A Weekend of Firsts with Irish Angling Adventures

By

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May 19, 2025

James Raymond of Irish Angling Adventure reports on an exciting weekend of angling…

Well the guiding season has kicked off now and the first weekend of it has gone well. On Saturday I had Darren Griffin all the way down from Donegal. After 6 years of chasing an elusive Stingray and Undulate ray, he decided it was best to get some guiding to get him on the fish. We met Saturday for the morning and Tide and fished this to about 2.5hrs after low. First cast I ended up with a Painted ray while not long after Darren had a small thornie. Darren is forever cursed with getting thornies. I had some more fish but unfortunately Darren only had the one at mark one.

As the tide started to push and leads were no longer holding bottom we moved to mark two. Weed was pushing hard here but once the tide slowed I had two undulates on the one hook as the male and female were latched to each other. We started to pack things away and just got out of our waders Darren’s rod had a nod and managed his first ever undulate ray and a very nice size one at that. I was delighted to get Darren his first undulate after so long chasing them. The pressure was on now to try get a Stingray to make the days fishing an absolute success.

Back to the same location as mark one and it wasn’t long I had a Stingray. This rounded off a Tralee Bay Grand Slam for me. Not long after this Darren’s rod “hooped” over and it could only be one thing taking line from the reel and that had to be a good sized Stinger. After a few initial runs, We landed the fish and at 110.5cm Darren was over the moon. Now the pressure of getting the two targets was off but we only needed a painted to get Darren hist first Grand Slam. Well not long after and again last cast, Darren picked up a painted to round off a great days fishing. Plenty of firsts and PBs.

Moving on to day two, I had a group of lads out from Roscommon who were chasing bass, pollack and wrasse on the lures. With conditions not being Ideal we still decided to give it a go. Bass fishing was non existent but we still went through where to target bass, what features to look for and some basic water craft of how to find features and structure using the waves and where fish would lie when ambushing their prey.

After a quick bit of lunch we then moved to the Wrasse and Pollack. Fishing was slow to begin with a lot of moving to find the fish. After a while Chris has a small pollack on a soft plastic. The swell at this point started to build and made fishing some of the marks difficult with regular splashing. We moved along the coast searching for fish and it wasn’t long before all the lads were into the wrasse with two fish just coming in shy of specimens. All in all everyone had a great day and learned a thing or two.

Go fishing…

Irish Angling Adventures

Address Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353(0)860864486 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.irishanglingadventures.com

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IFI suspends angling at the Moy Fishery due to high water temperatures

By

Myles Kelly

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May 19, 2025

Both Moy Fishery and Erriff Fishery in Co. Mayo currently closed to angling

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is suspending angling at the Moy Fishery in Ballina due to high water temperatures.

The Co. Mayo fishery closed to all angling at midnight on Sunday May 18^th after multiple high water temperatures were recorded, and remains closed until further notice.

The Erriff Fishery in Co. Mayo is also closed to all angling because of elevated temperatures.

Recent dry and hot weather has caused water temperatures to exceed the 20°C threshold in both locations.

IFI is guided by scientific advice that indicates a dramatic increase in angling-related mortalities at temperatures above 20 degrees.

The Moy Fishery will re-open once water temperatures return to levels where fish will not be thermally stressed.

Anglers with bookings affected by the closure will be contacted by IFI.

Anglers should contact the fisheries to check the latest advice before travelling.

Moy Fishery: 096 21332 or 096 22669, [email protected]
Erriff Fishery: 095 42382, [email protected]

Other State fisheries are experiencing high temperatures and may also be subject to closure. Before travelling, anglers should check for the latest updates with fisheries via the contact details below.

Galway Fishery: 091 562388, [email protected]
Cloongee Fishery: 096 21332, [email protected]
Ballyvary Fishery: 096 21332, [email protected]

At fisheries where angling is permissible, anglers should take extra precautions during times of warmer temperatures to minimise the stress on fish such as brown trout and Atlantic salmon.

Anglers using catch-and-release methods are encouraged to limit the exposure of fish to air, or avoid it completely where possible.

The Moy, Erriff, Galway, Cloongee, and Ballyvarry fisheries are owned by the State and operated by IFI.

Other State-owned fisheries are also being monitored.

IFI urges the public to report any instances of distressed fish, fish kills, illegal fishing, or water pollution to IFI’s confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24.

IFI announces Erriff Fishery closure due to high water temperatures

By

Myles Kelly

-

May 16, 2025

Aasleagh Falls, Courtesy Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark

Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) is notifying anglers of the closure of the Erriff Fishery due to high water temperatures.

The fishery in Co. Mayo is closed to all angling, from Saturday 17 May until further notice.

The Erriff Fishery recorded water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius twice in the past 24 hours and, as such, IFI has taken the decision to close the fishery to protect fish from potentially lethal stress.

IFI is guided by scientific advice that indicates a dramatic increase in angling-related mortalities at temperatures above 20 degrees.

The fishery will re-open once temperatures return to levels where fish will not be thermally stressed, and is conditional on at least two successive water temperature readings of less than 18 degrees Celsius.

Anglers with bookings affected by the closure will be contacted by IFI.

Anglers should also contact the Erriff Fishery to check the latest advice before travelling.

Erriff Fishery: 095 42382, [email protected]

IFI also released an advisory notice that other State fisheries are experiencing high temperatures and may also be subject to closure should temperatures continue to rise.

Anglers should contact the relevant fisheries to check the latest advice before travelling.

Moy Fishery: 096 21332 or 096 22669, [email protected]
Galway Fishery: 091 562388, [email protected]

In warmer temperatures, anglers should take extra precautions, such as limiting fish exposure to air or avoiding it completely where possible.

The Moy, Galway and Erriff fisheries are owned by the State, and operated by IFI.

Other State-owned fisheries are also being monitored.

IFI urges the public to report any instances of distressed fish, fish kills, illegal fishing, pollution to IFI’s confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24.

Irish angling Update 🎣 16 May 2025

By

Myles Kelly

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May 16, 2025

It’s a great summer we’re having! A bit earlier than usual, but what can you do? We’re enjoying (enduring?) a long dry spell that has been getting warmer and warmer and there’s still more to come. Unfortunately a number of rivers and lakes are running low and some are heating up. So freshwater anglers, please take this into consideration when you are handling and releasing fish. Sea anglers are not complaining though as the settled conditions are just about ideal for getting out…

We’ll start with salmon angling this week. There were reports of another few salmon from Ballisodare since our last report. There are some fish about but with the conditions there are not many anglers about. It was another tough week for anglers on Currane where the bright sunshine was compounded by light winds, never a great mix for lake fishing. Staying in Kerry we had just one salmon reported from the Laune as water levels on the river remain low. Levels are dropping on the Moy but there were a few salmon landed here and there including the first of the season from the Ridge Pool. Sea trout anglers in the Moy Estuary are meeting a few fish and hopefully this continues through the season.

The Ireland On The Fly podcast talks about the salmon run on the Munster Blackwater with Conor Arnold. The show opens with a report from Tom Doc on the mayfly fishing on Corrib and it’s all well worth a listen.

Glen Calvert, beating the odds on Lough Sheelin

With that we’ll get into the trout angling reports. What better place to begin than Lough Sheelin where hordes of anglers afflicted by Mayfly Derangement Syndrome have been busy trying to outwit trout with carefully tied and delicately presented decoys. Unfortunately the trout are not as fanatical as the anglers and were less inclined to play their part given the conditions – brutal. Word of mouth from other mayfly venues confirms that this is not a localised phenomenon. Getting a trout is not impossible but it is hard work. On Lough Conn there is a good hatch of mayfly but angling pressure has been low (unsurprisingly). Anglers on Lough Corrib report that fishing been tough in the bright sunshine, but when there is a good breeze sport is possible for those prepared to search for fish. River anglers are getting some better sport it seems. There are good daytime hatches being seen on the Nore and there are opportunities for more experienced and beginners anglers on rivers in Co. Limerick. Staying with beginner anglers Tolka Trout Anglers are offering free angling tuition and water awareness lessons on Wednesdays.

On to coarse angling next. Johnny Bailey won the Blackwood Bait and Tackle Gaulmoylestown match with an impressive 123lb 13oz. Lugan CAC, former World Champions and current silver medallists, were in top form on a challenging Lough Muckno at the weekend where they won the All Ireland Feeder Club Championship. Canal fishing at Monasterevin has been challenging due to fish spawning, warm weather, bright sunshine, and a huge amount of surface, drifting weed. 5lb 8oz was all it took for Bob Hulme to secure his win there. Oaklands Fishery had the first round of their Summer League at the weekend. The event was won by Sion Pritchard with 68.580kg. A couple of well known adventurous coarse anglers reported some great bream fishing from a non traditional venue – Lough Corrib. Another adventurer, Paul Waghorne, completed a 3 week angling safari that he reports on. Finally tickets are on sale for the Big Meadow 2-Day Coarse Match in Athlone and the All Ireland Method Feeder Championships Qualifiers.

In pike angling news there are reports of good fishing the Longford area where one Italian tourist has been getting fish to 113cm with Melview Lodge and French visitors are also enjoying great sport.

We’re nearing the end of our round up this week, time for a dip in the sea. First off we have the first blue shark of 2025 reported to these pages. Skipper Dave Edwards of Courtmacsherry caught and released a lovely 195cm blue shark last Friday afternoon which wins out Catch of the Week. Staying in Courtmacsherry, Mark Gannon reports good pollack fishing on the reefs and excellent bottom fishing for conger, skate, bullhusss and ling. Also in West Cork congratulations go to the group of sea anglers who raised €926 by holding a Darkness into Light fishing session. We have a small boat report from Cork Harbour where spurdogs, megrim, whiting and blue whiting provided the entertainment. Heading east we stop to once again offer congratulations, this time in Wexford to young Jake Melia who caught a 65cm bass at 6 years of age, quite the feat! Cormac Walsh of the Lure Fishing Podcast reports plenty of bass about in his area with some big garfish on the prowl too. To the north Kit Dunne reports good numbers of tope off Wicklow with his anglers getting plenty of fish on every trip. We circle back to Galway Bay to complete the sea angling round up. It was sunshine and species galore for anglers fishing with charter boat skipper John Fleming as they got stuck into pollack, coalies, ling, sandeel, poor cod, pouting, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse and more in glorious weather.

Warm water warning…

IFI advises that the Moy, Erriff, and Galway fisheries may be closed to protect fish from potentially lethal thermal stress. In warmer temperatures, all anglers should limit handling to ensure fish are safely released. Unhooking fish without removing them from the water is preferable. When water temperatures exceed 18C any additional stress can be fatal to many fish.

And now the weather…

Saturday will be yet another dry day with plenty of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 17°C along eastern fringes to 24 or 25°C in the west, all in light to moderate easterly or variable breezes. These warm, dry and mostly clear conditions will continue through to Thursday, though a few mist and fog patches may develop with showers possible later in the week.

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], and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

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IFI advises high temperatures may close fisheries

Corrib rewards dedicated anglers in bright sunshine

By

IFI Staff

-

May 16, 2025

Despite the unseasonally hot and bright conditions, mayfly hatches on Corrib have been very good over the past 2 weeks. Fishing has been tough in the bright sunshine, but there has been a good breeze on some days and anglers have been having sport on wet and dry fly when conditions are suitable. Paul Heaney of Corrib Anglers guiding service says the conditions mean short drifts are the order of the day, and moving to find fish is vital. Paul also says there have been good hatches of sedges, and a few evenings ago he had four pan sized trout on a sedge nymph fished on the point.

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Danielle Gingell has been fishing the lake over the last week and has enjoyed really good sport on wetfly, including a nice 15 inch fish on Tuesday in bright skies and a good wave. The fish was one of 5 to the boat for Danielle that day, with another 5 hookups that didn’t get to the net.

Trolling for ferox can be productive in this weather, although most anglers will leave them alone when the water warms up further. Guide Jasper Mathews of Wild Atlantic Angling Experiences got out for an evening with a friend and managed two fish on the troll, losing a third, with the best going just under 8lbs.

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Outlook

The forecast is for another week of warm, dry and bright weather, so daytime fishing may prove tough. Caenis hatches should be providing good early morning sport, and sedge fishing in the evenings can be very productive. Just don’t forget the Factor 50 and a hat!

Go fishing…

Lough Corrib

IFI advises high temperatures may close fisheries

By

Myles Kelly

-

May 16, 2025

Anglers encouraged to check latest updates

Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) is encouraging Mayo and Galway anglers to contact local offices as high temperatures may cause fisheries to close.

Water temperatures above 18°C can cause species such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout to suffer thermal stress.

IFI advises that the Moy, Erriff, and Galway fisheries may be closed to protect fish from the potentially lethal stress.

Anglers should contact the relevant fisheries to check the latest advice before travelling.

Moy Fishery: 096 21332 or 096 22669, [email protected]

Erriff Fishery: 095 42382, [email protected]

Galway Fishery: 091 562388, [email protected]

In warmer temperatures, any anglers should take extra precautions, such as limiting fish exposure to air or avoiding it completely where possible.

The Moy, Galway and Erriff fisheries are owned by the State, and operated by IFI.

Other State-owned fisheries are also being monitored currently.

IFI urges the public to report any instances of distressed fish, fish kills, illegal fishing, pollution to IFI’s confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24.

Enjoyable fishing on the Maigue for beginners, more opportunity of old hands on the Deel

By

Myles Kelly

-

May 16, 2025

Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling reports from the Maigue:

An early May morning session on the Maigue with delightful Wicklow couple Tommy McConville and Emma Behan who are staying at my local Mustard Seed Country House and Restaurant. Both are new to fly-fishing but were fast learners. Sunshine and low water are not conducive to good sport but a coming tide livened things up a bit and both had fish.

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The River Deel has been looking great lately but it’s a wild river and suitable only for advanced fly-fishers on the grounds of wading alone, never mind having to cast in tight confines due to dense overhead and riverbank growth.

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Go Fishing…

Celtic Angling

Address The Commons Ballingarry Adare Limerick Ireland Phone: +353 69 68202 Mobile Phone: +353 87 652 5687 Email: [email protected] Website: celticangling.com

More information

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Sunshine and species galore in Galway Bay

By

IFI Staff

-

May 15, 2025

The good weather continues in Galway, and the good fishing too. Skipper John Fleming reports more great fishing out on the bay. Sunday proved a crcking day with a crew of Anthony, Dom, Alex and Romain.

“The plan was to hit the shallow reefs to work only metal jigs and soft plastic. Working between 6 and 20 metres we weren’t dissapointed. Multiple double hook ups, big fish, small fish and so many varieties of colours from the different grounds we fished.

We did try for some wrasse but they didn’t turn up but all in all a great day and great laugh.”

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Another day of glorious sunshine greeted a crew from Howth SAC, who wanted to target a few different species. They had great success too, landing pollock, coalies, ling, sandeel, poor cod, pouting, ballan wrasse and the nicest marked and coloured cuckoo wrasse.

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Go fishing…

To book fishing with John aboard the Brazen Hussy II, give him a call on 087 7571320

A regular day is between 9am- 6pm from either Rossaveal, Spiddal or Galway depending on species being sought after. Fishing on the inshore reefs for pollock, cod, ling, wrasse, conger eel and mackerel can be reached in 10 minutes from departure, while our offshore reef marks are within 45 minutes of departure. Our ground fishing for tope, spurdog, ray, bullhuss, turbot, plaice and the giant common skate can all be reached within the hour which ensures the most amount of time is spent fishing.
The shark season usually starts at the end of June and runs into late October, this is the ultimate angling adrenaline rush with these hard fighting blue and porbeagle sharks all being tagged and released safely.
Package deals available

Address: Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Telephone: +353 (0)87 7571320
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueSharkAngling

Blue Shark Angling Galway,
Phone John Fleming : +353 (0)87 7571320

Galway Bay and North Clare

Sea trout fishing gets underway in Moy Estuary

By

IFI Staff

-

May 15, 2025

Simon Leonard reported being out on the estuary on Tuesday 6th May guiding anglers in good conditions, landing three sea trout up to 1.25 lbs, returning all three to the water.

Judd Ruane reports of being out on the estuary midweek with three anglers fishing showing a decent return of nine sea trout to the boat.

Go Fishing

Pegasus II

Quicksilver 640 Yamaha 120hp
Skipper: Judd Ruane
Licence: 1555
Base: Ballina Operational area: Ballina
Quay and Moy Estuary.

Notes: The angling boat Pegasus is equipped with the
latest technology, fishing tackle and safety equipment. Licenced for a
maximum of 4 rods skipper Judd Ruane specialises in catching sea trout
on the beautiful Moy Estuary. Daily charter departs Ballina Quay and booking
is essential. A salmon licence is required.

Address: Creggs Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Telephone: + 353 (0)87673 6969 and +353 (0) 96 22183
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fishingireland.ie

Moy Estuary Charters

Contact: Simon Leonard

Address: Moy Estuary Charters Quay Ballina Mayo F26 RH58 Email: [email protected] Website: moycharters.com

Notes: Experience the thrill of sea trout fishing along the Wild Atlantic Way, where Ireland’s rugged coastline meets the adrenaline rush of the perfect catch. This dynamic stretch of cliffs and crystal-clear waters is a paradise for anglers in search of an unforgettable fishing adventure.

As you cast your line into the rich waters, surrounded by stunning landscapes and the soothing symphony of the ocean, every moment is steeped in natural beauty. Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman or a beginner, the Wild Atlantic Way offers spectacular views, deep cultural richness, and the excitement of reeling in your prize.

Some lovely charter boat fishing reported from Courtmacsherry

By

Myles Kelly

-

May 15, 2025

Mark Gannon of Courtmacsherry Angling Centre reports that fishing from Courtmacsherry has been top class lately with plenty of nice sized pollack on the reefs and the odd cod too.

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