Well the typical Irish summer has returned, we even had a visit from Storm Floris earlier in the week which brought wet and windy conditions to the west and northwest. It’s been a mixed bag since, with breezy overcast conditions and a few showers, although rainfall amounts have not been excessive. Thankfully for anglers, it means lower water temperatures on our rivers and lakes.

We start with sea angling, and despite an interrupted week with a lot of wind, we have plenty of reports. Guests on the Brazen Hussy II have enjoyed great sport in Galway Bay over the last couple of weeks, with the highlight being some fantastic specimen spurdog fishing.

Spurs galore

Mackerel are usually a welcome catch, but not in a competition where they don’t count and are snaffling all the baits before the target species can get to them! And that is hat befell the Ulster Krakens club at Fahan, Co. Donegal, where mackerel proved a problem until Raymond McCann picked up a few late counting fish to take the win. A rare enough John Dory for Dean Boardman was the highlight in the Séan McGettigan Memorial Cup sea angling tournament from Portsalon, Co. Donegal, where Mark Cassidy took the honours.

Triggerfish are an increasingly common catch now in Ireland, but ore commonly caught on reef or rocky deep shorelines than a beach, but Rob Shirley had a nice surprise when he landed one at a beach in south Wexford recently. Richie Ryan reports great sport on fly in Cork Harbour, where bass, pollack and mullet to specimen size have been the order of the day.

Matthew Carmichael with a fine Cork mullet on fly.

Jim Clohessy fished a bit further out from Cork, and had blue shark all round the boat, with quite a few landed on his first shark trip of the year. Further west, David Ridgen on the Sheeps Head peninsula reports on some fantastic mullet fishing during July on his great blog.

Trout angling reports are scarce of late, but reports are that Lough Corrib has fishwed well throughout July. Larry Kelly and long time fishing partner John Jack had a great 6 days on the lough, with 27 fish between them averaging nearly 2lbs. The best fish was a fine trout of 5lbs, with another fish of similar size lost at the net the following day.

Salmon angling reports are sparse this week. Low water meant low angling effort on the River Moy, where catches were spread all along the river, but the best fishing was around Ballina. A couple of salmon were reported from the Laune, while on the Blackwater, low water levels hampered fishing. A lot of salmon were observed in the river, proving hard to tempt, but some beats above Lismore reported better fishing over the past 2 weeks.

To coarse fishing now, and Skeagh Lough has been producing good bags for match anglers. Brenton Sweeney took the honours in a CM Lakelands club match there, with a mixed bag of decent skimmers, hybrids and some small roach. Brenton had a weight of 14.025kg and caught 130 fish. Some quality bream showed in the River Shannon at Athlone, where Gary Rogers obliterated the field with 23kg on the second day to take the  MADCAPS Athlone Riverfest 2-day match

Waterways Ireland have improved water levels on the canal at Edenderry, and club anglers found the extra water a big help in their club match, where despite bright sunshine and clear water, some great bags were recorded; Dean Murray taking the win with a fine bag over 20lbs.

Just the one pike report this week, but it’s a good one. Young angler Luke Kearns had a trip to the Shannon for some coarse fishing, but pike were taking hooked fish in his swim on day 1, so day 2 saw him ready with a pike rod; he fished hard with lures and wobbled deadbaits. Just before midday, a good pike smashed the wobbled roach and, after a thrilling fight, the guys netted a super 10.25lb pike – Luke’s best fish yet. A PB, and our Catch of the Week.

Luke with his PB pike

And now the weather

Today (Friday) sunny spells will develop as the day goes on. Later this evening, cloud will begin to build from the northwest with any showers becoming isolated. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees, in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, strongest in northern areas.

A band of rain will spread southeastwards from the north on Saturday morning, clearing the south coast by early afternoon. Sunny spells will follow from the north with just a few scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 16 to 21 degrees in mostly moderate westerly breezes, a little fresher near the north coast.  Sunday will see sunny spells to begin especially in the north and east. However, cloud will push up from the southwest during the day, bringing some patchy rain. Highest temperatures of 18 to 21 degrees, and becoming humid in moderate south to southwesterly breezes.

The early days of next week look warm and humid with temperatures generally in the low to mid-twenties in light southerly winds. While there will be good spells of sunshine, some heavy or thundery downpours may occur in parts too.

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 [email protected].

All the angling news

Sea Angling Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Trout Fishing Reports

Salmon Fishing Reports

    Pike Fishing Reports