Skippers from the CHART Tuna fleet have followed up last week’s firsts of 2022 with some more solid tuna fishing this week. Reports are that Donegal bay is alive with bluefin, not to mention humpback and minke whales, dolphins, all manner of diving birds and masses of shearwaters.

Alongside Kiwi Girl

Kiwi Girl and Deep Blue kept their momentum up, with fish of up to 500lb landed, tagged and released for Deep Blue and good numbers of fish instead of big ones for Kiwi Girl. Declan Kilgannon, skipper of Kiwi Girl, was surprised at the numbers of fish he saw – hopefully something that bodes well for the season ahead. Adrian Molloy aboard Deep Blue thought that some of the fish he encountered looked a bit lean – something he expects to change now that the fish are in the rich feeding grounds off the Irish west coast.

A tuna.ie fish

Tuna Mick aboard the Leah-C managed four fish on his first tuna trip of 2022; the captured fish ranging from an estimated 320lb to 420lb.

All smiles aboard Leah-C

Sligo Boat Charters took advantage of a window of opportunity to chase some tuna too, their crew nabbed the first of 2022 for the Sarah Marie – a fine fish estimated to be around 350lb.

One for Ewing’s

Go Fishing…

Kiwi Girl

From Mullaghmore Harbour, our Sea Fishing Ireland experience aboard the M.V. Kiwi Girl will bring you to some of the best inshore fishing grounds in Europe. We offer a wide range of Sea Fishing Ireland Boat Trips to suit both novice and expert, from Short 2 Hr Sea Fishing Boat Trips to Big Game Options.

Kiwi Girl is a Fastcatch Kingfisher 31′ with a 420 HP Caterpillar engine.

The Pier, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo, Ireland

Telephone: +353 (0)87 6100111
Email: [email protected] Web: www.offshore.ie

Leah C

11m BW Seacat Catamaran
Skipper: Michael Callaghan
Base: Killybegs Operational area: Up to a 30 mile radius from the point of departure.

Authorised bluefin tuna boat

Notes: Top charter angling business based in the beautiful Donegal Bay and in the heart of the Ireland’s stunning “Wild Atlantic Way”.

We run general charters for all species and are especially interested in taking anglers out targeting as many species as possible in a day.

Address: Kiliybegs, County Donegal
Telephone: +353 (0)87 237 3808
Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.facebook.com/TUNAMICK/

Deep Blue

Skipper: Adrian Molloy
Base: Killybegs Operational area: Up to a 30 mile radius from the point of departure.

Authorised bluefin tuna boat

Notes:We can also offer you some of the finest Sea Angling in Ireland, inshore and offshore on the best boats and with the best skippers.

Whatever your angling interests from ultra light tackle and fly fishing for big reef pollack to trolling and stand-up tackle for fast fighting Tuna – we aim to please ! Dolphin and whale watching, scenic tours and wildlife trips  available along some of the most spectacular scenery in  Ireland. Shark fishing! Skate fishing! Tuna fishing!  Donegal has it all.

Address: Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland,
Telephone: +353 (0)85 8567460
Email: [email protected] Web: http://tuna.ie/

Sarah Marie

Sligo Boat Charters are based in Rosses Point, Sligo (10 mins from Sligo town on local bus route).  Services available include deep sea angling, reef fishing, shark fishing (August-October) and eco tourism cruises. Trips can be tailor made to suit anglers and include modest half day, full day and evening trip rates for groups, individuals, and children. Rods and tackle are available for hire on board and skipper can arrange accommodation if contacted in time. Gift vouchers are also available. Sight seeing tours for non anglers.

Address: Rosses Point, Co Sligo.
Telephone: + 353 86 8913618
Email: [email protected] Web: www.sligoboatcharters.com

Tuna CHART

Tuna CHART (CatcH and Release Tagging) utilises authorised vessels to catch, tag and release Atlantic Bluefin Tuna for data collection purposes off the Irish coast.  The programme,  developed by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute in partnership with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department for Environment, Climate and Communications, operated on a pilot basis in 2019 and 2020.