When to use it
On the Wicklow coast
Pier and rock marks when fishing straight down or short casts. Summer pollack and coalfish at Greystones and Wicklow piers. Also effective for mackerel strip when fishing mid-water on a rising tide.
Wicklow Harbour and Greystones South Beach pier produce pollack and coalfish on a paternoster through summer. Use a 3 to 4 foot rig body of 20 lb mono, two 6 inch snoods spaced 18 inches apart, and a 2oz bomb at the bottom. From Bray Harbour wall the same rig takes dab and flounder on the bottom hook with worm, pollack on the top hook with strip.
Rig layout
How it looks tied
Tying sequence
Step by step
Rig body
Cut 3 to 4 feet of 20 to 30 lb mono as the rig body. Tie a swivel at the top for the mainline connection.
Dropper loops or swivels
Tie two dropper loops (or attach swivels) spaced 18 inches apart in the lower half of the rig body. Each dropper carries a 6 inch hooklink.
On the diagram: Two snoods hang from the main boom.
Hooks and lead
Tie size 1/0 to 2/0 hooks to each snood. At the bottom of the rig body, tie a lead link and attach a 1 to 3oz bomb (lighter than beach fishing; you are often fishing vertical).
Bait up
Mackerel strip or sandeel on the top hook for pollack; worm or strip on the lower hook for bottom feeders. On rock marks, a single hook paternoster reduces tangles.
Fish the wall
Lower the rig beside the pier wall or rock edge. Jig slowly for pollack; hold bottom for flounder. Wind slowly on the retrieve to avoid snagging barnacles on Wicklow harbour walls.
Components
What you need to tie this rig
Each item below is what we actually use on Wicklow marks. Links go to Amazon UK; omit anything you already carry in your tackle box.
Shore fishing rigs mixed pack (12 pack)
Mixed pre-tied sea rigs including paternoster patterns for pier sessions. Good backup when you do not want to tie.
View on AmazonPhoxinus Aberdeen hooks 2/0
Slightly larger Aberdeen for mackerel strip and sandeel on pier paternosters.
View on AmazonPlain bomb leads mixed pack
Light bombs for pier paternoster fishing. 1 to 3oz covers most Wicklow harbour walls.
View on AmazonBarrel swivels size 6
Size 6 barrels for paternoster droppers and top connection. Cheaper than rolling swivels for static pier rigs.
View on AmazonPower Cast 6lb mono
Light mono for short hooklinks and mullet-style finesse; also usable for 12 lb paternoster snoods when doubled.
View on Amazon