After a very mild first half of November, the temperatures finally plunged this week to sub zero with widespread snow and ice weather warnings. Not great weather for angling or anglers. The good news is that much milder weather is on the way over the weekend. The bad news is that Storm Bert is the reason for the higher temperatures and they will be accompanied by weather warnings for very high winds and heavy rain. It will probably be a good weekend to sort out the fishing tackle, but not actually use it…

The bluefin tuna season came to a close on November 12th and charter skippers in the south reported a final flurry of action before it did. The consensus is that the tuna that are found further north earlier in the season gradually work their way south and can be found in numbers off the south coast towards the season’s final weeks. That was certainly the case this year, as Irish Deep Sea Charters, Seahunter Charters and Kerry Angling and Tuna Charters all had some superb action before the curtain came down for 2024.

Still off the south coast and also looking for a last jaunt before the winter closes in was Jim Clohessy, who had some smashing wrasse, bass and crash diving pollack up to 8lbs just outside of Cork Harbour. Inside the harbour, the first leg of Cobh SAC‘s ever popular Light Lines Competition took place and Sarah Lynch had a great day onboard Camden Mist and took an early lead in the league. Further east in Wexford, Cormac Walsh of the Lure Fishing Podcast had a sensational time fishing for bass, with good bass on the take morning, noon and night. In Galway Bay, there were plenty of sweet toothed pollack landed aboard the Maighdean Mara out of Rossavel, while on the Clare side, on the Isle of Aran, Sean Maguire was landing them three at a time. In Donegal, the Fiona Tee made use of the calmer conditions with some fine big pollack and lots of ling.

In freshwater, pike anglers have been doing well in all parts of the island and some very fine fish have been caught. In Cavan, Cody Costello smashed his PB twice in one day (116cm then 122cm) while fishing with Go Fishing Ireland. On Lough Derg, the pike have been smashing the lures so hard this November, they even broke Paul Bourke’s favourite rod! On Lough Allua in Cork, Tir na Spideog are seeing a few nice pike, but no really big fish yet – although they expect things to improve now that the temperatures have dropped. Chris Scally of Fish Tales had been lamenting the mild weather of late too. He got his wish this past week as temperatures plummeted, and sure enough, his predictions came true as the pike became far more active. In Roscommon, regular visitor Michael from Germany caught 25 pike on two venues fishing with Angling Services Ireland.

122cm Pike - Cody Costello - Go Fishing Ireland
122cm Pike – Cody Costello – Go Fishing Ireland

On the competitions scene, the Newbridge Pike Anglers will hold an open pike competition at Poulaphouca Lake this Sunday, 24th November, and the Leinster Pike Anglers held their third winter league competition at a midlands river venue last weekend, where one lucky angler broke the magic 20lb mark for a river fish. Despite all of those very big pike, our favourite pike of the week – and one that wins our Catch of the Week – was the one caught by eight year old Euan McKee from Antrim. After many trips in search of a single pike, Euan managed to catch nine in one day on Lough Erne, including one fish of 14lbs, what memories for him.

Euan and his best fish of 14lbs

To coarse angling, where clubs around the country are either starting their winter leagues or ending their autumn ones! The IASCaire Feeder Club wrapped up their autumn league, which was the tightest contest they have had yet. In Wexford, the second round of the Oaklands winter league was won by Ronan Minogue with just over 40kgs. The Munster Coarse Anglers fished the third match of their winter series in Portumna at the weekend, where the whip was king, and up in Enniskillen forty eight anglers turned out for the third round of the Erne Anglers Winter League in excellent conditions on a low River Erne. Away from the leagues, the CM Lakelands Feeder Club held an Open Club Feeder match on Haughton’s shore of Lough Garadice on Sunday, with just over 4.5kgs taking first place for Rimantas Kondrakas.

Finally on the angling front, we have a report from Dan O’Neill of South East Casting on all that went on at the Irish Fly Fair held in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, last weekend.

In other news…

As salmon and trout are either spawning or getting ready to, salmon and trout anglers might be interested to know that the public consultation is underway for the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024, to provide for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery by Inland Fisheries Ireland from January 1st, 2025. Anyone wishing to submit observations on or objections to the draft regulations can do so by email or post. The closing date for submissions is 18th December 2024.

Salmon Logbooks

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all salmon and sea trout anglers to return their angling logbooks (setting out their fishing and catch record) and any unused gill tags.

Agus anois an aimsir…

Friday night and Saturday morning will be very wet and windy as Storm Bert tracks to the northwest of Ireland and weather warnings are in place for the whole country. Heavy rain will extend across the country from the southwest, causing flooding in some areas with sleet and snow possible in the north. There will be very strong and gusty south to southeast winds, with gales or strong gales on coasts. Lows of 0°C to 5°C rising to 12°C to 15°C.

Rain will clear eastwards early on Saturday night and will be followed by clear spells and scattered heavy showers. It will continue windy with strong and gusty southerly winds. Lows of 6°C to 10°C. Sunday will be windy with strong strong south to southwest winds and gales and scattered heavy showers. Highs of 10°C to 13°C.

Don’t forget to check the forecast before heading off and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

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

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

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