Rebels SAC headed to Ballyquinn Beach for a milestone competition for the club. Shane Olden reports…
Saturday the 24th of February 2024 was to be a big mile stone for the Rebel County sea angling club as they ventured a bit closer to the sunny south east, and that it was, to BALLYQUINN beach, for their first official competition as an affiliated and insured club with I.F.S.A.
First on the fish with a 26cm flounder was Kieran Ryan on fresh crab. Not too long after was Martin O’Hare with a beautifully speckled but under size turbot. Next to get on the fish and still in daylight was George O’Hara with a painted ray on crab. As I made my way down the line to take a few pics and a have wee chat with everybody, Leo Napier was next to mark the card with a flounder. Next on my journey for fish was John McSweeney who, as I approached, was after gathering a bit if a crowd but clearly they were walking away in disgust. John on his first cast of a double sandeel bait at good distance hooked a big ray that was guessed to be a big double, definitely over 10lb, only to loose him in the last 40/50 yards. That would have being a great catch and picture by day but unfortunately that’s fishing for you!
Next to get off the mark was Noah Tarhan with a welcomed painted ray to get him going. A bit further down on the last 2 pegs, Niall Forrest and Jeffrey Olden were off the mark with a painted ray each among a few missed bites. Our lady angler Edwina Anne was eager not to miss a competition and battling hard to put a fish on her card .
We also had 2 new members to announce this week, Matthew Fitzgerald and George O’Hara, welcome to the club lads. George was off the mark but Matthew was throwing everything at it and the best of bait but had no fish. He was in a bad patch but still soldiered on. Catches became more frequent as darkness drew in and Jacob Murphy and Vlad were starting to find the fish. Once I got back to my rod, I opened my account with a double shot of coalies.
As the night went on conditions were still ideal but it has to be said the venue was very patchy and should have produced a lot more fish. All in all we drove on and did our bit to see what was to be had, and who was going to take the win on The MIGHTY QUINN .
We had 20 anglers on the beach and 9 out of the 20 managed to catch fish, which is poor for the venue as we had all variables and conditions in our favour, but as I say, you can only catch what’s in front of you.
Results
- 1ST PLACE 315 POINTS SHANE OLDEN
- 2ND PLACE 250 POINTS NOAH TAHRAN
- 3RD PLACE 116 POINTS KIERAN RYAN
- 4TH PLACE 90 POINTS JEFFREY OLDEN
- 5TH PLACE 74 POINTS VLAD NOSOV
- 6TH PLACE 60 POINTS RAD
- 7TH PLACE 50 POINTS GEORGE O HARA
SPECIES CAUGHT ON THE DAY
Painted ray, coalfish, whiting, dogfish, turbot, flounder and rockling.
BAITS USED ON THE DAY
FRESH: CRAB , LUG , RAG , MACKEREL :
FROZEN: SANDEEL , CRAB , BLUEY , MACKEREL, BLACK LUG !!
Leave no Trace
Rubbish wise, as usual BALLYQUINN was immaculate and all that could be gathered was a plastic bottle and some netting. It is great to see our beaches are being kept clean, mainly by locals and regular walkers/visitors to the area, as we could see some bags of rubbish mounted for collection on the slip way so it was good to see people making an effort.
Last but by no means the least we want to thank all our followers, supporters and sponsors who have being with us for most if not all of our journey and we look forward to the future and what it brings to us as a club.
With that , ye know the drill , CATCH YE ON THE NEXT ONE , and most important of all …..,… UP THE REBEL’S
The road to affiliation
It has being a long journey and a battle but it never interfered with our heart for the sport, the new friends made and fun we had along the way. Since 2019 we have introduced countless people into the world of shore / match fishing / species and specimen hunts. We were the first shore angling club in Ireland to have their own you tube channel (which we must get back to working on content). Most of our guys came to us with mixed experience; from holding an actual fishing rod only once or twice to new to sea fishing, match fishing or just looking to better their game, but all have come a very long way. As a club we pride ourselves on our open book approach to knowledge, info and the likes of tuition /casting lessons, or what ever our anglers’ needs may be to bring them further along the road and make them better all round anglers. Before each competition we do what we can for members and an array of top, prime fresh and frozen baits can be on offer so as to keep everybody on some bit of a level playing field. The rest is up to them as anglers and how they apply themselves! On affiliation we entered 35 senior members male and female with 32 of them being fresh new blood as such to the IFSA and a great addition of numbers to the federation. On the 35 members. I couldn’t wish for a better nicer bunch of people to share this journey with and all the memories and achievements along the way. I’d also like to thank the the backbone of the club being our committee members Jim Cotter, Kieran Ryan and Dean Murphy Gamble. Without these lads it would not have being possible, competition after competition for the last 5 years or so. It’s being a pleasure lads and ye deserve a round of applause .
We would also as a club like to thank all who supported us, spoke up and welcomed us to the IFSA as a club and we look forward to fishing with you all under the one banner – IFSA .
Go fishing…
Our next competition and last comp of the year this side of summer as we take a break for a few months, is on next weekend on Saturday on an east cork beach. Prior to that on Wednesday the 28th Feb the rebel county anglers will take part in their first affiliated event as a club entering a new great idea , run by the Munster Council shore committee and WEST CORK AND DISTRICT S.A.C . It’s a mid week competition with a twist and there will be 3 comps held over the next few months which will be a first taste of an open comp for most of our guy’s and a chance to compete against some top anglers . And they are chomping at the bit with excitement 🎣🎣
Join the club
Rebels SAC are based in Cork and are are always happy to welcome new members.
The REBEL COUNTY SEA ANGLERS will be open for membership through out the year and we can be contacted on mobile 083 0198017, what’s app, messenger, facebook and Instagram. Catch you on the next one ……… UP THE REBELS
Get in touch via their Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/rebelcountyseaanglingclub/
