Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Glens of Antrim, Red Bay is one of the most productive areas on the north east coast for shore and boat anglers. There are many accessible and safe areas from the shore, with piers at Waterfoot or Cushendall where night fishing can give good catches of cod in the late summer. Cushendall beach can give good sport for plaice and dogfish. The salmon cages to the south-east of the bay have coalfish and mackerel around them for most of the year. For general mixed drift fishing from a boat, keep your drift between the outer headlands. The rough ground at Garron Point can fish well, but heavy tackle losses have to be endured. Peak time for all species is August and September.
SPECIES
Mackerel, gurnards, haddock, whiting, dogfish, bull huss, wrasse, pouting, ling, congers, plaice, dabs, flounders, turbot, various rays, tope, spurdogs, common skate, pollack and coalfish.
BAIT AND TACKLE
Mackerel is a good bait, but squid and ragworms catch more species. Plugs, spinners and even the fly can give good results with pollack around the rocks. A standard 12ft, 4-6oz beachcaster with fixed-spool or multiplier will suffice most shore species Try light spinning gear or the fly off the rocks for a bit of arm-wrenching fun. A 20lb-class outfit will suit most of the boat fishing unless you wish to go after the big stuff, when 50lb-class gear is advised. The tide in this area is very strong, and big lead weights are required if at anchor.
TACKLE SHOPS
O’Neill’s Country Sports, 25 Mill Street, Cushendall, BT44 0RR,
Tel: 028 2177 2009.
Opening times: 9.30am-6pm, seven days, half day Tuesday. Closed Sunday from end of September.
Bait: Live and frozen bait.
Number of lakes/pegs : –
Prices : –
Directions : From Belfast take the M2 then A8 to Larne and follow the A2 along the coast road. A slip is situated at the lifeboat station in Cushendall.
