Simon McLarnon was out fishing for tope from Portsalon, Co. Donegal on Saturday. They were hoping to fish the grounds off Dunaff Head, Lough Swilly, but unfortunately the southerly breeze was stronger than expected resulting in a choppy sea and a very strong drift. This made angling difficult and uncomfortable in a confused sea. Given the conditions they decided to try some of the reefs inside Lough Swilly instead to get a bit of shelter.
It was on one of these reefs that Simon hit what he thought was full trace of coalfish, which the boat was catching plenty of, but after a hard scrap it was a big “Kelp Donkey” of a Ballan Wrasse that came to the surface.
The fish was photographed but released it without getting proper measurements. At the time they didn’t realise that it could have been a specimen wrasse. Simon tells us that is was certainly the biggest wrasse he has ever caught. He estimated the wrasse to measure between 45 and 50cm which could put it up at 4.5 and 5lb.
At least he knows it’s there to be caught again…
