Carrickfergus Angler, Andy Logan with a fine specimen 19 lb. bullhuss while fishing out from Red Bay wins our Catch of the Week

Neither the cold weather nor the poor conditions of the past week put off anglers from fishing on inland waters or at sea.  Coarse anglers fishing the Dromore winter league match last Sunday on Annaghierin Lake near Shercock in Co. Cavan enjoyed some nice catches of roach and some skimmer bream.  The National Coarse Fish Federation announced a programme of float and feeder qualifiers for prospective anglers hoping to fish for Ireland in future World Coarse Angling Championships in 2012.

There was plenty of pike action in the Cavan Monaghan Lakelands in particular. Angling guide, Peadar O’Brien had a group of young anglers out in atrocious weather on a Monaghan lough but they had great sport taking some lovely pike up to double figures.  Look at the photos in the angling update to see young anglers enjoying themselves with some nice pike.  The Kells anglers association held a Christmas pike competition on Lough Ramor and a junior member Gerard McLoughlin aged 13 showed up the senior anglers taking 4 pike of 6 lb., 7 lb., 8.5 lb. and 15 lb. to take top spot.

There is a new angling boat based in Wicklow skippered by Kit Dunne and a  group of well known Cork anglers fished with Kit out on some of far out marks and enjoyed very good fishing.  Dan Lynch took a lovely specimen spurdog of 12.5 lb. and young Luke Hegarty had a lovely bullhuss.  Another well known angler Noel Lane took some excellent bullhuss and the group took many bullhuss and spurdog and several other species.  A group of shore anglers had some excellent shore angling at Tinnebearna in Co. Wexford recording flounder, codling and coalfish.  Up in Red Bay, the good deep sea fishing continues and a local group had some excellent fishing for bullhuss and conger fishing with skipper Hamish Currie.  Andy Logan from Carrickfergus took a fine specimen bullhuss of 19 lb. which wins our Catch of the Week. Charter skipper, Max Couque reported on some fine end of season fishing in the Galway Bay area taking some lovely pollack to near specimen size among a big range of species.

Down at the Curragh Springs rainbow trout fishery, a group of staff from Inland Fisheries Ireland in Swords enjoyed a very good day out recording over 30 trout up to 4.5 lb.  Up in the Cashel Trout fishery, the good rainbow trout fishing continued for groups of local anglers.  Finally many trout angling clubs do hold fly tying classes during the winter period.  You can usually get information on these courses from your local fishing tackle shop.

Tight lines especially in Ireland

Paul Bourke

Angling Information Officer