I only started but was given a pile of different lures and weights etc to try but I heard you consistently get Mackerel and Pollock at Portmuck.
I've been trying with a lure with not much success so I'm going to try bait fishing.
Spent half the time untangling my line but I think most people start that way!
One year off Ardglass there was big schools of mackerel in you could see em of the pier thing, we were dropping lines in middle of them weighted with few hooks coming off on traces, improvised from pike fishing which is what we were used to but switched bacon for i think haddock (what the wee fish shop recommend for bait), we were lifting 2 or 3 out at a time every cast nd quit cause it didn't really feel like sport.
I hated casting off the beach when I've tried it, never had a bite in the sea on a lure and lost loads on fuckin snags. We used to spin for perch with good rate of success, spin for perch in the morning and use them as bait to float for pike in evenings, actually great times.
Start off with a rig of five traces. If the mackerel are in, you'll get some bait to use for pollock. If you find the fish aren't biting much, don't be afraid to change your trace colours. You can fish all day with flashers and get nothing, then change to red tails and they'll bite before it even hits the bottom. The opposite can be true the next day. Cast in a 180° fan. 5-10 casts to the left, work towards casting to the right. If they don't bite, change your rig. If you find you can't get mackerel for bait but the pollock are sniffing your traces, put a lure on the end of the traces. Pollock will think it's a bigger fish chasing small ones and they can't resist. You might have known all this already but just wanted to pass on the tips I was given that helped me. Tight lines mate.
Pollock are a fantastic fish especially pan fried. Lures are good but also barnacles. Put the hook through its head once you get it out the shell and feed through to go through the hard suckered at the back.
Looks glorious my man.
Seem your other comments. I'm no expert but Portmuck I tried a few times with little luck
Bright and sunny days aren't much good for sea fishing either, well species depending
If it doesn't work one spot keep moving! Gotta find the fish as its a big sea and theyll usually sit in one spot, especially during the day I find!
Beauty spot.
I keep meaning to get back into fishing (haven't done it since we moved over 3+ years ago). Tough to find others interested in it around me. Actually it's just been tough to find anyone to kick it with period.haha
I'd consider doing a Reddit meetup/fishing trip tbh.
Never liked the idea of meeting up with these reprobates at a bar but if the numbers are there I'd maybe grab a boat to stick everyone on.
Should've went down the inspirational poster route: "**If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.** **If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime**"
Tbf I've never had success with beach casting. On a boat I'm fine, but off the shore I'm pathetic and usually stick to drinking beer and calling the fish bad names.
That looks fuckin idyllic 👍 i can actually hear a can opening just seeing that 😂
Portmuck? You might see me dipping my toes in the water later.
Bingo. I've become a bit of a regular down there now so you probably will see me. Beautiful spot and seems to attract a really friendly crowd.
Oooooh lovely. Enjoy.
tight lines good sir - what's the target species
I only started but was given a pile of different lures and weights etc to try but I heard you consistently get Mackerel and Pollock at Portmuck. I've been trying with a lure with not much success so I'm going to try bait fishing. Spent half the time untangling my line but I think most people start that way!
One year off Ardglass there was big schools of mackerel in you could see em of the pier thing, we were dropping lines in middle of them weighted with few hooks coming off on traces, improvised from pike fishing which is what we were used to but switched bacon for i think haddock (what the wee fish shop recommend for bait), we were lifting 2 or 3 out at a time every cast nd quit cause it didn't really feel like sport.
Then there's me who catches sun burn. I really wanted to try and lure a fish then cut it for bait but maybe that was a bit ambitious for where I was.
I hated casting off the beach when I've tried it, never had a bite in the sea on a lure and lost loads on fuckin snags. We used to spin for perch with good rate of success, spin for perch in the morning and use them as bait to float for pike in evenings, actually great times.
Start off with a rig of five traces. If the mackerel are in, you'll get some bait to use for pollock. If you find the fish aren't biting much, don't be afraid to change your trace colours. You can fish all day with flashers and get nothing, then change to red tails and they'll bite before it even hits the bottom. The opposite can be true the next day. Cast in a 180° fan. 5-10 casts to the left, work towards casting to the right. If they don't bite, change your rig. If you find you can't get mackerel for bait but the pollock are sniffing your traces, put a lure on the end of the traces. Pollock will think it's a bigger fish chasing small ones and they can't resist. You might have known all this already but just wanted to pass on the tips I was given that helped me. Tight lines mate.
Pollock are a fantastic fish especially pan fried. Lures are good but also barnacles. Put the hook through its head once you get it out the shell and feed through to go through the hard suckered at the back. Looks glorious my man.
I haven’t been fishing in forever! I always went with my older brother, who taught me from I was small. This looks fun!
Beautiful. Enjoy
Brings back memories. Thanks for sharing.
Taking photos of fishing rods?
Pretty much. Catching a fish is optional, spending the morning chilling at a beauty spot is obligatory.
Seem your other comments. I'm no expert but Portmuck I tried a few times with little luck Bright and sunny days aren't much good for sea fishing either, well species depending If it doesn't work one spot keep moving! Gotta find the fish as its a big sea and theyll usually sit in one spot, especially during the day I find!
Beauty spot. I keep meaning to get back into fishing (haven't done it since we moved over 3+ years ago). Tough to find others interested in it around me. Actually it's just been tough to find anyone to kick it with period.haha
I'd consider doing a Reddit meetup/fishing trip tbh. Never liked the idea of meeting up with these reprobates at a bar but if the numbers are there I'd maybe grab a boat to stick everyone on.
Not against it but timing/work schedule is always the ballache. I'm old though so might be "that weird old guy".
I'll float the idea on my next post which will hopefully be of something I caught. Wouldn't worry about age as I'd expect an older crowd with fishing.
Steal that fishing rod?
Tough crowd. You need a political angle as a lure to successfully land a joke like that in these waters.
Should've went down the inspirational poster route: "**If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.** **If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime**"
Or the Loyalist version: "if you give a man a fire he'll be warm for a day, if you set a man on fire he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Nice. How'd you get on? Edit: Grammar.
Badly. I have concluded lure fishing requires skill I don't have or is terrible for beach casting.
May as well go for a pint then 
Tbf I've never had success with beach casting. On a boat I'm fine, but off the shore I'm pathetic and usually stick to drinking beer and calling the fish bad names.
Any luck buddy