A super trout from the Barrow about to be carefully released
Levi Caffrey had a great morning on the Barrow last weekend despite the floods. He sent in this report…
“On Saturday morning, I had planned on doing some river fishing for trout. However, after all the recent rain that week, the river was running high and coloured and pretty much unfishable.
Rather than go home, I decided to head to one of the smaller feeder streams further up the river Barrow system. On arrival, the water looked a little clearer and not as high so I decided to gear up and try fish it for a few hours.
I was set up with a light spinning rod and a selection of various crank baits and spinners. After fishing a few of the faster runs, I decided to try one of the deeper pools above.
On my second cast, as I was retrieving the bait through the middle of the pool, I saw an unexpected explosion and was soon into a good fish. I thought it might be a pike as it was holding deep and had made a number of blistering runs up and down.
After a few more minutes, I managed to get the fish up in the water, then he made a huge jump, shaking the head and trying his very best to throw my single barbless hook. I couldn’t believe what I was hooked into, a very large Brown trout.
A super trout from the Barrow about to be carefully released
After landing the fish, I gave him a few minutes to recover in the net before getting a quick photo and releasing him back into the water. The fish measured 64cm in length and was estimated to weigh between 6-7lb.”
Jim Murray was in touch to let us know that the UK’s National Mullet Club has the NMC “Irish Shield” for the biggest mullet taken by a club member here up and running. The trophy took a while to be ready but here it is at last. David Rigden is the current holder with a 7lb 8oz thick lip.
The Irish Shield with the first 2 winners Jim Murphy and Ian Mulligan
there was also an NMC meetup last September in West Cork with 8 members including Irish NMC members and a few visitors from the UK as well. Some fantastic fish were caught over the weekend topped off by a 6lb 12oz specimen for NMC member Cliff from Wales.
6lb 12oz specimen mullet for NMC member Cliff from Wales
Go fishing…
the National Mullet Club have another event planned for this September in West Cork so if anyone fancies joining them or indeed just wants to learn and chat to like-minded anglers about the species just head over to thenationalmulletclub.org
Thomas Coyle poses with his lovely trout before releasing it
Thomas Coyle was in touch to report a lovely trout he caught off the Blackwater at the weekend.
Despite the high water the Blackwater in Mallow offered some decent fishing. Thomas was fishing the shallower water where the current was slower and the visibility a little better.
Opting for a silver spinner he eventually struck buttery gold. The trout put up an epic fight which fought so hard he though he was playing a salmon. After an epic battle the fish was safely landed, the moment captured on camera and then carefully released back into the river.
Thomas Coyle poses with his lovely trout before releasing it
Cutting the ribbon IWA Clonakilty and Inland Fisheries Ireland
Amenity at Shepperton Lake, near Skibbereen Co Cork, opens tomorrow, April 1st
Inland Fisheries Ireland has today launched an ‘all abilities’ accessible angling facility in Co Cork to enable wheelchair users to fish safely and conveniently.
The bespoke fishing platform at Shepperton Lake in Co Cork cost €106,000 to construct, and provides access to wheelchair users, and those with reduced mobility, to a section of the popular angling destination – some 3km from Skibbereen.
Brian O’Donoghue
The initiative was co-funded by Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Speaking at the opening of the new platform John Twomey Fisheries Inspector with IFI said: “The demand for accessible and safe infrastructure for wheelchair users – and those with reduced mobility- at Shepperton Lake was obvious, and we are looking forward to seeing many anglers enjoy our brand new facility.
“We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the Irish Wheelchair Association on this project, and are very pleased the amenity has been constructed. We can’t wait for the new stand to open tomorrow, and for it to be used by people of all abilities.”
The outdoor facility consists of a long boardwalk and a large accessible steel stand that can cater for up to four wheelchair anglers at a time, a new picnic area, and parking for six vehicles.
IFI today hosted members of the Irish Wheelchair Association in Clonakilty, Co Cork for the official opening of the new amenity, following an extensive programme of works to transform the site to support inclusive angling.
Cutting the ribbon IWA Clonakilty and Inland Fisheries IrelandBarry Collins and Harry Bennett
Sinéad Burke, Service Support Officer for the Irish Wheelchair Association said: “Our service users are thrilled with the new fishing podium at Shepperton Lake and will be able to enjoy a long season of fishing from now on.
“Getting out in nature, and having access to a tailor-made resource like this, will be extremely beneficial to the wellbeing of our service users. We would like to thank the incredible team of IFI who went above and beyond to enhance the fishing experience of our service users. We feel very grateful to work in partnership with the team from IFI.”
IFI has collaborated with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Clonakilty for the past seven years, and in that period angling day trips to Shepperton Lake have increased in popularity among the latter’s members.
Daffodils and tulips are in bloom, birds are nesting and fish are biting. Spring has most certainly sprung, with temperatures up to 16C yesterday. It’s been a fairly wet spring so far, after a relatively dry winter. Water levels have risen significantly in recent weeks, with many rivers in flood and more rain crossing the country today.
Salmon
The high water levels have put many salmon rivers out of order, and we have only two reports this week. The Upper Caragh fishery is certainly having a good early season, with several fish reported this week.
Mike O’Shea returning a springer on the Upper Caragh
Elsewhere, a few windy days kept anglers off Lough Currane, but when the wind abated there were salmon to be caught, according to Vincent Appleby.
Trout
The current mild weather favours fly hatches on the lakes, with duckfly the most important at this time of year. Loughs Conn and Cullin were quiet, but Brenda Montgomery reports that over on Sheelin spring has sprung, with duckfly hatching and providing sport, although lures are also doing well.
The shimmer of Sheelin gold
Visiting anglers from distant shores also got to grips with some early-season trout fishing on the lakes of the Boyne Valley region. Recent arrivals from Singapore, Jaden and Regina enjoyed good fishing with Chris Barry of GoFishing Ireland. It might be only 48cm, but for their first Irish trout, and for the happy smiles, this is our Catch of the Week!
Coarse
It’s been a busy week on the coarse angling scene, with competitions and festivals up and down the country. There was excellent fishing at the 3-day match at Inniscarra, where Neall McKitterick was the top rod with a fantastic catch of 44.4kg.
There was good fishing at Annaghieran Lake, Carrickmacross where the VDE Baggers club held a competitive outing, with a top weight of 7.58kg winning it for Charlie Richards. The Munster Coarse Anglers winter league wrapped up at O’Briensbridge; the backup venue chosen because the east Clare lakes were all flooded produced great fishing, with nearly all pegs producing double figure weights. Steve Grogan continued his good form with top weight of 17lbs 13oz, taking the competition and the overall league title.
The Erne Anglers also wrapped up their winter league, with 32 anglers taking part in the final leg. Mick Mahoney took the overall honours for the league, while Paul Smith managed to find some nice bream to take the victory on the day.
Ballinakill Anglers were another club finishing their winter league, with the overall standings finishing in a dead heat, Gary Leech winning on a countback with a total weight of 54lbs 2oz.
Finally, NCFFI are hosting the World Feeder Club Championships on Lough Muckno on April 22-23rd, and are looking for stewards to help out.
Pike
Pike clubs have mostly concluded their winter leagues, with spring/summer competitions now kicking off the new season. Luke O’Ciaran won the Leinster Pike anglers first outing with a bag of 35lbs 5oz . Tucker McCabe had an impressive catch of 16 fish for over 40lbs at the Whitewood Anglers outing in Monaghan. O’Caseys Pike Angling Club have already left the traps and hosted the second of their 2023 competition up in Cavan last weekend. Dylan Farell was the top angler on the day with a bag of 6 fish for 23lb 13oz and he also managed to scoop the heaviest fish prize with a pike of 11lb 12oz.
Sea
Sea temperatures are just starting to warm up slightly, some fish are returning to our shores after winter migrations, and angers are starting to enjoy more sport. Anglers in Killybegs, an active lot, have been enjoying plenty of multi-species action from the pier, including flounder, coalfish, rockling and even lobster!
A calm spell and a shoal of sandeel got pollack feeding in Connemara for guide Vinny Corrigan and his client Bernard from Chicago, who landed some nice fish.
Elsewhere in Connemara, Galway Bay SAC enjoyed some pleasant sunshine on Lettergesh beach; although the flounder have not moved back inshore in big numbers yet there were still enough fish to provide a competitive outing.
Colin with one of his winning catch, a nice flounder
Charter boats are getting up and running for the season, and we feature two Galway Bay boats that have had a refit over the winter. Anglers booking trips on John Fleming’s boat the Brazen Hussy II can look forward to a very clean looking boat, she looks a million dollars now! And new owner/skipper Julian Dusso has made some good renovations to his new boat, the Leaca Rua to have her looking in great shape for the season.
Other News
Many anglers are familiar with Inland Fisheries Ireland’s role in angling tourism, and a new article on our website outlines some of the work our angling team do in marketing Ireland as a sustainable angling destination. The article also features Dominic O’Morain from Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, who says when angling groups are staying, there is a real buzz in the whole community. And did you know there are more anglers in Ireland than golfers? Read more here.
Over the last number of years, bluefin tuna have been the basis of a remarkable new fishery in our inshore waters; with zero quota this remains an angling-only fishery with fishing strictly licensed to charter boats participating in a research and tagging programme called Tuna CHART, which gathers invaluable data for fisheries scientists and managers. Fishing for these giants outside of this programme is illegal, and this week three men were convicted in court of illegally targetting tuna off Baltimore in October, 2022.
And now the weather
Rain currently soaking the eastern half of the country clearing slowly, with brighter but showery weather spreading from the southwest. Tomorrow (Saturday) will see rain again in the east, but drier and brighter spellsin the south and west with scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in a moderate northerly breeze.
Sunday looks a nice day, with bright spells, just the odd light shower and temps of 11-14C in a light southerly breeze. Positively spring-like weather! Enjoy it while it lasts – Monday sees freshening winds and cloud spreading from the west, bringing rain by evening. The weather continues mild and breezy with scattered outbreaks of rain on Tuesday.
Some decent fishing going from the pier nice and handy for the Mariners crew with lobster and rocklings for Chris and Aaron along with double shots of flounders, coleys and rockling for Gavin and Michael passing the evenings out and about wetting a line nicely.
Both lakes have been quiet so far this season with an occasional boat out fishing. Daithi Ryan was in contact to report he was fishing Lough Conn recently and released a trout of just over ¾lbs. from Cloghans bay on a Bibio. There were also reports of Duckfly hatching on Lough Cullin over the weekend of the 25th and 26th.
Three men have been found guilty of illegally fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna off Baltimore Harbour in Cork.
Brian Hassett from Monkstown Co. Cork, Barry Keohane from Blackrock Co. Cork and Conor Jones Kildinan Co. Cork, were found guilty of illegally fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna in waters south of Baltimore Harbour on October 10th 2022.
All three entered guilty pleas at Skibbereen District Court.
The court heard evidence from IFI Officer David Lordan who said he observed the men using a spreader-bar lure system for around 70 minutes before their vessel entered Baltimore Harbour.
Despite an application for a return of the seized fishing gear, the court granted Forfeiture Orders in respect of all items seized.
Details were also presented, at the hearing on March 14th 2023, of the importance of protecting Atlantic bluefin tuna and the research programme ‘Tuna CHART’, a catch and release tagging programme gathering scientific data through licenced recreational charters since 2019.
Mr Hassett was found guilty of a breach of Section 285(a) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 and fined €1,000. He was also found guilty of breaches of Article 4 (a) and 4 (b) of Bye Law 981 of 2020, which were taken into consideration.
Mr Keohane and Mr Jones were found guilty of breaches of Article 4 (a) and 4 (b) of the 2020 Bye Law, and both men received the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act on bonds of €5,000 each for a period of three years.
Blue fin Tuna from Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Tuna CHART programme
About Atlantic bluefin tuna protections The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), a ‘giant of the sea’, averages 2m in length but can reach lengths of 4m, weigh up to 600kg and live up to 30 years. It frequents Irish coastal waters to feed during its migration through North Atlantic waters.
Bye-law 981 of 2020 (Control of Sea Angling Methods for Certain Species of Fish) provides for the prohibition of surface trolling from any vessel used for sea angling, targeting or catching any species of Tuna, Shark or Billfish. It also provides for the prohibition of having on board any vessel, gear or equipment capable of use for trolling surface fishing lines for any species of fish.
About the Tuna CHART programme The Tuna CHART programme is a collaborative data collection programme between IFI and the Marine Institute in partnership with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
Anthony Weir from Tulla and District Angling Club has been on to say that will be clearing swims at OBriensbridge this Saturday, 01 April, from 10am to 2pm. Members are asked to attend if free, and it would be a good chance for anyone looking to join to introduce yourself to the club.
Anthony also advises that NCFFI will be hosting the World Feeder Club Championships at Lough Muckno on April 22 and 23, and are looking for stewards.
It’s a great experience if you are free.
World Feeder Club Championships – Lough Muckno – Steward’s
The NCFFI is honoured to have been appointed by FIPSed the world governing body for sport fishing to host the championships and we are delighted to hold it on Lough Muckno, Castleblayney.
The competition to be held on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of April will see 33 angling clubs representing 20 nations compete for the Club Championship title in feeder fishing. Representing Ireland will be the Lurgan Coarse Angling Club and the CM Lakelands Feeder Club hoping for a podium finish on home waters.
Your help is required to steward the event. Each day of the championships we are required to monitor the activities of the anglers and keep a note of the fish caught. With 150 fishing its a tough call to have someone behind every angler with 30 stewards required for each of the five sections.
NCFFI stewards and FIPSed officials will be on the bank for support and to monitor each fishing section.
Munster CAC are requesting their affiliated Clubs to see if they have members interesting volunteering to do Steward for a day or even the two days of this Championship if possible.
Please register your interest at, www.ncffi.ie on the micro website dedicated to this Championship or you can register your interest on this page.
Trev Platt presents Neall McKitterick with first prize
Wednesday last week saw the second 3 day festival fished at Inniscarra, this one sponsored by Trevs Tackle Ireland.
Fountain House produced the top 4 weights for on the first day. Neall McKitterick topped the scales with 44.4kg.
1st Neall McKitterick 44.4kg
2nd was Ronnie Goldwater with 41.8kg
3rd was Trev Platt with 39.530
4th was Gary Watson with 21.4kg.
The Garden Centre didn’t disappoint either and was won by Julian Kendrick with 17.1kg.
Day 2 saw Andy Lightbown with 33.760kg as best weight, closely followed by Julian Kendrick with 31.7kg. This was the section winner. Peter Jones had 25.720 and was overall 3rd on the day. The Garden Centre section was won by Neall McKitterick with 14.860kg.
Going into the last day the leader board looked like this
1st Neall McKitterick 59.260kg
2nd Trev Platt 51.780kg
3rd Andy Lightbown 50.260kg
The last day proved windy, and water levels had risen significantly, so all anglers fished Fountain House. It was a tough day and there was a change in the top 3, though first and second remain unchanged at lines out.
