After a slow start to the year the fine weather in April resulted in jump in Catch Reports with 17 submitted and 11 sea venues fished, increasing to 26 the number of species the top 4 anglers have landed between them.
Sunday April 2nd saw 3 of our members launch at Kenmare on a very successful hunt for Spurdogs with everyone landing fish.
Friday April 7th – Sunday April 9th. Trips to Dunwhorley Bay (West Cork), Laytown (Meath) and Ardmore (Waterford) resulted in Ballan Wrasse, Coalfish, Dogfish, Flounder, Mackerel, Octopus and Pollock for 4 members.
Easter Weekend Friday 14th – Monday 17th April. Nohoval Cove (Cork) produced Pollock, Mackerel, Gurnard and Codling. Ballinskelligs (Kerry) was poor with Dogfish, Pollock and Sandeel. A blank on a horrible Easter Sunday near Bunmahon (Waterford) was followed by a solitary Mackerel between 6 anglers on Easter Monday. Keem Bay (Achill, Mayo) was the spot to be with Ballan Wrasse, Dab, Mackerel and huge numbers of Coalfish and Pollock for our 4 anglers.
Wednesday April 19th. Things picked up in Waterford with a shoal of Dogfish (3 at a time) providing entertainment at Helvick Head.
Thursday 20th – Sunday April 23rd. Fishing was much improved at Ballinskelligs (Kerry) with Ballan Wrasse, Cuckoo Wrasse, Dogfish, Mackerel, Octopus and Pouting. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Whiting and Dabs were caught at Bullock Harbour (Dalkey, Dublin).
Worth mentioning is one member capsized in April but was able to right his kayak and re-enter without assistance. As recommended by the Club he was kayaking with others, was wearing a Personal Flotation Device and Drysuit, and had practiced self rescue. Equipped with a VHF Radio, Personal Locator Beacon and phone in a waterproof pouch he had also let family members know where and when he had launched and when he was due back.
Go fishing…
To find out more about Kayak Angling visit www.irishkayakangling.com and register on the forum. Membership is free and the forum is a great resource to learn about safety, venues and techniques. Experienced members will answer any questions you have and everyone is welcome to come to a meet to learn more before taking the plunge.
Articles on beginning kayak angling are available at http://www.topfisher.eu/ and much of the advice on small boat angling is also transferrable to a kayak.
You can also follow the Irish Kayak Angling Club on Twitter @irishkayak and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-Kayak-Angling/277427952176 for details of the 6 FREE meets that make up the All Ireland Kayak Angling Championship 2017.
