t

he past week saw a continuation of the relatively mild and dry weather except for parts of the south and southeast where a band of heavier rain caused some temporary localised flooding. In general, however, a lot of lakes and rivers still suffer from very low water levels and, as a consequence, increasing water temperatures. This is of particular concern for many salmonid fisheries throughout the country and is also reflected in the salmon angling reports we received this week.

Lough Currane, where a flood is desperately needed, remains very low with only a few salmon and sea trout caught.  While a few salmon are reported from the Laune and other Killarney fisheries, water levels generally remained on the low side during the past week. Further north on the Moy, the situation isn’t much different where at least the lower beats saw some more decent catches lately. On the Munster Blackwater levels were at normal level last week – low and clear. Having said this salmon angling remains relatively slow compared to previous years (not including 2023) with the best or more frequent catches from those fisheries from Fermoy downstream to Cappoquin.

An angler about to release a fresh grilse on the Moy

Staying with salmon fishing, Inland Fisheries Ireland is currently investigating the salmon mortalities that have occurred on the Ballysadare River in Co. Sligo and conducting a full environmental analysis to determine the cause or causes of this severe fish kill. For this reason, both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on all waterways in the Ballysadare catchment and its estuary including Lough Arrow and the Templehouse Lake system until further notice. More detailed information on the closure of the Ballysadare system and the emergency bye-law is available here.

On a more positive note, sea angling has been excellent of late as one would expect at this time of year. We received many great reports from around the cost highlighting the fantastic sea angling available in Irish waters.

Starting on the east coast, Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters reports that tope are showing in good numbers off the coast of Wicklow at the moment, while Jim Nowotynskie of Irish Deep Sea Charters made the most of the nice conditions and small tides in West Cork on Sunday last to get to an offshore wreck in search of big ling…and big ling he found!

Fine east coast tope

Over in East Cork, IFSA held the first leg of the All-Ireland Juvenile Boat Competition qualifiers in Crosshaven. The top anglers on the day were Jack Walsh, Sarah Lynch (both Crosshaven SAC) and Adam O’Neill from Rinnashark SAC. The three anglers will now go forward to represent Ireland at the World Youths Boat Championships in Montenegro in 2025.

Also reporting from Cork, Eire Bass flyfishing guide, Richie Ryan, sent in a story of a red-letter seabass day and some incredible pollack action including a first ever fly-caught pollack (followed by many more) for young Alessia which makes her win our Juvenile Catch of the Week.

Alessia with a chunky fly-caught pollack

Along the Clare coast it has been a week of variety on the Clare Dragoon, with a lot of species caught including some nice ray and huss and a seldomly caught spotted ray. The Isle of Aran charter boat, skippered by Sean Maguire, has also been out a fair bit off the Clare coast with guests enjoying the fine weather and catching plenty of species.

An elusive spotted ray caught on Luke Aston’s Clare Dragoon

The sea angling highlight of the week, however, took place in Galway Bay. Some nice, settled weather and calm seas allowed the Brazen Hussy to get offshore for some shark fishing this week, and what a week it was. Thomas Markey’s crew were out on Saturday and had 12 fine porbeagles to the boat! If Saturday was good, then Sunday was unbelievable, with another crew bringing 14 sharks to the boat to beat the boat record of 13! On Monday the crew felt like something smaller might give aching muscles a rest, but sharks were still on the agenda, with tope the quarry. Cutting a long story short, the crew caught and tagged over 10 tope to about 40lbs and had plenty other species including pollack, ling, whiting and pouting as a bonus. This remarkable fishing clearly deserves to win our Catch of the Week!

One of the many porbeagles caught, tagged and released in Galway Bay

Wrapping up our sea angling section, Peter Driver of Piscari-Fly reported excellent flyfishing for pollack in West Cork in his latest newsletter.

Over to trout angling, where the same Peter Driver tells us that the Nore is still fishing quite well these days with anglers enjoying some quality trout fishing.

Trout are still biting well on the Nore

Meanwhile, anglers on IFI’s Ballinlough Fishery in Co. Mayo reported good catches of both brown and rainbow trout, while Loughanure Anglers recently held a successful catch & release competition in Donegal.

This week’s Ireland on the Fly podcast features well known flyangler and flytyer Mick O’Farell who joins Daire & Tom  presenting his new book and discussing his flyfishing life in Ireland and England.

Last but not least some news from the Irish coarse angling scene…

The Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation held their yearly night match at Enfield last weekend which was won by Dean Markey who once again proved to be the top angler on the night.

Dean Markey won the Enfield event with 26lb+

Saturday, 13 July, saw 23 anglers turn out to fish the second qualifier at Oaklands Lake for the 18 remaining places at the All-Ireland Method Feeder Championship this September. Winner of the match was Matija Ivkov with 57.90kg, followed by Roman Legeic 52.58kg and in third Stephen Whyte with 47.92kg.

In the North, members of Lurgan Coarse Angling Club enjoyed great skimmer action on the River Blackwater over the weekend, while the latest Feederking qualifier which was held on Garadice Lough in Co. Leitrim was tough going with only the Deeps section fishing well.

Great bags of skimmers caught on the Blackwater, NI

Elsewhere, two well-known Irish coarse fishing clubs are organising charity events to raise money for good causes this summer. For more information and how to participate or donate money please follow this link.

Concluding this week’s Irish Angling Update, we would like to draw your attention to a series of weekly coaching sessions organised by Lough Ree Lanesborough Angling Hub. If you’d like to take part or know somebody who might be interested in learning how to fish, you can contact the club at loughreeanglinghub@gmail.com  or via their Facebook page.

And now the weather…

Tonight, rain will extend nationwide, turning heavy at times, especially across the west and northwest with spot flooding. Mild and humid with temperatures not dropping below 12 to 14 degrees, all in mostly light south or southeast breezes. The weekend will remain unsettled with more rain spreading in from the west. It will be cooler with highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees and light to moderate southerly winds. The start of the week looks like being mainly dry apart from some patchy light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees with light westerly or variable winds. Current indications suggest that it will continue largely unsettled next week with further showers and rain.

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

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

All the angling news

Salmon Fishing Reports

Trout Fishing Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Sea Angling Reports