A favourable forecast and building tides set the scene for a highly successful Eddie Bermingham Open, which also marked the opening leg of the 2026 Leinster League on Kilgorman Strand. The event commemorated Eddie Bermingham, a founding member of Southshore SAC and a widely respected gentleman within the angling community. The Bermingham Family were warmly thanked for their generous sponsorship.
Sixty anglers representing ten Leinster clubs, along with competitors from Munster and Ulster, took part. A lively atmosphere greeted anglers at check-in, with optimism and banter in equal measure. Conditions on the day were excellent, with a steady sea roll and good water colour following southerly winds. Target species included dabs and whiting, with flounder, dogfish and spurdog also featuring.
In Zone A, experienced anglers made strong starts, with Mick Dixon and Frank Lawlor recording quality flounders. Alby Allan and James Ryan also featured prominently. As the match progressed, the final hour proved decisive, with James Ryan securing the zone on his last cast with a double spurdog, narrowly edging Allan. Dixon finished a close third.
Zone B saw fluctuating fortunes throughout. Tom McAdam and Wayne Hamilton both featured strongly, but it was a late surge that proved decisive. Young Sean Keane delivered an outstanding performance, topping the beach with 12 fish and the highest overall score of 240 points, an exceptional achievement for the newly qualified Ireland U-16 international.
Ultimately, the Eddie Bermingham Memorial Trophy went to Noel Fogarty, who secured both the zone and overall win with a decisive final-cast double of dogfish and spurdog. Wayne Hamilton finished second in Zone B, with McAdam third. Fogarty’s win added another title to a family long associated with Irish match fishing success.
In the junior category, Sean Keane claimed first place, followed by Phillip Kennedy Ryan and Daniel Gricius. The pools prizes went to Connor Clancy in Zone A for both whiting and flounder, while in Zone B Noel Fogarty won the whiting pool and Eamonn Bermingham the flounder pool.
Thanks were extended to all participants, with anticipation already building for the second leg of the Leinster League, hosted by Howth SAC on 18 April.
We recently met a new guiding outfit on Lough Derg, Dirk and Florent of Pike Pro Ireland, and it’s great to see another guiding and accommodation business set up on one of Ireland’d premier fishing lakes.
Florent has written a brief introduction to the business, and also given us some tips on winter perch fishing. We look forward to more contributions from Dirk and Florent, and wish them every success. Check out their website below with details on how to book.
Introducing Pike Pro Ireland
Pike Pro Ireland, a company dedicated to organising pike fishing holidays in Ireland, based on one of the country’s most renowned fishing areas: Lough Derg and its surrounding waters.
Our aim is to offer authentic, well-organised and productive fishing experiences, whether for experienced anglers or for those discovering Irish pike fishing for the first time. With a strong knowledge of the local waters and seasonal conditions, we help anglers make the most of the exceptional pike fishing Ireland is famous for.
We provide tailor-made, turnkey fishing stays, including comfortable accommodation, access to selected fishing spots, either independently or with professional guidance.
Every stay is designed to combine efficiency, comfort and enjoyment in a preserved natural environment.
We place great importance on personal service, reliability and a genuine passion for fishing, ensuring each guest enjoys a memorable and rewarding angling experience in Ireland.
We also offer the rental of fully equipped boats and belly boats, perfectly adapted for pike fishing in Irish waters. Each boat is carefully prepared to ensure safety, comfort and efficiency on the water, and all the essential equipment needed for a successful fishing session. ( live jacket, pliers, net, measuring board, sonar, anchor, drift anchor …)
Winter perch fishing
In winter, perch fishing in Ireland is a precise and technical discipline, particularly effective for targeting large perch over 35 cm, which are often found grouped in deeper areas and in excellent condition during the colder months. Fish typically hold along drop-offs, deep flats, submerged structures and hard-bottom areas, requiring accurate positioning and controlled presentations.
The most effective techniques include vertical jigging, slow bottom hopping and finesse presentations worked close to the substrate. Key lures include small soft plastics (creature baits, shads and worms) rigged on light jig heads, blade baits for searching and triggering reaction bites, and compact metal jigs for deeper water. Drop shot and Ned rig setups are also highly effective when fish are pressured or inactive, allowing for subtle, stationary presentations.
Even during the coldest winter days, perch fishing in Ireland can deliver outstanding action. On the best days, it is possible to land 40 to 50 fish, with active schools providing fast and consistent bites. This level of activity not only makes the sessions highly productive but also keeps anglers fully engaged and motivated, turning cold winter conditions into truly rewarding fishing days that quickly warm up both body and spirit.
Winter perch fishing rewards anglers who focus on precision, lure control and slow retrieves, offering consistent opportunities to connect with high-quality fish in Irish waters.
Last Saturday night saw Carrick Beach & Rockers SAC contest the first leg of their Masters competition at the Limerick Rover venue. Fishing boundaries were set from Salmon Rock through to the rocks at the back of Waterfoot Pier. A good turnout was recorded on the night, with 15 club members in attendance, along with 2 guests and 2 junior anglers.
Angling commenced on approximately an hour and a half of the ebb tide, with the remainder of the session fished on the flood. Conditions were far from favourable, as persistent rain, intermittent hail showers and a strong south-westerly wind made for a challenging night on the shore.
Despite the harsh weather, fishing proved productive with a wide variety of species landed. Catches included flounder, dab, cod, whiting, coalie, rockling, dogfish and plaice, ensuring plenty of action throughout the session and a worthwhile night’s fishing for all involved.
The Deora De comes to shore to collect her anglers on a foggy morning
Cobh SAC report on their round 3 of the Light Lines…
Weather forced postponement of Round 3 of the Light Lines scheduled for 11th January. 30 anglers aboard Camden Mist, Cuan Bawn, Deora De and Lagosta, braved the early fog to fish inside Cork Harbour today. Another round with dolphins cruising past but, unlike the December Fundraiser, some anglers had an occasional tug-of-war with the resident seals.
Fishing was steady on the ebbing tide until slack water with many struggling to find fish on the flood. Dabs, dogs, poor cod, thornback ray, tub gurnard, and whiting made up the 2,144 fish caught and released.
Congratulations to our boat winners, particularly overall winner Jim Mellis (196 fish), Stephen Hurley, Jamie Murphy and Tomasz Kujawa.
The Big Fish Pools remain unchanged:
Longest whiting – John Dennehy, 50cm
Longest Flat – Kevin Roche, 32cm Dab
– Dave Jolly, 32 cm Dab
Longest Ray – John Angles, 74cm Thornback Ray
Cod – none caught to date.
Thank you to our skippers, Tony Lane, Dylan Geary (on behalf of John Barry), Jim Lenihan & Alan Kennedy. Thanks also to organisers John Warner and Piotr Nowakowski and to the lads who travelled from afar, Josie Barrett and Padraig Munnelly.
Go fishing…
Join us for Round 4 on 8th February for an opportunity to learn from the top boat anglers in the country. Cobh SAC is a very active club with a great series of competitions across the year.
The club is very welcoming to new members.
If you are interested in joining the club or fishing any of their competitions contact them via Facebook.
Alex Souza, a Brazilian angler who fishes the Midlands venues, had a good day on the water targeting pike with one of his angling friends last Saturday.
Alex Souza
The weather was good and the river was still in flood following recent rains. The water was pretty brown and topping the bank but the pike were willing to feed. The best of the action came around lunchtime and when they caught and released a good number of pike.
Some of the anxious faces waiting on the final weights at the match today
Des Bridgette reports on the latest round of the Athy & District Anglers Winter League which was fished on Sunday…
Athy Anglers were back in action at the weekend. Due to access on the river with the ground very soft the match venue was switched to the Marina. The anglers fished in pleasant conditions from 10am to 3pm and everyone caught fish.
Results
David Locke, 19lbs 12 ozs
Tommy Cahill, 15lbs 4 ozs
Mick Stynes, 12lbs 13 ozs
Pat Byrne, 11 lbs 12ozs
Well done to the winners and well done all the framers.
Go fishing…
Athy and District Anglers
If you’d like to fish the Marina Club Grounds or get involved with the club and fish matches like these, then click the links below!
Athy & District Anglers Club was formed in 1959 and to this day they continue to pursue their goals of protecting, maintaining and encouraging the sport of angling in the greater Athy area. The club works with local authorities to improve and maintain local fishing areas as well as organizing events and matches for local and national anglers. Athy & District Anglers Club welcomes all new members and all age groups to the sport! If you’d like to get involved, please check out the Getting Involved section of their website.
Adrian Browne won the 6th round of the Winter League with just 5.650kg but had better fishing on New Year's Eve.
The 6th round of the Ger Hennesy Winter league was fished at Oaklands at the weekend. Adrian Browne reports…
We had the Ger Hennesy Winter League, Round 6, on Sunday at Oaklands. It was a real Winter’s fishing day and the big Carp didn’t want to play ball unfortunately.
Results
Seniors
1st Adrian Browne 5.650 kg
2nd Gavin Roe 4.670 kg
3rd Mike Carney 4.050 kg
Section A Velimer Mozart 1.700 kg
Section B Sion Pichard 3.860 kg
Adrian Browne won the 6th round of the Winter League with just 5.650kg but had better fishing on New Year’s Eve.
A very popular carp fishery. Popular with competition anglers and novices alike. Alway a great chance of a bumper bag here. Friendly staff more than happy to advise beginner anglers. Caters to all sorts of clubs and groups.
JANUARY 11TH WINTER LEAGUE
JANUARY 25TH WINTER LEAGUE
FEBUARY 8TH WINTER LEAGUE
MARCH 22ND WINTER LEAGUE
APRIL 5TH WINTER LEAGUE
MAY 3RD SUMMER LEAGUE
MAY 16TH COMMERCAIL PAIRS DAY 1 NCFFI
MAY 17TH COMMERCIAL PAIRS DAY 2 NCFFI
MAY 24TH SUMMER LEAGUE
JUNE 7TH SUMMER LEAGUE
JUNE 28TH SUMMER LEAGUE
JULY 4TH DUNBRODY FESTIVAL DAY 1
JULY 5TH DUNBRODY FESTIVAL DAY 2
JULY 11TH METHOD FEEDER QUALIFER NCFFI
JULY 12TH SUMMER LEAGUE
JULY 26TH SUMMER LEAGUE
AUGUST 16TH SUMMER LEAGUE
AUGUST 30TH METHOD FEEDER FINAL NCFFI
SEPTEMBER 6TH SUMMER LEAGUE
SEPTEMBER 12TH AMERICAN PAIRS FUNDRAISER MATCH
SEPTEMBER 20TH SUMMER LEAGUE
Munster Coarse Anglers have reported back from their latest match, which was contested in extremely difficult conditions and, unsurprisingly, produced very low weights across the board…
In a great result, Ed Smith claimed overall victory 25 years after winning his only previous MCA match, doing so in style by taking the match win, both section prizes, and the Golden Peg. He was the only angler to register a catch in Section 1, underlining just how tough conditions were on the day.
Section 2 offered little more in the way of action, with three blank nets recorded and just 11oz shared between the remaining four anglers. Despite the tough fishing, the result has ensured that the final match of the league promises to be a real nail-biter, with four anglers still in contention and calculating the various permutations needed to secure overall victory.
Angling across Ireland experienced one of its most difficult weeks in quite some time, reflected in the notably low number of reports received. However, this is hardly surprising given the post-Christmas period, when angling activity is traditionally reduced, combined with the recent spell of unsettled and often severe weather. Persistent strong winds, heavy rainfall and fluctuating water levels made coarse angling particularly challenging, with many venues fishing poorly and weights well below average. Pike anglers also found conditions tough, as coloured and rising waters limited consistent sport. Along the coast, sea angling opportunities were severely curtailed, with rough seas and strong onshore winds restricting both shore and boat fishing. Despite these testing conditions, those anglers who did manage to get out showed real determination, with a small number of noteworthy catches still reported.
So, starting with coarse angling, where only a handful of reports were received this week, reflecting just how difficult conditions have been of late.
Back in September, we reported on the launch of a new league based around fishing four of Ireland’s commercial fisheries. Having now completed seven matches across the four venues, the eighth and final match of the inaugural Loch Mahon Autumn League was held on 28 December. Going into the final, everything was still to play for, with Johnny Bailey the slight favourite on six section wins, closely followed by Leo Lynch on five. In the end, Johnny held his nerve on the final day, winning both the match and the overall league title. The anglers thoroughly enjoyed the first running of the league and are already planning to repeat the format next autumn.
Great bags were caught at the final match of the inaugural Loch Mahon Autumn League
A small number of other matches also took place, including Round 3 of the CM Lakelands Muckno Winter League, which saw 13 coarse anglers competing in particularly testing winter conditions. Fishing was difficult throughout the venue, with the “South Lodge” area proving the most productive section, accounting for the top three anglers on the day. Steven Whyte eventually claimed overall victory, targeting roach at distances of 40 metres and beyond. His consistent long-range approach saw him top the scales with a winning weight of 3.380kg.
Round 3 of of the CM Lakelands Muckno Winter League was fished in difficult winter conditions
Munster Coarse Anglers also fished a match in similarly harsh conditions, and, unsurprisingly, weights were very low across the board. Despite this, Ed Smith secured an impressive overall victory 25 years after his only previous MCA match win, doing so in style by claiming the match win, both section prizes, and the Golden Peg – a notable achievement given the conditions.
While opportunities to get out and enjoy our sport may be limited at the moment, it’s an ideal time to tune in to Cormac Walsh’s Lure Fishing Podcast. In the latest episode, Cormac is joined by renowned angling guide and sea bass expert John Quinlan of Thatch Cottage Fishing Lodge in Kerry, reflecting on his experiences from the past few guiding seasons. The pair also look ahead to the coming season and cover a wide range of other engaging angling topics. This episode is packed with useful insights and practical information, making it well worth a listen.
Kerry based angling guide John Quinlan features in the latest episode of the Lure Fishing Podcast
We conclude this week’s update with the only sea angling report received, from Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters – and what a great report it is. A group of anglers made the most of a rare weather window on a cold January day, heading offshore in search of specimen spurdog with excellent results. Despite freezing conditions and a late start, heading straight to a deep channel quickly paid off. Fishing large baits in a strong but easing tide, the first spurdog soon came aboard, followed by a steady run of metre-class fish. The highlight of the trip, however, came when a superb 114cm specimen was landed, with further fish of similar size following shortly after. Another impressive 114cm spurdog capped off the action. Overall, it was a highly successful session and a welcome break from the persistent winter winds, which deserves our “Catch of the Week”.
Ciaran O’Toole has his specimen spur box ticked for 2026Bert McGregor gets his specimen spur too
A number of league and competition dates were also announced, including the first legs of the Munster and Leinster Shore Leagues, as well as the Michael Quinn Memorial Competition, hosted by Killala Sea Angling Club.
Looking ahead to the next few weeks in our Irish Angling Update, we’re optimistic that as the weather settles, angling opportunities will hopefully improve. Although it will remain slightly unsettled and breezy for a few days, we expect to see a rise in reports from both pike and coarse anglers, as well as from sea angling. And with the trout season around the corner, there’s plenty to look forward to…
Other News
Sponsorship Programme 2026
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has released details of its 2026 Sponsorship Programme. The initiative is designed to promote angling tourism in rural communities throughout 2026, while also supporting activities for beginner anglers and assisting Irish international teams competing in overseas championships. This programme is one of IFI’s key funding streams for encouraging sustainable angling in Ireland. For 2026, a total of €40,000 will be allocated to angling clubs, federations, and tourism organisations to help fund angling-related events.
State Fisheries
The tender process for IFI State Fisheries for 2026 is now open, and a list of available fisheries is available on fisheriesireland.ie. Clubs wishing to tender for one or more fisheries should download and complete the Condition of Tender Questionnaire and return it to IFI at the address provided, or alternatively submit an application online.
Salmon Regulations 2026
The introduction of the 2026 salmon regulations has been delayed while the Department continues to review submissions received during the public consultation process. In the meantime, the 2025 regulations remain in effect.
Ireland is set for cool and changeable conditions this weekend. Met Éireann’s forecast indicates generally cool days with daytime highs around 5–9 °C and nights staying cold with frost and fog likely in places. Tomorrow is expected to be largely dry but cloudy, with lingering fog and isolated light showers in some areas. Overnight frost and freezing fog are possible. On Sunday, many parts will stay dry with some sunshine early, but cloud and scattered showers may spread later, especially in the west, with Atlantic rain increasing into Monday. Temperatures will remain cool, around typical winter values. Looking into next week, conditions remain unsettled and changeable, dominated by low-pressure systems. There is a risk of rain and occasional blustery spells, with intermittent brighter intervals. Nights will continue to be cold with frost and possible ice or fog, and daytime temperatures will stay close to average winter levels before any notable warming.
Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before going fishing, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.
