Borough SAC fish latest Shore Master Angler at South Beach Arklow

Richard Dodd of Borough SAC reports from Arklow…

“Dogs, Whiting, and the Return of the Prodigal Graham”

A fine, breezy Saturday afternoon greeted the Borough SAC faithful as they descended upon Arklow South Beach the sparkling jewel of the East Coast match scene and, on this particular evening, the spiritual home of organised chaos. Before a single rod was cast, one man had already earned Man of the Match: Secretary Supreme Tom Butler, who spent the week sending messages, reminders, nudges, and possibly the odd bribe. Whatever dark arts he used, they worked.

By 5:45pm the car park looked like a fishing‑themed family reunion:11 anglers, mountains of gear, and enough enthusiasm to power the Arklow wind farm. And then a shadow moved. A figure emerged.A hush fell. Graham Dungan had returned. After more than a year away, the prodigal son stepped back onto the sand and in true Graham fashion, immediately reminded everyone that he’s still annoyingly good at this sport.

Arklow’s coastline has been a fishing hub since the Vikings first rocked up and said,“Nice beach we’ll take it. Over the centuries it became known for Herring fleets that once filled the harbour, Shipbuilding, including the famous Asgard II. Shore angling that can produce anything from whiting to rays to the occasional “what in the name of Neptune is THAT?.

South Beach rewards skill, patience, and sometimes pure blind luck. Tonight, it rewarded all three. A slight north easterly kept things fresh but not hair ruining. Clouds drifted lazily overhead. As the sun dipped, the wind eased and the sea settled into a calm, silver sheet. Perfect conditions for: Whiting, Flats, Dogs and anglers pretending they knew exactly what they were doing.

• Fishing time: 6pm till10pm
• Mood: Optimistic
• Expectation: High
• Reality: Fish from the first cast

From the first whistle, rods were nodding like they were at a heavy metal gig. John Coyne, who had clearly spent the week in deep tactical meditation, arrived with a plan and stuck to it with the stubbornness of a man who refuses to change his lucky socks. His strategy? Dogs at distance. And by all that is holy, it worked. Every time he wound in, you could nearly hear the Jaws theme. Across the beach, doubles and trebles were coming in, Whiting galore. The odd flattie. And dogfish the uninvited wedding guests of the angling world turning up in droves.

Meanwhile, Graham Dungan, fresh from his sabbatical, was quietly putting on a masterclass. Some lads take a year off and forget how to tie a knot. Graham takes a year off and returns like he’s been training with Poseidon. As the wind dropped and the sea flattened, the fishing stayed steady. Bites came in waves.Rods bent. And the soundtrack of the night echoed down the beach:

“Is that mine? No, that’s definitely yours.”

“Ah for feck’s sake another dog!”

It was one of those evenings that reminds you why we do this: Great turnout Great craic Fish from the off. A returning hero. A beach steeped in history delivering the goods. Arklow South Beach proved once again why it’s the crown jewel of East Coast match angling.

Total fish caught: 134

Species included: Dogfish, Whiting, Flats, and one Smooth Hound

Match Winner: John “Dog Whisperer” Coyne – 518pts

Most Fish: Tie between John Coyne and Graham Dungan (19 each)

Best Returning Performance: Graham “Back From the Depths” Dungan

A brilliant night, a brilliant turnout, and a brilliant reminder that Borough SAC is alive, well, and still capable of producing evenings of absolute magic (and absolute dogfish).

Roll on the next one.