Killybegs Mariners report on the second last leg of their 2023/24 league…
The penultimate outing of the Mariners SAC 2023/24 league took place at Mullaghmore beach (near side) on Friday night as 18 anglers lined out, many with the ambition of getting into those much coveted top spots going into the last leg.
With just eight league points covering the top group of anglers in the table, it was definitely a case of ‘all to play for’ – – however, the light northerly breeze and flat calm seas offered very little in the first two hours aside from a few small flounders, one turbot and a dab spread out amongst the competitors.
As darkness fell and the tide reached its lowest, things began to kick into life and headlights could be seen up and down the beach as anglers unhooked their catch, measured & recorded and released them back to the watery darkness.
It was hard to know who, if anyone, had taken a commanding lead on the night as most people seemed to be catching a fish or two during this hour at the ebb when the feed was on.
But, as ever, the cream rises to the top and it was current league table topper Gavin Dorrian who pulled out a big last hour to add two flounders, three dabs and a dog to add to the fine beefy flounder he had caught earlier in the session.
Winning on the night will extend Gavin’s lead in the table even further going into the final outing (which, although unconfirmed as yet, is expected to be Rossnowlagh north side Friday 3rd May).
Finishing in second place, with a great fishing of 8 dabs mostly all caught in the last hour, was Robert Malin Snr, and the longest flattie prize went to Daragh McGuinness for a flounder of 35cm. Lucky peg winner on the night was Shane Cunningham.
As always, the Mariners league is competitive and scores are generally close right up to the end – – all eyes will now be on the league table once the scores are calculated and tallied so those directly behind the leader can study the permutations prior to the final outing and see if there’s still a chance of catching Gavin Dorrian, and even if that’s not possible, then the fight is still on for the overall prize places for second and third, all sponsored by Mooney Boats.
Go fishing…
Join the club
Mariners sea angling club, Killybegs Co Donegal. The club runs a shore league and boat competitions and angling trips around Ireland doing the sport we love. Get in touch at www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
New anglers always welcome to join.
