Exploring Rugged Coastlines with Pawel – Bass on a Dropping Tide
Conditions at a Glance
Pressure: 1030 hPa (high and stable)
Wind: Moderate South-Westerly
Rain: None
Tide: Just turned and dropping
Coefficient: 76
Moon: Waxing crescent, 4% illumination (moonset 19:15)
The Session
I hadn’t planned on heading out, having already fished the previous two days. But when Kirst asked if I was going — and hinted she wanted a bit of peace and quiet at home — I figured it would’ve been rude not to.
My regular fishing mate Pawel has been keen to try some new ground, so I sent him a message with the plan. His reply came back straight away: “I can be there for 18:30.” Perfect.
The Ground
This coastline can look daunting — sheer cliffs, rocky terrain, and open water with hidden features beneath. It’s the type of ground where I’m glad to be fishing with Samson Lures 36 Strong braid, its abrasion resistance a necessity when lures and bass are close to structure.
As we scrambled across the rugged rocks, I pointed out the tell-tale signs: channels where fish travel, edges where current pushes bait, and features invisible once the tide covers them. It might not look like much, but once you know what lies beneath, it’s a different story.
The Action
It didn’t take long. Just five casts in and Pawel was into his first bass of the evening, a schoolie in the low 40s. Next up, a better fish at 50cm bent his rod over nicely. With the fish unlandable from his spot, I scrambled down a cliff face to help bring it in safely.
Not long after, my rod arched into a strong 62cm bass that nailed a Pirate Lures teaser while I was still at the bottom of the cliff. A proper fight, the kind that makes you grin like a kid.
Pawel struck again shortly after, this time with another spirited 54cm fish that had his rod tip bouncing. Between the two of us, rods and reels were singing, and the adrenaline was flowing.
Reflections
By the time we called it a night, we’d had multiple solid fish between us, shared plenty of laughs, and once again proved that bass fishing on rugged Irish coastlines rewards those who explore, adapt, and respect the sea.