Conger

HI

We have a competition on as to who can catch a particular conger from the shore. Well, we think it is a conger on the basis that it is resident in the same mark for the last six months. There seems to be some sort of very sharp snag in the mark. Five successful hookups have resulted in line springing back cut precisely, almost with a scissors, and with little or no sign of abrasion on any of the lines. The last line to perform this feat was 50 lb test from the final rig trace. We have a few ideas (150 lb line) but are looking for something other than just heavier line... A boat was also considered but we decided the competition has to be to land it from the shore... The mark is mostly muddy, very deep in parts, with a strong tide and only 80 metres off shore at low tide. The flooding tide can push you back a further 50 metres or more...

Hi Kieran,you will have greater success understanding women! I have fished a mark in Scotland where one side the conger live in cevices, they poke their heads out, give a savage rod rocking take, then you just heave against the immovable until you break, regardless of breaking strain or braid, or nuclear devices.The other side, the conger have to roam for their takeaways and you have a chance.Scrap the competition and go for a pub lunch, or a Brittany Speares video. Anything but try to beat the wee guy on his own ground. good luck, see you in Bloskbusters,Pete.

I am also taking typing lessons,not working!!!!

On the Shannon estuary my mate got some bites that were pretty congerish 30 yds out - similar result.
He then decided to spend the rest of the day determined to win what was becomming a war.
He'd just get a take, then he'd stand there for 5-10 mins pulling from all directions till snap.
We did laugh - but interestingly he's not a brilliant caster so he wasn't exactly hitting the same spot. So was it the same fish, cos if it was it had to have come out of it's hole on a good few occasions.
And okay it was flat rock & boulder, but certainly not gear robbing territory.

Hi Dave

Certainly sounds like a conger, which are territorial so you usally only find one in a given section or area... often get them at low water when they come out to scavenge especially around piers etc. Shannon has lots of conger.

Cheers Kieran.
So if that's the case this conger must of moved on at least 1 occasion 30ft, so unless it was 35ft long it was well out of it's lair & still beat him in a tug.