ANGLING NOTES: WITH more than 25,000 claims recorded since its inception in 1955, the Irish Specimen Fish Committee database is one of the most valuable and long-running sources of information of its type in the world.
Great credit is due to the committee for its dedication over the past 56 years, which culminates annually with a presentation of awards. Each year the report is eagerly awaited by anglers who endeavour to catch and record the biggest fish of each species.
The 72-page glossy report for 2011 is beautifully presented with more than 50 colour photographs and catch details for 587 specimen fish including four new records. This is a far cry from, say, the 1983 report of dull unassuming type and not a photograph to be seen in its 32 pages.
Renowned specimen hunter Terry Jackson made the headlines with a new record roach/rudd hybrid of 2.1kg caught in the River Lagan, Co Antrim, on maggots. Terry went on to record six similar specimens from the same venue. His record roach of 1.425kg from Drumacritten Lake in Co Fermanagh 10 years ago still remains intact.
Red Bay in Co Antrim continued to set the pace for many of our marine species. Jan Vrieswijk from Holland created a new record for blackmouth dogfish of 1.33kg and Albert Koawenhourn, also from Holland, pipped the one-year-old record for spur dogfish by just 0.17kg. Of the 107 specimens claimed, 78 were caught in Red Bay.
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Irish Times, 09/01/12
