Wicklow Boat Charter’s skipper Kit Dunne reports on recent exceptional fishing off Wicklow. After a few days lost to bad weather the fishing hasn’t been affected at all, if anything it’s improved. Recent trips have shown numbers of big tope, while the smooth-hound fishing has increased in number and average size.

Tony Milado with his fine Tope which weighed in at between 36lb and 43lb.
Tony Milado with his fine Tope which weighed in at between 36lb and 43lb.

Over the last week a few big tope of the 40lb range have appeared. One recent fish measured in at 156cm long only 4cm off the length based specimen measurement, same fish had a girt of 53cm. On an evening trip a boat weighed tope came in at between 36lb and 43lb approximately, and the fish are appearing to get bigger and bigger by the week.

Barry Murphy displays another fine Wicklow Tope of 156cm x 53cm girt.
Barry Murphy displays another fine Wicklow Tope of 156cm x 53cm girt.

Trips to the smooth-hound grounds have yielded approximately 40-50 hounds a day with an average weight of 4-5lb. The bigger fish are among these and we are getting on average 2+ specimen smooth-hounds per trip. One notable specimen fish taken by Des Chew of IFI weighed in at a respectable 9lb.

Deken Engman, Des Chew and Ronald Surgenor boated these 3 simultaneously, one specimen of 9lb in there.
Deken Engman, Des Chew and Ronald Surgenor boated these 3 simultaneously, one specimen of 9lb in there.

There is a clear increase in the average weight of Hounds lately and this should come to a peak in July as it did last year.

Niall Burke shows off his Thornback Ray of 14.6lb taken on Mackerel fillet.
Niall Burke shows off his Thornback Ray of 14.6lb taken on Mackerel fillet

Most days have produced a few Bull-Huss and Thornback Ray also, although not as many as expected this time of year. One such fish was a fine Thornback Ray of approximately 14.6lb which was weighed and measured then released in good health.

A fine Tub Gurnard for Specimen Hunter Ronald Surgenor.
A fine Tub Gurnard for Specimen Hunter Ronald Surgenor.

Bull-Huss are coming in the 10-12lb bracket with a few pups showing, and there’s an abundance of Gurnards for the taking including a few nice Tub Gurnards in the last week.

Kit Dunne
Lisin

Go fishing…

Angling Charters are offered on a full-day, half-day and evening trip basis and can be tailored to suit your needs.
All levels of anglers are catered for. Anglers will benefit from your skipper’s angling experience and local knowledge with adviceand guidance on-hand at all times.

SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS

Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new methods of angling.

ANGLING COACHING

Whether you’re a Club, Individual, School or Junior you can have an angling coaching session or programme tailored to suit your needs.

Kit Dunne
Wicklow Boat Charters,
Telephone: +353 (0)87 6832179 +353 (0)404 67031
Email: dunnekit@gmail.com Website: www.wicklowboatcharters.ie