The passing of the seasons was an abrupt affair that saw the “Indian Summer” of late September become unquestionably Autumn with the arrival of October. By this stage every river and lake that had been crying out for water must have got some bit, though probably too late for most salmon and trout anglers. Coarse and pike anglers won’t complain as the floods should make for good fishing as the water levels return to normal again. Those fishing on the sea were not so concerned and the settled if not always sunny weather was perfect for those targeting saltwater species over the last seven days.

Paul Lawton had a sea trout of 89.5 cm long with a girth of 45 cm
Paul Lawton had a sea trout of 89.5 cm long with a girth of 45 cm. Despite stiff competition from sea anglers Paul wins Catch of the Week

Many salmon and sea trout anglers hang up their boots on September 30th, though in reality there are many options available for those looking to extend their season. Rivers like the Fane and Muster Blackwater will be open for salmon fishing until October 12 as will many sea trout fisheries including Lough Currane. Indeed the news from Currane is that its record for a heaviest sea trout was probably broken on October1 by a huge fresh fish of 89cm. Paul Lawton released his catch unharmed so the weight will never be known, but based on the measurements supplied the trout would have been around 14.75lb. This super sea trout wins our Catch of the Week. While the current rains have come just too late for many salmon rivers wet weather saw fortunes improve as the season closed at a number of fisheries including the Rivers Drowes, Moy, Kylemore and Erriff. The Munster Blackwater is falling though still coloured following heavy rain but should be in excellent fly order in the coming days.

Trout anglers often down tools on 30 September but in reality there are many trout lakes still open to 12 October. Not least of which is Lough Sheelin. Lough Sheelin saw some good fish caught over the last week including two fine trout of about 7.5lb, though most anglers are reporting large numbers of fish around the 1lb mark which bodes well for next year. Rainbow trout fisheries also offer an alternative to tying flies and reading books and many fisheries will start their winter leagues soon. Annamoe Fishery beings its league on 12 October.

Autumn pike fishing is starting to pick up as water temperatures begin to drop back. Some good fish were reported by the Boyle District Anglers and at Portumna but jacks and low doubles seem to be making up the bulk of catches at the moment. Anglers will be interested to see that pike on fly are again on the menu at Carton House Fishery and a junior angler from France had his first there last week.

The Cootehill Festival recorded a total catch of 4115kg of fish last week. This is the best total recorded in the history of the festival and much improved on the 3120kg bagged in 2012 match. The competition was a closely fought affair with former world champion Bob Nudd leading Kevin Norcliffe by just 50g going into Day 5 but Wigan’s Garry Whalley came up on the blind side and put in a sterling performance to pip Bob by just 860g to grab the title and a first prize of €1000 and a Cavan Crystal trophy. Fermanagh’s Tony Kersley clocked up his third win of the season with a 72lb 9oz total over three days in the Sheemore AC Festival in County Leitrim. This latest success means that Tony has now won the tournament three times in a row.  Some good catches of bream, hybrids, roach and tench were taken in the Longford area on feeder tactics with various hook baits and at Portumna some big catches of bream, hybrids and roach were reported by UK anglers on the River Shannon.

There was no shortage of sea angling reports this week and the quality of the catches was very impressive. Big porbeagle shark, red bream, angel shark, specimen bullhuss, big tope from a kayak all feature in the reports published this week. Charterboats in particular had a lot to report with good fishing experienced by anglers aboard boats out of Cleggan, Mullaghmore, Red Bay, Cork Harbour and Wicklow. Small boat anglers also had a lot to report on, especially the competition anglers and congratulations go the Martyn Rayner who won the Cork Harbour Small Boats Festival hot on the heels of his success at the Rosslare competition. At the other end of the county small boat anglers fishing the Maidens had some big fish including skate to an estimated 133lb. On the east cost, kayak angler Gary Robinson had some top class tope of a size that must make a kayak feel like a tight space at times. Shore anglers report on some good wrasse fishing, and on the ups, downs and prospects for bass fishing (good until Christmas). One angler in Fenit had a most unusual catch, an angel shark (commonly called monkfish in Ireland though not the same as the monkfish served in restaurants) on mackerel feathers. The fish was safely returned none the worse for wear.

Bluefin tuna

Reports of bluefin tuna off the Donegal coast made it to the papers and radio last week. Bluefin tuna are protected now, much like salmon and sea trout, they can only be fished on a Catch and Release basis and they enjoy a closed season from 15 October to 15 June, making for a very short season in Irish waters. Inland Fisheries Ireland supports a catch and release fishery for these rare giants of the sea and reminds anglers to adhere to the regulations, protecting this vulnerable species to help ensure future generations can also enjoy the ultimate thrill on rod and line in Irish waters.

Irish Specimen Fish Committee

Specimen hunters who are submitting claims to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee this year for cyprinids, cyprinid hybrids or shad should submit their claims and supporting scale samples for genetic identification to the ISFC by 15th October. This detailed analysis takes a considerable amount of time so scales must be submitted before the deadline to ensure that they will be processed.

Reminder

Salmon and sea trout anglers are reminded that they are required by law to return all completed Anglers’ Log Books (even where there is no catch recorded), as well as any unused tags to Inland Fisheries Ireland before the 19th October 2013, using the business reply envelope issues with the Anglers’ Log Book.

Weather Prospects

For many tomorrow will be a dry day with some bright or sunny spells developing. Just a scattering of light passing showers – some of which may turn heavy in the northwest. Highest temperatures will range a seasonal 14 to 17 degrees Celsius, coolest down along western coastal fringes with fresh onshore breezes. Westerly breezes will be mostly light to moderate elsewhere.

Saturday will be a bright and dry day with variable cloud and good spells of sunshine. Winds mainly from the southwest will be light to moderate and daytime temperatures will reach the high teens. Sunday will be a mild, though cloudier day. Most areas will stay dry, but a little drizzle or light rain will affect west and northwest counties. However amounts of rain will be very small. Temperatures will remain in the mid to high teens and southwest breezes will be light.

The period from Monday to Wednesday will be very mild with predominantly south or southeast breezes. Apart from a little light rain at times – mainly across the western half of the country, it will be mainly dry. Daytime temperatures will be in the mid to high teens, and nights will be mild with mist forming inland.

Tight lines,

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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Salmon fishing reports

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Coarse angling reports

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the River Colligan near Cooligan Wood
The River Colligan near Cooligan Wood. Photo compliments of John Flynn IFI