Killybegs Mariners report…
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.
Osgur Grieve reports from Loughs Conn & Cullin…
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Munster Coarse Anglers fished the final match of their winter series in O’Briensbridge at the weekend. Kevin Leahy reports…
Return of Magnificent Seven to O’Briensbridge
Well that’s it for another year. The 34th Munster Coarse Anglers Winter League is now over. With all the lakes of East Clare flooded it was back to O’Briensbridge for the final. The venue has not been particularly kind to us this year but on Sunday all was forgotten as “The Bridge” became our most favourite venue in the whole wide world again.
Downstream at rowing course was the area chosen to fish, and fish it did with almost every peg producing double figure weighs. Although the fish were small there was plenty of them.
Coming out on top was..
The worthy champion of the 2023 winter league is the ever consistent Steve Grogan who always managed to find those few extra fish.
Runner up was last year champion Richard Bedford who challenged right up to the last match.
I would like to thank the “Magnificent Seven ” who took part in this year’s league throughout those cold wet and fishless Sundays you know it was still great craic,
Hopefully see you all for the 35th winter league
Anyone who would like to fish the Munster Coarse Anglers Winter League can contact them by commenting on their Facebook post
Munster Coarse Angling Club are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI the National Governing body for coarse and predator fishing and casting. www.ncffi.ie
Frankie McPhillips – how he was nearly lost to newspapers instead of fly tying
Daire and Tom turn their attention to fly tying for this week’s episode of Ireland on the Fly and their guest is a bit of a legend in Irish fly tying circles it has to be said.
Yet his flies might never have graced our waters and caught so many fish if it wasn’t for a sliding doors moment in the life of Frankie McPhillips when he was looking for work…..
Frankie describes a different time in the 1970s and 1980s when good, quality flies were hard to come by and how after 45 years he’s still as much in demand.
Looking back on his fly fishing life, Frankie talks about friendship and fishing with Ted Malone who was still casting and catching on Lough Corrib up until the age of 96.
Frankie has also written a poem called, ‘Under Tattenweir Bridge’ which he reads out on the podcast.
Listen and follow the Ireland on the Fly podcast on Apple or Spotify:
The VDE Baggers club had made the short trip to the Carrickmacross area to fish their first match of the season on Annaghieran Lake last weekend. This is the first open match of the season, and anglers were in high spirits with plenty of craic, banter and laughs. 19 anglers took part, and top weight on the day went to Charlie Richards with 7.58kg. Their next match is don’t he Newry Canal on 16th April and they are open to new members looking for a bit of competition angling.
Michael O’Shea has more good news from the Upper Caragh Fishery in Co. Kerry.
There was a great patch of catches on the Upper Caragh Fishery late last week and over the weekend.
Mike O’Shea had another fish on the 22nd and fishery boss, Ralph Doppler and his second of the season on the 23rd. Mike was back in action again on the 24th, this time with the first hatchery fish of the season.
On Saturday, 25 March, Nick Skilton and Paul Osborne had a fish each from the river. Both salmon were returned safely. On Sunday John Painter landed a cracker from the flag pool.
The fishing continued on Monday and Paul Osborne had a beautiful fresh sea liced fish from pool 10, his second of the week. Nick Skilton also had a fish on Monday. His came from the boat pool and was safely released.
Michael O’Shea
Upper Caragh Fishery
The Upper Caragh Fishery is a very well-developed fishery. It has fantastic access with stiles and footbridges along the full length of the fishery. It has well maintained banks and anglers’ huts are provided on many of the beats. The Upper River Caragh can be fished from both boat and bank. Fishing is also available on Cloon Lough and the fishery provides access for anglers with reduced mobility. Boats for hire and guide services are available at the fishery.
Facebook: facebook.com/glencarsalmonfishing
Email: uppercaraghmanager@msn.com
Tel: +353 (0)87 221 3835
Many pike angling clubs will have concluded their winter leagues at this stage and some are now embarking on their spring/summer competition programme. The Leinster Pike Angling Club held their first new season competition last weekend as the fished a couple for lakes in the Cavan area. Luke O’Ciaran had the heaviest bag of 35lb 5oz while Fran Crosbie had the heaviest fish of 11lb 5oz.
Meanwhile Whitewood Pike Anglers had their first competition of 2023 as 22 anglers fished two lakes in Co. Monaghan. The caught an impressive 87 pike between them with Tucker McCabe topping the table with 16 fish for over 40lb.
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.
