Rain was needed and rain arrived. Over the past seven days rainfall has been well above average for much of the country. The northern half of the country recorded the highest rainfall totals, ranging 2 to 6 times the average. Not unsurprisingly the sunny southeast was driest with more or less average rainfall for the time of the year. Sunshine was in shorter supply, and between the rain and the dull days water temperatures in our rivers and lakes have fallen sufficiently for July’s angling advisory to be lifted.

salmon
On the Blackwater Salmon Fishery

Heavy rain brought the Moy into flood, seeing a lot of grilse move through the system and 454 salmon were caught for the week. Heading to Kerry, the Owenmore also benefitted from the rain and anglers there enjoyed great sport with sea trout and salmon being caught and released. Anglers on Currane were confronted by wild blustery weather as the rains came, ruining their chances with just one day where decent fishing was enjoyed. Staying in the Waterville area, the Inny fished well though as the floods brought on a good run of fish. West Cork rivers also had some fishing to enjoy. The Ilen, Coomholla, Glengarriff and Melagh all reported fish, as did the Bandon, but it was the Ilen anglers that fared best with 25 salmon. Finally, anglers on the Munster Blackwater had a great weekend and more good fishing this week. Most fisheries reported good catches across all their beats.

There was not much to report from the rest of the freshwater anglers. We have one report from Lough O’Flynn where visiting and local trout anglers having been getting some decent catches on fly.

Lough Rynn
Lough Rynn 4 Day Festival

Coarse anglers were equally quiet, with just one report. But what a report it was. Outstanding catches were enjoyed on first day of the Lough Rynn Festival. Catches were falling by the last day of the competition and the pressure was rising, but Tony Green held his cool to win the event with 68.430kg.

No pike angling reports, but a fish stock survey by Inland Fisheries Ireland research staff earlier this week discovered pike in Aughrusbeg Lough, Co. Galway. Inland Fisheries Ireland is investigating if the pike was ‘introduced’ to the lake through human activity, by the illegal movement of fish between watercourses.

Ready for tagging

Sea anglers have had a busy week. There were more blue fin tuna for the TunaChart boats in the North West. We previously reported on the catches onboard Michael McGettigan’s Fiona Tee, and this week there was tuna number 2 for Adrian Molloy on Deep Blue. Also fishing on Donegal Bay, Michael Callaghan of Leah C reports 3 tuna in the last week. Staying in Co. Donegal, the Killybegs Mariners fished the town pier with some small lures and a fish tank to highlight the amazing array of species present in the harbour and had a great time doing it.

A nice spurdog off the rocks for Mike Curtin

Charter boat anglers on Leah out of Killala Bay had some great fishing recently. The reefs produced exciting fishing with pollack to 8lbs landed and drifting the sand saw a lovely mix of species including rays like the thornback, blonde and painted. Travelling south to Clare, Lisdoonvarna Fanore Sea Angling Club held their annual International Angling Week last week. Conditions were not always kind, but fishing was good, with everyone catching, and some very nice fish were caught too. At the other end of Clare, skipper Luke Aston has been having a tremendous variety of fishing from spotted rays, to gurnards, pollack and blue and porbeagle shark. Fellow Clare skipper Sean Maguire, on the Lady Gwen II was also getting amongst the sharks and both of the Clare skippers are finding that, like last year, there are more porbeagles than blues about once more.

bass
74cm bass for David Norman

Charter boat Fuego from Cahersiveen reports good ling fishing this week and the ground fishing has not been bad either. Dave Edwards from West Cork Charters experienced the highs and lows of shark fishing this week going from 50 shark caught and released, to his first ever blank! But persistence pays off and the next day he was back in the game with a shark of just under specimen length. Persistence is also the watch word for of David Norman of West Cork Bass whose hunt for a 70cm+ bass was rewarded with 74cm fish which he released fit and healthy to grow even bigger.

Finally, Inland Fisheries Ireland has teamed up with Leave No Trace Ireland to launch a new checklist, highlighting the ten things that every angler should consider when planning a fishing trip. The new checklist includes advice for both novice and advanced anglers and you can find out all about it here.

Angling Checklist
Angling Checklist

And now the weather

The weather is to continue unsettled through the weekend with drier conditions developing early next week. Some sunny spells across the northern half of the country early Saturday. However, overcast skies will extend to most areas through the day, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heaviest later; hill and coastal fog in parts too. Parts of north Ulster may though remain fully dry. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18°C, in light to moderate southeasterly winds, freshening later along south and southwest coasts. Showery rain, mainly affecting southern and eastern areas but will clear eastwards during the afternoon. Sunny spells and scattered showers elsewhere will extend to all areas as the rain clears. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21°C. Moderate northwesterly winds will develop, increasing fresh to strong on southwestern coasts. Cooler and drier on Monday, then temperatures swing back to the 20s with some drizzle on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you’re heading to sea, don’t forget to check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to [email protected].

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