Brian McCall gives an overview of the fourth leg of the Irish Kayak Angling All Ireland Championship in Wexford:

Www.irishkayakangling.com held the fourth leg of this year’s Irish Kayak Angling all Ireland championship in Cahore Co. Wexford.

There were 28 kayakers taking part in the day challenge, aiming to fill a species card of one smooth hound, one bass, one flatfish and a dogfish with the joker of the day, a thornback ray. This was won by Ian Burton who caught all five species along with five other species.

John Griffin lands a Tope, the first for the club at this venue.
John Griffin lands a Tope, the first for the club at this venue.

This leg of the championship, which was sponsored locally by Thomas Redmond and sons, kicked off at 11am with ideal conditions on the water. All anglers were determined to catch the big summer sporting fish on the east coast, the smooth hound. Anglers travelled from far and wide – from Kerry, Cork, Donegal and Down as well as closer to home – to catch one and for some to get their first one ever!

Thankfully, the smooth hound were about in numbers with many catching them. There were plenty of other species on offer, 11 in all, but the bass were very scarce. Only three schoolies were caught over the whole weekend.

There was a notable catch, and a first for our club at this venue, when John Griffin landed a Tope. Other species caught were dogfish, dabs, gurnard, thornback, whiting, codling, bullhuss, pollack and wrasse.

The next leg of the Irish Kayak Angling Championship will be held this coming weekend in Co. Kerry. All further info to be found on our forum.

Kayaks lined up and ready for the fourth leg of the Irish Kayak
Kayaks lined up and ready for the fourth leg of the Irish Kayak Angling All Ireland Championship in Cahore, Co. Wexford.

Pictures courtesy of Darren’s Kayaks and John Hardiman.