Top class fly fishing for bass in Cork Harbour a great addition to tagging project

Richie Ryan reports on an exciting day’s bass fishing which proved very valuable to the ESB Sea Bass Tracking Project…

Dr Tom Doyle of the Coastal and Marine Research Centre of UCC was getting nervous about his Bass Tagging Project in Cork Harbour.Tom had been out with 2 tagging teams last week and 9 excellent anglers mainly from Inland Fisheries Ireland in four boats. After six hours not a single bass fell to the various lures. However, conditions were less than ideal with the water clarity very poor.

A shore tagging day was organised with Eire Bass guide Richie Ryan this week in the upper reaches of the harbour. Tom was very anxious to tag these bass in particular, with Richie guaranteeing at least one fish. Joining in the exercise was top class angler and good friend of the guide Kevin Mc Loughlin and Damien Haberlin also of Coastal and Marine Research Centre. Five large bass averaging 6 lbs weight were tagged and released much to the delight and relief of all. Each fish was given a name , Amy, Liz and Conor (Ryan) and Sean the guide’s first grandchild. In addition Kevin’s grandchild Kayla had the privilege of having a bass tagged with her name. Both anglers were well impressed with the speed at which both internal and external tags were inserted by Tom and Damien ensuring a quick return for the bass.

This scheme is called the ESB Sea Bass Tracking Project and the acoustic array is supported by Science Foundation Ireland.

This project is in close collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland and anglers of cork harbour and in particular Cork Harbour Angling Hub.

Make a booking

If you want to book Richie then go to  www.corkbass.com