May 13th 2018
The first decent weather of the year saw us head out on 'Birdy' to see if the mackerel would put in appearance. Off we went to Hoskin's Channel, the Hawlbowline lighthouse and Earl's Rock, fishing the ebbing tide and the first of the flood.
No mackerel were caught, but lots of small coalies (Pollachius virens) hit our white feathers, bounced on the bottom or just off it. Looking at their stomach contents, they were full of shore crab (Carcinus maenas),with some sea slater (Ligia oceanica) also present. No evidence of them feeding on lesser sandeels (Ammodytes tobianus).
Plenty of diving terns sighted, and also a smattering of feeding gannets present.
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| Birdy and Zig Zag on their moorings at Warrenpoint |
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| Warrenpoint in the background, and ZZ |
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| Skipper McCartan on his pride and joy, 'Birdy' |
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| Bosun McNulty, 'Marine Common Sense Co-ordinator' |
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| Pensioner Scott, along for the ride |
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| Our catch of small coalies |
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| The Greencastle-Greenore ferry |
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| Back at Warrenpoint pier, with the Seatruck boat leaving for Heysham |
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