It was a magic week for anglers in Ireland. Not everyone got to enjoy the wow factor of what was on offer and some probably felt like they were mugs to some sleight of hand, but the reports we have this week are no illusion. Coarse anglers had catches to over 160lb of bream. Sea anglers had just about all the sharks and some of those on fly gear. Trout anglers reported fish to 8lb on the dapp, pike anglers broke the meter mark and salmon anglers managed to eke out a few fish despite low water at most fisheries…
Stories of big ocean going fish on fly gear may seem like something you’re more likely to read about in the foreign angling press – maybe somewhere around the Bahamas or off an island in the Indian Ocean. Well, West Cork may be the next destination for jet setting anglers following the efforts of an international team of fly anglers who looked to test what sport is available from Ireland’s Atlantic waters. Dutch, German, Italian and Irish anglers fishing with Tom Collins from Union Hall set out to catch blue shark on fly. Double hook ups, broken rods and exceeded expectations were the result of their weekend’s endeavours. The team’s feats were crowned with the historic achievement by Christin Breuker of being the first woman angler to catch a blue shark on fly in Irish waters.

The whole coast is alive with sharks at the moment. Anglers from Cork to Donegal are getting blues, almost at will. With a little more work other species are possible and last week porbeagles, tope, smoothhounds and spurdogs were also reported. Big sharks also made an appearance and Luke Aston’s Clare Dragoon had an absolutely enormous shark – a 4.6m sixgill shark estimated to weigh in the region of 1300lb. In other sea fishing news small boat anglers fishing the Martin O’Brien Festival in Cork Harbour had 32 species and a charter boat in Killala Bay had 23 species over 2 days. Good fishing was also reported from Wicklow, Courtmacsherry, Kerry, Galway Bay and by shore anglers in Donegal.
There are plenty of salmon at Ballisodare but they are proving difficult to catch. Nonetheless 116 salmon were caught last week, 46 of which were returned. Fishing on the River Moy slowed down somewhat during the week, while fluctuating water levels resulted in more difficult conditions. However, the Moy system produced a reported catch of 266 fish for the week bringing the yearly total to 4,681. Delphi continues to be a little quiet and July was finished with anglers still waiting to see real run of grilse. The Erriff fishery fared little better. At Costello and Fermoyle the salmon kept their heads down for the most part over the last week but not so the sea trout with some very notable catches recorded – up to 24 in a day. Inagh had good water levels but thundery conditions probably prevented more fish being caught. In Co. Kerry the Laune remained slow, a few salmon were caught towards the end of last week but in general the river is not performing well. It was much the same on Lough Currane where only a handful of fish were reported. Anglers on the Ballyduff Bridge beats of the Munster Blackwater were getting amongst the grilse and though the river was in flood on Tuesday it should be quite fishable now.
Congratulations to fly fishing guide and casting instructor Eamonn Conway for winning the ITFFA national and provincial championships held recently on the River Liffey. Staying on the east coast the Boyne is reported to be in good shape following recent rains and is fishing well. Trout anglers on Derg are finding it hard to catch on fly as the fish feed firmly on fry. Anglers on Sheelin are getting great fishing in the evening, particularly on Green Peter. Some anglers reported a continuous showing of bigger fish i.e in the 4lbs upward bracket but more reported great sport and catches around the 2 -3 lb mark and below. Daytime fishing has been exciting on Lough Corrib with great catches recorded, particularly on the dapp. While fish are coming to mayfly and sedges it was a dapped grasshopper that accounted to an 8lb trout last week. Finally in trout news we give congratulations to the winner of the World Cup on Lough Mask. From a field of 460 anglers Thomas O’Loughlin emerged as champion with a massive catch of 12 trout.
The East Clare lakes and Lough Derg are producing good coarse fishing in the last few days. At the other end of the country good hybrids to 5.5lb made a night fishing expedition for one angler. The Clones Festival proved to be a cracking event and on the first day John Potters got stuck into a shoal of bream landing 36 fish for 163lb. Fishing to his left was English angler Mick Hare who had 146lb, a personal best. John Potters’ first day catch was invaluable to his victory. His final tally in the 4 day competition was 201lb 2oz. Good bream fishing is also being reported in the Longford area where pleasure anglers young and old are getting some really fine fish.
Despite conditions that were sometimes difficult and challenging pike anglers in the north east had some enjoyable fishing. Good piking was also reported from the Mullingar area and Derravaragh was also fishing well at times. Belgian anglers in the Longford area had 41 pike to 104cm. Some good perch were also encountered by the lucky tourists. River anglers are also getting some decent fishing and good pike and perch are being got on the Inny.
Friday will bring sunny spells with a few passing light showers, according to Met Eireann. On Saturday a strengthening southerly wind will bring very warm and humid, but dry, weather over the country. However, Saturday night will see a band of rain crossing the country from the west, with southerly winds veering westerly by Sunday morning. These westerly breezes will bring fresher but mainly dry and bright conditions for Sunday. The early days of next week will see a return to changeable weather.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
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Headlines
Sea angling reports
- Load of species for Donegal anglers afloat and ashore
- Twenty-three species reported from Killala Bay!
- Shark week off Clare coast, blues, porbeagles, tope and sixgills
- German anglers enjoys the shark fishing from Valentia
- 32 species at Martin O’Brien Festival in Cork Harbour
- Plenty more fish in the sea at Courtmacsherry
- Shark fishing in full swing on Galway Bay
- Great fishing for tope and smoothhounds from Wicklow
- International group writes Irish flyfishing history by catching nine blue sharks
- Youth groups on board Irish Naval Ship as part of Dublin Angling Initiative
- Lovely fishing on the reefs for Carrigaholt skipper
- All fish great and small for Killybegs Mariners SAC
- Brothers enjoy a bass together in Cork
Salmon fishing reports
- Plenty of salmon still about but harder to catch at Ballisodare
- Fishing on Moy slower than in previous weeks but still over 260 salmon reported!
- Good salmon fishing continues on Munster Blackwater
- Not many salmon reported from the Laune last week
- Good run of sea trout continues at Costello and Fermoyle
- July productive for sea trout anglers at Lough Inagh
- A few grilse and sea trout last week on the Erriff
- Another quiet week on Currane, though rain may improve fishing
- July was a slow for salmon anglers at Delphi
Trout angling reports
- World Cup results in on Mask
- Corrib trout to 8lb on dapped grasshopper
- Sheelin lived up to it’s reputation and produced excellent trout this week
- River Inny trout for angler Enda
- Six pound trout jump to the evening hatches at Carrigavantry
- Nick and Katie Wet a Line on the Boyne
- Dundalk Angler is Flying High After National and Provincial Wins
Coarse angling reports
- Great bream fishing in Longford area
- Clones Festival a “Bream” come true!
- Cracking 5.5lb hybrid for late night angler
Pike fishing reports
- Good perch and pike to 104cm in Longford area
- Good Lough Derravaragh pike for two brothers
- Back home for the pike fishing in Mullingar
- Success for French Pike Anglers Despite Challenging Conditions
News clippings
- Over 700 fish found dead in tributary of River Lee after sewage spillage, TheJournal.ie
- Canal in Rathangan closed for repairs after culvert collapse, Leinster Leader
- Major wind farm gets the green light after An Bord Pleanála ruling, Irish Examiner
- Fishery officers held up at gunpoint after confronting masked thugs using illegal nets – Irish Independent
- Crab and lobster protected by new fishing laws, Galway Advertiser
- Irish Water guilty over 3000 river fish deaths, Irish Examiner
- Letters: Shannon water project and saving salmon, Irish Times
Other news
- Inland Fisheries Ireland extends public consultation period on freshwater trout production and encourages further engagement
- Note on emergency works required at Fermoy Weir
- Inland Fisheries Ireland prosecutes Irish Water for Fish Kill on the River Clodiagh
- O’Malley’s tackle shop Mullingar, 60 years on the go !
- Great festivities to celebrate 20 years at Donore Shore
- Irish Kayak Fishing Open postponed
