Killybegs Mariners report on their last Shore League outing of 2022…
What a great occasion 27 December turned out to be after a week of weather charts showing capital L’s surrounded by concentric circles we landed to the beach to see salt spray curling back over the top of the wild Atlantic rollers crashing onto Rossnowlagh beach.
Fingers crossed as anglers from all over Ireland north, south, east and west with some driving through the night just to be there to fish and raise some money for great local causes in the good and new charity shop cancer bus fundraiser and the local Bundoran RNLI lifeboat on Donegal Bay.
A decision was made to start an hour later and now conditions were just perfect with a cracking surf with no weed which allowed the 66 anglers to enjoy fishing hassle free.
It sure was an impressive sight on one of Donegals longest surf beaches fully lined with busy anglers wading out to cast at the off before enjoying the day mingling and baiting up.
Some nice fish were landed on the first casts including a fine 35cm flounder for Cara Boyle and a few sea trout for Gerry McBrearty and Michael Patton having a double hook up of trout.
As the tide receded the fish also did and kept numbers low until near the end of the competition with a few more fine fish showing including flounders of 36cm for Michael Burke and turbot of 31cm for Stefan Martin and junior angler Aisling McGettigan with 2 fine flounder.
Lines up and into darkness the anglers gathered around the Mooney boats van as scores were tallied up we had another opportunity to purchase more raffle tickets for the huge array of spot prizes donated by all the competition sponsors including hampers, rods, reels, vouchers, seat boxes, tackle etc and raise more money for the charities.
Results
Results counted and the overall win went to top local angler Michael Patton with a great fishing of trout and flounders winning 1st prize of a two night stay in the Clayton Hotel in Galway.
Winning Junior was Aisling McGettigan winning a rod sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
1st zone A was Nicholas McNeill winning a Kali Kunnan slayer rod sponsored by Tuna Mick angling charter Killybegs.
1st zone B was Stefan Martin winning a Kali kunnan slayer rod sponsored by Killybegs s.a.c
2nd zone A and also winning best Mariners member was John Cunningham winning a
Dam reel sponsored by Swords angling centre and a rod reel combo and Mariners body warmer sponsored by Swan net gundries and Daragh McGuinness.
2nd zone B was Gary McCurry winning an akios reel sponsored by the angling hub Tralee.
3rd zone A was Frank Kane winning a Shakespeare seat box sponsored by wide wind transport services.
3rd zone B was Sean Ivory winning a Shakespeare seatbox sponsored by Mooney boats
4th zone A was Aaron Vambeck winning a hat and rain gear sposored by Emerald hygiene.
4th zone B was Michael Burke winning an led lenser headlight sponsored by Dessie O’Keeney taxi and bus hire killybegs.
5th zone A was Declan McGettigan winning a Mitchell reel sponsored by Belfast angling Centre.
5th zone B was Gerry McCabe winning a Leeda reel sponsored by Bridge guns and tackle Strabane.
Longest flattie in zone A was won by Cara Boyle with a 35cm flounder winning a Kali Kunnan seat box sponsored by Taranto
Longest flattie in zone B was won by Michael Burke with a 36cm flounder winning a kali kunnan seatbox sponsored by Taranto
After the winners got their prizes there was another half an hour with the volume of great prizes being handed out in the raffle draw from the van with stacked hampers from Supervalu and Centra killybegs, a Ryobi casting reel from Tuna.ie, a daiwa bucket full of tackle from Shannonside bait and tackle, lures from Rooneys fishing supplies, tackle from Rigcraft, jackets from Inver tool hire, €250 vouchers from Killybegs fishing trips, knife set from Irish fishing and seafood alliance, €150 local tackle shop vouchers from inland fisheries, waders reels and clothing from club members Cara, Diarmuid and Daragh, Mooney Boats Killybegs donated more seat boxes, rig winners, sand spikes, reels etc, vouchers from Bonnyglen Frosses and the Skipper newspaper giving hats to all juniors.
Amazing generosity on the day also with the crew receiving vouchers during breakfast on the way from Texaco in Donegal town and the brew box Coffee pod in Rossnowlagh in the morning and Dolores O’ Neill walking the beach with the donation bucket in the wind and rain to help out on the day.
Charity collection
Also some fantastic donations to the link from anglers and Atlantic Dawn group and businesses. Donations can still be made to the PayPal account if anyone wants to donate a few euro to the causes.
It all worked out in the end great credit to the organisers especially Noel Kennedy doing trojan work on the laptop and keeping the event running along with Brian Smith and Cormac Burke and Kieran McGowan and Pat Byrne pegging the beach.
it showed the great heart and spirit in the community and the anglers of the island to come together and help those in desperate need
It wasn’t easy fishing and some of the top anglers in the country drew a blank but there was alot more at stake yesterday, it showed the great heart and spirit in the community and the anglers of the island to come together and help those in desperate need in the worst of sickness to get to Galway from Donegal for treatment and those braving the wild Atlantic swells to save the lives of those in danger.
Thank you to everyone that helped in any way and well done to all for making the day one to remember. Fantastic
Stefan Martin
Killybegs mariners SAC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
Go fishing…
Join the club
Killybegs Mariners sea angling club, Co Donegal runs a shore league, boat competitions and angling trips around Ireland doing the sport we love.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
