The rod and reel set
Extracting a pollock of more than 80 cm from a kelp forest is not an easy task, so the equipment must be adapted and solid. A light rod will allow you to have more sensations on small fish, but it would be a pity to lose the biggest ones. A rod with a minimum casting power of 14 to 48 grams will be necessary, and if possible with a length greater than 2.40 meters. The length allows you to cast long distance jigs or soft lures of about 30 grams.
For those who wish to fly without a rod tube, a travel cane is mandatory. Be careful, your rod must fit in a suitcase without touching the ends to avoid that it breaks in transport. The ideal reel will be equipped with a 30 lbs braid and will be of a size 3 000 or 4 000 to resist the numerous fights.
Effective lures
A selection of lures is necessary before embarking on this trip. You will need a large quantity of casting jigs, of various weights, ranging from 20 to 60 grams. These can be rigged with a treble hook, assists or a Texas hook with a small soft lure. Various soft lures, such as shads or long-distance finesse lures, mounted on a jig head are also useful. You can also take along crayfish imitations to target the old one and fish in your feet.
To conclude the selection, surface lures such as poppers and propbaits work particularly well on the spots. Lures from 5 to 7 cm to get a lot of small fish attacks and up to 12 cm to target the big ones. The yellow or orange belly colors stand out well on the water and are very effective. For bass, stickbaits are a must for fishing beaches, mouths and oyster beds.
A long-handled landing net
Safety is paramount when you decide to fish in rocky coasts. You should never go alone and find spots where you can fish overhanging, especially when the sea is rough. A landing net with a long handle will allow you to extract the fish without getting too close to the shore. There are telescopic landing nets on the market that will fit in a suitcase.
The fisherman's equipment
Knowing how to dress for the weather is essential when traveling, as the amount of clothing you can pack is limited. In Ireland, the weather changes extremely quickly, with rain often falling in two-hour cycles, followed by sun and then wind. It is therefore necessary to bring waterproof equipment to avoid catching cold from the first day. A good waterproof jacket and waders are perfect to compensate for the rain.
The rocks of the seaside are often slippery, so choose good shoes that are comfortable enough to walk all day long, but especially equipped with crampons to avoid slipping. Even in Ireland, never forget a cap and polarized glasses to protect you from the sun.
