Tim O’Herlihy from the Irish Kayak Angling Club reports on their fishing for March…

A photo from the water
On Harbour Rock

Conditions early on in the month continued to be challenging with the Joe Stenning blanking in Wexford on March 9th. 5 members launched at Roches Point on Saturday 25th March fishing a rising tide in the sunshine and 14°C.  Dry weather in the previous and consistent Northerly winds had removed a lot of the fresh water in the harbour and improved the water clarity.

Coalfish and Whiting on Sabikis
Coalfish and Whiting on Sabikis

Anchoring at the Harbour Rock yielded small coalfish and dogfish on sabikis.  The wind picked up to a consistent Easterly 14 knots with much stronger gusts so with kayaks broadside to the current anchoring was abandoned as the current increased. Drifting around the rock resulted in pollock, coalfish, mackerel and whiting.

Here comes the Navy
Here comes the Navy

The tide was too fast for anchors to hold at the edge of the shipping channel at White Bay so the next stop, the rough ground around Buoy No. 3, resulted in small codling, mackerel, dogfish, herring and a single small dab while watching the USS Donald Cook leaving the harbour.

Hauling out
Hauling out

Sunday with the wind blowing a consistent 20-22 knots 2 anglers hugged the east shore to the shelter below the cliffs in White Bay.  Mackerel, dogfish, flounder and sand eel brought the species count to 10 for the weekend.  All small fish but a much improved result compared to February at the same venue.

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.

Please note that forecasts have led to a number of meets being postponed and/or relocated in the past for safety reasons. Details will be updated on the Forum, Facebook and Twitter as the year progresses.
Please note that forecasts have led to a number of meets being postponed and/or relocated in the past for safety reasons. Details will be updated on the Forum, Facebook and Twitter as the year progresses.

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.