Stefan Martin reports on the Killybegs Mariners SAC recent angling trips…
25 August: Balmy summer evening fishing including some rock hopping for the Mariners crew produced some lovely fish to lures and bait and all in stunning surroundings around Donegal Bay. Some cracking lure caught pollack along with red gurnards, tompot blennies, conger, dogs, pouting, poor cod and coleys. Nothing like it
24 August: Yet again a glorious day at sea, small boat fishing for good friends Dylan and Christopher heading out on a whim at lunch time when the day was good and enjoying the abundant bounty of fish species available from the bay.
With no ragworm and just the few mackerel feathered up for bait the lads managed a fantastic 21 different species including some new species for the club this year the mighty Megrim along with fine big blonde rays, spotted rays and Turbot double hauls, thornbacks, shoals of launce and scad, red, tub and grey gurnards along with the wrasse and pollack etc.
Great fishing lads and for sure a good laugh aboard St Catherine.. Happy days
23 August: Final leg of summer league and overall results
Top of the tide, of the highest tides of the year, accompanied by fresh SW winds and driving rain was the setting for the dozen Mariners SAC anglers who faced into the final leg of the club’s Summer League at Fintra last night.
As expected, the first hour after the huge tide began to ebb brought very scarce pickings for everyone but, as the wind eased and the rain stopped, the odd headlight could be seen twinkling as people began to take some catches ashore.
For most, this initial flurry of activity was mostly small Coalies feeding in close in the surf but soon these died off again and the odd flounder and turbot were beginning to show themselves.
But taking an early lead with a codling, Coalie and flounder, was a new junior Mariners SAC member, Callum Noctor, who was making his debut in shore angling on the eve of his 12th birthday and was certainly catching the eye of those around him, as was another new member making his debut, Jordan Frame, with some nice flounders.
And, as the rest of the more experienced anglers tried to battle with the conditions and scarcity of fish, young Callum increased his lead with several more decent flounder and was well clear of the chasing pack when ‘lines up’ was called at midnight and left him in first place on the night with Johnny Byrne second and Brian Smith & Gavin Dorrian jointly sharing the ‘longest flattie’ prize money.
It’s certainly encouraging to see that this is the second league outing in a row that one of our juniors has finished in the overall top prizes, with Callum Noctor following Cian Callaghan’s ‘longest flattie’ prize from the previous outing.
OVERALL SUMMER LEAGUE 2020 RESULTS
While last night’s winner was making his debut in the league, Johnny Byrne’s second place finish and Brian Smith’s third place meant that Johnny edged Brian off the top spot in the overall league standings by a mere 1.5pts with John Cunningham finishing third overall.
Congratulations to Johnny Byrne on winning this short, but greatly varying conditions, summer league with his consistent performance of three out of four counting outings recording a first and two second placings.
And, speaking of consistency, it should be noted that club Treasurer Brian Smith has now come second (by half a point) in the Mariners SAC 2019/20 Winter League and second (by 1.5pts) in the 2020 Summer League.
Many thanks to our sponsors Mooney boats fishing tackle Killybegs and well done to everyone that took part enjoying the fishing over the shortened summer.
19 August: A super days fishing for the Mariners crew aboard Evie Rose with Declan and a nice relaxing days fishing on all terrains mixing it up.
A high species count yet again for the crew without going at the mini species and still getting 23 different species landed which is great going.
Some lovely fish as always the highlights being the Brill, Plaice to 40cm, turbot to 33cm, spotted rays, thornbacks and all the rest. A great day out
Stefan Martin
Killybegs mariners SAC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
Go fishing…
Mariners sea angling club Killybegs Co Donegal. The club runs a shore league and boat competitions and angling trips around Ireland doing the sport we love. Get in touch at www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
