Skipper David Edwards of West Cork Charters reports from Courtmacsherry…
15 June: Despite our target species Skate, deciding to avoid us yesterday the lads still made the most of things, catching 8 species in total, including specimen Spurdog and all washed down with fine pints.
Monsoon conditions for a little while, but the craic was mighty throughout
18 June: A rare flat calm Atlantic today, perfect for heading offshore looking to tag shark. With a small but keen crew, who were great craic, all wanting to catch their first sharks, the pressure was on.
Approximately 20 miles SSW of Courtmacsherry, we came along a large Pod of the elusive Risso’s Dolphins feeding. The sounder suggested mackerel and we were soon into a huge shoals that averaged 1lb ine weight with several going over the 44cm specimen size.
Our first shark was a lively Porbeagle, this was followed by a very large female Blue Shark that was released alongside.
A smaller Blue followed and we continued to see shark on the surface all day, with several taking our baits but not the hooks.
We continued catching mackerel until late afternoon and chilled watching wildlife in glorious sunshine.
We even had a Great Shearwater pay a visit, it should still be in the South Atlantic in mid June but clearly this one hadn’t read the script. Perfect day, with everyone catching their first shark.
Go fishing…
Silver Dawn
