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A Winter Warmer
Terry’s Travels A Winter Warmer My friends will tell you, if asked, that I am a warm-weather angler. I suffer the winter poorly, only made bearable by some cold-weather Pike angling.     At this time of year I yearn for the long summer days and warm gentle breezes, when my thoughts often wander to stalking sessions along the estuaries and inlets of the County Down coast. This is usually in search of "Irish Bonefish", the silver torpedoes also known as Grey Mullet. It's thes...

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A Date With A Skate
A Date With a Skate   Helping some friends achieve an angling ambition.           Last year I had the good fortune to meet a lovely couple, Michael and Samantha Savage, and since that meeting, we have become good friends. Sam introduced herself at that time, and being passionate shore anglers, recalled stories and showed photos of their angling adventures around Northern Ireland. Although they have landed quite a few species, fishing from the shore obviously...

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Return to Fenit 2018
Return to Fenit 2018   Back on the trail of the Irish Specimen Stingray, I headed south for Tralee Bay yet again to join Sidney Kennedy, before he relocated his boat back home in Cork. On this occasion I was also in the company of star angler and specimen hunter, six year old Amy, Sid's daughter.       I finally arrived at Fenit Harbour, after a frustrating journey from the north. I managed to hit the Dublin rush hour, exacerbated by a collision on the M50 that left tra...

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