A few of the Killybegs Mariners SAC made the long hike to Co. Kerry recently for a species hunt in which they hoped to better their 2022 tally of 25 different species. Whereas 2022 saw them basking under a sweltering sun, 2023’s trip was a very different prospect, as after a couple of days of reasonable weather, the remainder of their trip turned into somewhat of an endurance test, as high winds and horizontal rain lashed them from all sides…
Given the conditions, it was always a longshot that they would manage their target of 25+ species, but they gave it a hell of a try, and they fell just short of the mark, with 23 species recorded for their efforts. But that’s not the whole story, as amongst the catches were a duo of first-ever huss and undulate ray, along with a couple of new club records for huss and red mouthed goby. For a full report on their adventures in the kingdom, see the Killybegs Mariners Facebook page.
