Winter maintenance, and a look forward to the season ahead

By

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January 20, 2023

Maintenance

One of the many off-season tasks facing charter skippers is boat maintenance. Sometimes that can be fairly routine, sometimes it can involve a full engine refit, or major overhaul to the boat and electronics. All charter boats are inspected by the Department of Transport on an annual basis, with the emphasis on passenger safety, so having this maintenance done is important both for safety as well as making sure the boat is running as efficiently as possible. If you are considering a charter boat trip this year, make sure it is a licensed vessel for the best guarantee of safety. You can check out all the licensed charter boats around the coast on our website here.

Skipper John Fleming took his boat, the Brazen Hussy II, down the west coast to the Shannon Estuary for some work in the boatyard this week. He took advantage of the fine weather, with almost flat calm conditions for most of the trip.

A flat calm Shannon Estuary at Moneypoint

Season Ahead

Once the maintenance is complete, John is hoping to start his season in late February or early March. We’ll leave it to John to describe what guests on board can target throughout the season:

Starting off with some whitefish, pollock, cod, coalies, whiting and haddock. We will still continue to target these during the full season.

Spurs should start showing in early April so going to hit them around then with usually a good chance of specimen fish.

We will be starting to target tope in early to mid May.

Then from end of June until roughly mid August it will be time for porbeagles, hopefully it will be as good as the last couple of years. Really fast action with some big days numbers wise. With the rest of the summer until mid October being good for blues, again some nice fish being caught.

Hopefully also we will be targeting Atlantic bluefin tuna this year.

Accommodation can be arranged in a local B&B with some great restaurants and pubs for great food and craic!

So if any of you fancy a trip don’t hesitate to contact me and here’s to hopefully another great season.

Plan Your Season

Many charter skippers diaries will be starting to fill up with bookings now, particularly the summer months, weekends and popular holiday times. Now is the time to plan a few trips, get your friends on board and book with a skipper or three for a few outings throughout the year. Check out our listings for charter boats around Ireland here and search our angling reports here for previous years’ updates to give you an idea of what you can expect. Don’t forget to sign up for the Irish Angling Update, a weekly roundup of the best fishing stories from around Ireland, direct to your inbox!

Ahoy Skippers

We are always happy to feature reports from licensed charter skippers on these pages, so we welcome all contributions and photos that might help anglers to choose your boat for their next trip!

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

New Bass Fishing Podcast

By

IFI Staff

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January 20, 2023

Cormac Walsh is a well-known and very prolific bass angler, based in Co. Wexford in the heart of bass country. Cormac has just started a lure fishing podcast, exploring all things lure fishing. Lure fishing is an exciting way to fish for bass, with often explosive takes off the surface. In recent years, the range of hard lures has also been joined by soft plastics, with can be fished weedless. This allows bass anglers to fish much more ground, including thick weed and snaggy ground where hard lures with exposed hooks would be lost easily.

Cormac with a fine bass taken on an Evobass Sabre lure

One of the new companies supplying lures to this market is Evobass, a startup founded by Michael Kelly and based in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. Another bass hotspot, unsurprisingly! In the opening episode, Cormac interviews Michael about his lures, bass fishing in general, and covers everything from amino acids to bass conservation!

Listen here on Spotify for a fascinating insight into lure fishing and creation, and don’t forget to follow Cormac at BassFishingIreland on Facebook for further episodes as they arrive. And if Evobass lures take your fancy, check out the website here or their Facebook page here. We support buying local, and we’ll be checking them out ourselves!

IFI Webinar – Brown trout genetics – Monday 23rd January 2023

By

Myles Kelly

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January 19, 2023

trout head — Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Trout anglers will be interested to hear that Inland Fisheries Ireland is holding an online lunchtime seminar about brown trout genetics in Ireland.

Karen Delanty will give a talk on recent studies to examine the patterns and levels of population structuring and genetic diversity amongst brown trout populations in Ireland.

The talk is free but registration is required.

Webinar 3 – Brown trout genetics – Monday 23rd January 2023

https://fisheriesireland.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ESXUJIAnSFGxRuLu7Td6kg

Massive turn out for Tralee Bay SAC’s John Lacey Memorial at Fenit

By

IFI Staff

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January 19, 2023

Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club reports on their first competition of 2023 fished at the weekend…

We had a massive turn out on a cold day in Fenit. But then, our first competition of the year, the ‘John Lacey’ memorial competition, is always very well attended.

Tralee Bay SAC — Junior winner Shan McMahon

It wasn’t just that there was a fantastic turn out for ‘John Lacey’ memorial competition, there was a also some great angling. With one family dominating. Following the results we will be starting a petition to change the name of the pier to McMahon pier!

it was great to see so many anglers out and specially so many junior anglers. As Jack always said Juniors are the future of the club. Pics of junior and senior champions Shane and Paddy McMahon.

Best round fish of the day and 3rd place over all on the match was Liz McMahon with this belter of a Coalie of 41cm rounding off the fine family haul of prizes

Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club
Web: www.traleebaysac.org

Join Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club

Tralee Bay SAC is a thriving community of enthusiastic anglers – young and old, experienced and newcomers – with new members joining all of the time. We have a busy schedule of shore and boat competitions and lots of social events planned throughout the year. Tralee Bay is a family friendly, welcoming club with a reputation for promoting angling and encouraging newcomers to the sport.

Joining could not be easier – simply get in touch with us via our Contact us page leave your address and we will send you out an application form. Please also let us have your email address – especially if you have any queries for us. We are especially eager to hear from junior anglers who want to take advantage of club membership. For more information on joining see here – Joining Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club.

Prize catch for piking apprentice

By

Paul O'Reilly

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January 19, 2023

Steven Powell of LureGuides.com brought Kevin and his nephew Jamie out for some piking on Lough Erne last week and within an hour it was Jamie who landed a whopping 110cm pike – his first fish of this kind of size.

Kevin was delighted to see his young apprentice land such a great fish – and he was also delighted with his own fishing, as Steven’s location on the lough produced fish after fish for the more experienced of the family duo. The pair won’t forget their trip in a hurry, and we’d imagine that there will be a repeat booking in the not too distant future.

Go Fishing

Come fish with us for big predators in Ireland on Lough Erne in Northern Ireland, a stunning waterway with many many specimen pike perch and trout. Come visit and catch your dream. Fish with us using lures for predators such as pike perch and trout.

We get about on a a 17ft Alumacraft competitor with good deck and casting area design powered by super reliable 80hp Mercury outboard. We don’t take long traveling at high speed on open water.

www.lureguides.com

Thanks for looking and please give our Instagram and Facebook pages a like and a Share

www.lureguides.com www.Snapbaits.co.uk

I’m on Instagram as stevepowell_lureguidesfishing. Install the app to follow my photos and videos. https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=cp5csztpdn8r&utm_content=eo60f9a

Same river, same big pike for Callum

By

IFI Staff

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January 19, 2023

Heraclitus said, ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man’.

We’re not sure how this applies to pike fishing, but angler Callum Morss hit the river last week in search of a big pike and that is exactly what he got! Twice!

On day one, Callum landed this cracking 115cm fish that tipped his mechanical scales to the 28lb mark! The fish was handled carefully and safely returned to the water.

Callum decided that if he was going to be catching fish like this he needed to upgrade his weighing scales, so he went out and invested in a digital version.

A few days later, Callum went back to the same spot on the river, chucked out the same bait and hooked into a big fish. After another hard battle, Callum netted the fish which turned out to be the exact same fish he had tussled with previously, although Heraclitus might disagree. The new scales took a few pounds off the fish – which weighed 25lb 1oz the second time around!

A good few days of fishing for Callum and further proof that careful unhooking, handling and releasing can help to preserve our precious fish stocks and ensure a sustainable recreational fishery into the future.

Ireland on the Fly: The Fight for Wild Salmon & Sea Trout

By

IFI Staff

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January 19, 2023

damaged salmon - fish farming — The Fight for Wild Salmon & Sea Trout

… for this week’s episode they speak to Wild Fish’s Rachel Mulrenan, who is the Deputy Director, Scotland, for the wild fish conservation group

A recurring theme of some of the Ireland on the Fly podcasts recently has been looking at the disastrous effects fish farming has had on wild salmon and sea trout with Tom and Daire examining Scotland in particular as a case study where the politicians have – just like Ireland – pursued a policy of increasing fish farming whilst blithely ignoring the accepted scientific evidence about the dangers to wild salmon and sea trout.

And so, for this week’s episode they speak to Wild Fish’s Rachel Mulrenan, who is the Deputy Director, Scotland, for the wild fish conservation group.

Rachel has some really interesting insights into the rise of intensive fish farming in Scotland and why isolated and disparate local communities on the west coast were the ones initially targeted.

They also discuss the closing of one fish farm at Loch Ewe and what that really means and why, despite politicians backing the science around climate change, when it comes to fish farming, they still choose to bury their heads in the sand…..

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Listen & Follow at:

https://pod.fo/e/15e716

CM Lakelands Feeder League – round 3

By

IFI Staff

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January 19, 2023

The C/M Lakelands Feeder Club held the third round of their Lough Muckno league on Sunday, January 15th. Conditions were difficult, cold for anglers with high water for fish, but there were still plenty of bites for the 23 anglers who turned up on the day.

Irish feeder international James O’Doherty managed to bag enough skimmers from his Yellow Island peg to win the day with over 5kg. Steven Whyte was 2nd overall from Black Island weighing in at just under 4kg. Neil Mazurick was 3rd overall with a net of roach from South Lodge, tipping the scales to just under 4kg, while Alan Larkin just made the top 4 with a mixed bag of skimmers/roach and hybrids.

It was a very even match with the top three weights coming from three different sections.

Winter League Round 3

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RESULTS

1ST James O’Doherty 5.550kg
2ND Steven Whyte 3.780kg
3RD Neil Mazurick 3.660kg
4TH Alan Larkin 3.500kg.

SECTIONS.

Bruce Zhou, South Lodge 3.480kg.
Graham Worley, Black Isle 3.180kg
Johnny McKinley, Yellow Isle 2.575kg.

The next round of the club’s league will be in two weeks.

John Browne wins first competition of the year at Oaklands

By

Myles Kelly

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January 18, 2023

Adrian Browne reports from Oaklands where the 3rd round of the Winter League was fished earlier this month…

15 January: Tough start to the year at Oaklands today with a bitter cold wind blowing up the lake and water temperatures still very low made conditions very difficult.

John Browne had top weight on the day, bagging 16.140 kg from peg 7 winning B Section. A close 2nd was Ronan Minogue with 15.00 kg from peg 4.

Winner of A section was Kieran Reeves with 7.700 kg from peg 56.

Thanks to all the lads who fished today.

Next Round 15th February.

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Today’s Results

Section A

1st Kieran Reeves 7.700 kg
2nd Attila Paldick 7.220 kg
3rd Slav 6.140 kg

Section B

1st John Browne 16.140 kg
2nd Ronan Minogue 15.00 kg
3rd Darragh Pepper 3.940 kg

Go fishing

Oaklands Lake in New Ross Co. Wexford is a fishing paradise for coarse angling. It offers a wide selection of fish. The lake can be fished by people of every level of experience from beginners to professionals.

Adrian Browne
Oaklands Lake,
Marshmeadows,
New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Telephone: +353 (0)51 445348
Mobile: 0877811042

Web: Oakland Lake Fishery

Join the Club

Oakland’s Coarse Angling Club is open to new members. The club based in Co. Wexford welcomes senior, ladies and junior members to league and open matches throughout the year fished on a variety of venues.

The club is centred around it’s own water, the magnificent Oaklands lake at New Ross; the 4.5 acre lake stocked with carp, tench, bream and rudd has great facilities including 60 stands which are all wheelchair friendly. This superb facility plays and important role in the introduction to angling for newcomers. Popular events include the NCFFI All-Ireland Commercial Pairs and the Dunbrody Festival.

Oaklands Fixtures 2023

January 8th Open Match
January 22nd Open Match

February 12th Open Match

March 12th Open Match

April 16th Open Match

May 7th Open Match
May 20th & 21st

NCFFI All Ireland Commercial Pairs
Pre Entry Only on NCFFI details to be released asap.
June 3rd, 4th & 5th
South East Classic
3 different venues in 3 days
Pre Entry only (30 peg limit) *
June 11th Open Match
June 25th Open Match

July 8th & 9th
2 Day Dunbrody Festival
(38 peg limit) Pre Entry Only.
Book @ Oaklands *
July 23rd Open Match

August 20th Open Match

September 3rd Open Match
September 17th Open Match

October 8th Open Match
October 29th & 30th

2 Day Feeder only.
November 5th Open Match
November 12th & 13th
2 Day Silver fish Only.
December 3rd Open Match

All Events wich are * this years contestants will have first perchance on
2023 events.

Freezing, fishless start to Currane salmon season

By

IFI Staff

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January 18, 2023

Vincent Appleby is back again in 2023 reporting from Waterville…

17/1/2023 Great to be back reporting on the No Spin No Fly’s just Facts zone on this opening day of the 2023 Salmon and Sea Trout season. So let’s get down to today’s facts. For starters there were 9 boats that ventured out on this freezing cold day.

As you can see by the photo there were a good few Currane anglers fishing out of Waterville Boats and at [email protected] and come lunch time they headed in for a well-deserved whisky and finished off with a fine fry and a glass of wine.

1 of 3

Sadly there were no Salmon caught this opening day. Just for the record there were a few kelts caught. Well, Currane anglers may have had a cold start to the 2023 season but they made up for it in the Lobster Bar this evening when they had the traditional Lobster Bar Bacon and Cabbage and as you see by the photos a good time was had by all. So a big thank you to the Management and their staff for a great opening of the 2023 season.

18/1/2022 Facts of the day are the Wild Atlantic Salmon were all quiet on the Currane front, just for the record there were 3 boats out manipulating their skills, there were only a few kelts caught and released. Wind NNW light to fresh and overcast.

Vincent Appleby
Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0) 87 207 4882
E-mail:[email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

FLEKSI

A new online survey has been developed by IFI for the Currane catchment to gather anglers’ knowledge – the survey method called FLEKSI was developed by IFI to help give an insight into the status of the fishery. Currane Anglers are needed for Citizen Science survey to examine fish stocks

Go fishing…

Find out more about Lough Currane…

The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see: