Most Anglers kept away from the lakes last week, because of the high temperatures. Low water levels and warm water temperatures kept the fish down. However, a few Anglers took a trip out on Lough Conn in the evenings and toured the lake looking for some fly life.
Michael Ruttledge and Eamon Kelly, Lahardane, reported large hatches of sedges in Massbrook and Castlehill areas on two evenings but not a sign of a trout rising to a fly…
Regular Angler Peter Roche and friend Reudi Zellweger from Lichtenstein toured the entire lake and came across a hatch of Mayfly at Massbrook Point, but never saw a fish move.
It was ling time for anglers aboard the Lady Gwen Ii of west Clare over the weekend, with some lovely ling coming aboard. Skipper Sean Maguire targeted a mix of species and his anglers benefited, with some fine fish landed as well as the ling, including pollack, cod, John Dory, haddock and megrim, with just the odd spurdog too.
LingJohn DoryHaddockMegrimMultiple pollack!
Ling
Ling
Ling
They also tried for shark, and had one blue to the boat and another missed run. Check out the video below for some reel-screaming action!
Blue shark
Go Fishing
Lady Gwen II
Fishing Adventures on Séan Maguire’s Lady Gwen II, a Lochin 33 M265Ti Perkins charterboat which operates 15 miles from Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, and Kilrush.
Whether you want to go to the Atlantic Ocean for a large selection of species, including different types of shark, or fish the estuary for ray conger tope etc, Fishing Adventures will cater for whatever fishing you desire. Telephone: +353 (0) 877508758 or +353 (0) 894431182 Email:[email protected]Web:www.fishingadventures.ie
A Sea Trout caught on a Mallard & Claret before being released
Kevin O’Boyle reports from the Moy Estuary…
Reports from the Estuary say sea trout angling has slowed down a good bit, mainly due to the hot weather. However, the estuary is also full of white bait, and the sea trout are gorging on them. The next flood that comes will most likely flush out the white bait, and hopefully the sea trout will go back to feeding on sand eels etc. Big shoals of mackerel are also in the estuary, feeding on the white bait.
Joe Quinn, Ballina, spent an evening fly fishing at the Black Banks and had some good trout, all released, on the Mallard & Claret.
Harry Mc Cafferty, Brackwansha, Knockmore, had a few small trout to the boat and but just one keeper all released to a white Tasmanian Devil.
Anglers on Board Silver Dawn out of Courtmacsherry having been enjoying some great fishing with this West Cork charter boat.
On August 12 a 24 hour shark trip produced 51 Blue Sharks up to 130lb between 4 anglers. Skipper Dave Edwards tells us that despite all this action the most enjoyable catch was this little Stone Bass/Wreck Fish by Paul Kirwan and like all the sharks it was released alive and kicking.
Stone Bass or Wreck Fish
On August 13 angler Seán, was fishing from Mark Gannon’s Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre with his father and cousins. They had some serious skate fishing with two specimens for Roy and Adrian. In total they had 4 fish to the boat and two dropped.
Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre offers charter boat fishing and inshore small boat hire.
Lady Patricia
Aquastar 38′. 370 HP Skipper: Mark Gannon Licence: 819 Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area: 30 miles out from Courtmacsherry
Notes: Mark has two Aquastar 38’s, Lady Patricia and Lady Louise. Specialising in wreck fishing, Mark’s boats have consistently provided specimen fish over the years. Shark, reef and general inshore angling also on offer.
Lady Louise
Aquastar 38′. 370 HP Caterpillar Skipper: Sean Maxwell Licence: 818 Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area: 30 miles out from Courtmacsherry
Authorised blue fin tuna boat 2026
Notes: Mark has two Aquastar 38’s, Lady Patricia and
Lady Louise. Specialising in wreck fishing, Mark’s boats have consistently provided specimen fish over the years. Shark, reef and general inshore angling also on offer.
Inshore small boat hire
With our Self Drive boats several different activities can be enjoyed. Our self drive 16′ Boats are equipped with 8 HP Yamaha 4 stroke engines. Equipment includes:
• Set of oars
• Life-Jackets
• Anchors
• Charts of local area
41′ Rodman 1250. Twin 430 HP Engines Skipper: David Edwards Licence: P5 Licence Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area:60 miles to sea from ports from Kinsale to Portmagee
Authorised blue fin tuna boat 2025
Notes:The range of fishing found within close range of Courtmacsherry is superb, with trips producing anything between 6 and 15 different species as a norm and in excess of 20 is possible if anglers are prepared to change methods and use different baits and lures throughout their trip. As a rule mackerel, pollock, cod and ling are usually encountered but several species of wrasse along with whiting, pouting, coalfish, bull huss, conger and many more are often added to the catch.
If you do choose to head offshore to sample the superb shark fishing available within 10 miles of Courtmacsherry, there is a very strong chance of encountering blue sharks and an increasing chance of bringing a porbeagle shark to the boat.
Inland Fisheries Ireland to host public information meeting in Castletroy Park Hotel on August 23rd
Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, is inviting the public to attend an information meeting about the Annacotty Fish Passage project in Limerick next Tuesday evening (August 23rd).
Last year, Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, announced that Inland Fisheries Ireland would lead the ‘Annacotty Fish Passage Project’ as the state agency with responsibility for fish in rivers, such as the Mulkear. The public information meeting on August 23rd is being organised to make more people aware about the project at the weir and to encourage as much engagement as possible with stakeholders right across the community, including key state agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors.
The Mulkear is considered a vital river for a range of fish species including wild Atlantic salmon, sea, river and brook lamprey, wild brown trout and eels. Most of the main river and its smaller tributaries in the catchment are designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. However, the weir at Annacotty has been identified as a ‘significant barrier’ to the free movement of several fish species.
In the last year, Inland Fisheries Ireland has completed an assessment of the weir structure to quantify its fish pass-ability and has also undertaken title research to identify the owners of land and structures potentially impacted by the project. It also secured €99,481 in funding under the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund in May of this year. This funding will be used to support the assessment and planning phase of the project to find the most appropriate solutions for fish migration and passage along the Mulkear. Environmental, technical and engineering assessments will also be funded.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the public will have an opportunity to find out more about the potential solutions being assessed to improve the passage of fish through the weir.
Online registration for the free event, which gets underway at 6pm at the Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick, is through FisheriesIreland.ie/Annacotty.
The works on Annacotty Weir is part of a pilot project to assist with the design and implementation of a national barriers restoration programme currently being progressed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in collaboration with a range of State Bodies.
The Interagency Group for the Annacotty Fish Passage Project includes representatives from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Limerick City and County Council, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and the ESB.
More information about the Annacotty Fish Passage Project and the upcoming Public Information Meeting is available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/annacotty
Annacotty Fish Passage Project: Public Information Meeting
Date: Tuesday, August 23rd 2022
Venue: Barrington Suite, Castletroy Park Hotel, Dublin Road, Limerick
Time: 6pm (registration)/ presentations to start at 6:30pm
Blue shy, high temperatures. Great for the beach but maybe not so great for the angling
Vincent Appleby reports from Waterville…
11/8/2022 As you can imagine the Kerry Globe is warming fast as the sun blazes down on the Waterville Fishery so there isn’t much one can say except pray! Wind was light and I can say it did the full Ring of Kerry.
12/8/2022 It’s all sunshine as the Currane anglers lines stay slack as they wait in anticipation of a flood, so on that note we head out into Ballinskelligs Bay with Mr. Robert Elson of http://thecrescentwaterville.ie/. By all accounts Robert’s Family caught a few nice Pollack and Mackerel and not forgetting their fine cooked Crab and Lobster, as you can see by the photo of Ballinskelligs bay this morning it’s perfect weather for Sea fishing as we Game anglers carry on suntanning. Wind NE veered NW and variable.
Blue shy, high temperatures. Great for the beach and maybe a bit of sea angling but not great for salmon and sea trout.
13/8/2022 As the Kerry air temperature soars you can imagine the Salmon and Sea Trout going to deeper depths, as the Currane anglers put on deeper sunscreen. I believe the temperature in Waterville today was 28C. In my garden the picture tells the story, sadly I didn’t get a telegram from Her Majesty, I can tell you my temperature rose. Wind light NW and variable followed by bright sunshine all day.
Just under 38C, too hot!
14/8/2022 As the clouds hit Kerry the temperature was still high as you can see by the photo. As of yet the Waterville fishery is still waiting for a drop of rain, their forecasting thunder and lightning followed by flash floods? Personally, there is more chance of a flash than a flood? Wind Light and variable from the NE to the West.
15/8/2022 There were a few cracks of the old thunder, the odd flash and the odd heavy shower but no flash flood as of yet. Wind NE veered to the SSE and veered again back to NNE light to fresh and good cloud cover.
16/8/2022 Very little rain to report, the same goes for the fishing department as I say that there is rain on the horizon for the weekend, so Inny Anglers be warned ? Wind NNE fresh with good cloud cover.
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:
David Norman of West Cork Bass reports on a stellar session…
“Sometimes you see it coming, special conditions that show great promise but, more often than not, don’t always deliver what we dream of…
but sometimes, just sometimes, they deliver everything and more. Such was the case as the weeks of hot August weather we’d been enjoying gave way to an increase in wind speeds and came accompanied by a Met Éirann Level Orange severe weather alert (Thunderstorm).
I chose my locations really carefully, tucking away under high ground and watched flashes of lightning out at the horizon in the night sky and thankfully coming no nearer.
Having already landed some good sized Bass from a number of locations that evening it was immediately obvious when I connected with the big lady that I was connected to something different to the norm… Line was ripped of my tight drag with ease on multiple occasions and my 5 – 20g rod was, as you’d expect, bent right through to the butt. Heart in mouth I gradually gained the upper hand but was not willing to risk dealing with any fish in the precarious position in which I’d hooked it.
So a perilous retreat to flat ground began and seemed to last a lifetime until finally I was able to gently land the fish, get a photo, scale sample it for the IFI National Bass Program and send it on its way strong and healthy whilst I stood there alone in the dark trying to take in what had just happened – Who dares (Sometimes) Wins…
Big bass were the reward this night. The Bass measured 78cm in length so would probably weigh 10lbs+, the fish wasn’t weighed to save further time out of the water after scale sampling and photographs.
Taking in the view. It's not all about the fishing!
“Janey mac, isn’t it powerful weather altogether!” must be the most widely uttered phrase this week in Ireland. Or variations on that theme! A heatwave in Ireland is defined as 5 consecutive days where the temperature exceeds 25 degrees Celsius in the same location, and we certainly look set to achieve that over much of the country, particularly Munster and Leinster.
High temperature warning
Although the weather is great for kids’ paddling pool sales, ice cream vans and seaside resorts, it is a double-edged sword. Inland Fisheries Ireland has this week issued a warning about a high risk of fish kills, with high water temperatures and low water levels combining to create extremely stressful conditions for freshwater fish stocks. Anglers are asked to bear fish welfare in mind – use of keep nets should be discontinued for the moment, and catch-and-release on salmon rivers is also discouraged, as the chance of survival is much lower. Perhaps leave the rods in the shed for a few days, or head to the coast and enjoy some sea fishing instead…
While freshwater fishing may be difficult at the moment, sea anglers are loving this weather, particularly those venturing afloat on charter boats or small craft. We have reports of great fishing up and down the coastline over the last week, including Tralee Bay, where two Donegal anglers enjoyed fantastic fishing, and James Raymond from Irish Angling Adventures went for a Grand Slam of ray.
Charter boats have been out taking advantage of the lighter winds and great weather. On the east coast, tope, huss and ray have been the star attractions off the Wicklow coast. Further south, blue shark aplenty have been providing great sport off Cork, as well as Galway Bay, where porbeagles were more plentiful. Everywhere seems to be producing good mixed fishing, like West Clare, where anglers had great pollack fishing, as well as lovely ray fishing in the Shannon Estuary.
Shore anglers have also enjoyed the weather. In Clare, the Lisdoonvarna Fanore club held their annual International Week festival, with some great fishing including several tope off the rocks! Pollack and bass were also eager to feed round the corner in Galway Bay. And finally, up north the great start to the bluefin tuna season continues, with lots of big fish caught and tagged.
Salmon angling may be curtailed this week by low water levels, but last week gave good conditions in a number of rivers. A short flood on the Moy after the Bank Holiday Monday rainfall gave good fishing for a few days, with over 300 salmon recorded for the week. The July report for the Erriff made for good reading, with salmon recorded almost every day, and some great fishing when rain provided better conditions. Last week provided some sport on the Commeragh and Inny rivers in Kerry, as well as the Butler Pool, but Lough Currane itself was quiet. Also in Kerry, there was great sport last week on the Owenmore, but conditions this week are less suitable. Elsewhere, low water and high temperatures are the news this week, with some Blackwater beats closing until the river cools down a bit. For salmon anglers currently on hiatus from the river, you may be interested in the latest edition of the Ireland On The Fly podcast, this week featuring Jason Nash talking about the River Bandon
Well done Valerie! A first Erriff salmon – a nice ranched fish off Beat 9
Trout fishing took a back seat this week, with little to report from the lakes, only Conn and Cullin producing a few small fish. Sea trout fishing in the Moy estuary was productive, even though the trout were gorging on white bait and hard to tempt, but plenty of mackerel were also feeding hard and easier caught.
A sea trout caught and released by Gerry Fitzsimons, Enniscrone on a white Tasmanian Devil near Bartra Island in the Moy Estuary
To coarse angling, there the big news trhis week was the magnificent victory of young Charlie Richards in the under 20 World Championships held in Slovenia. A section win and a third place put him on 4 points, equal with two other anglers, but Charlie’s skill in eking out some of the larger fish in the swims put him ahead on weight, and he took a well-deserved gold medal. Congratulations Charlie!
The Gold Medal
In other news…
High temperature warning
As mentioned above, we have a warning out for ahigh risk of fish kills due to high water temperatures and low levels, possibly resulting in low oxygen and thermal stress for fish.
Inland Fisheries Ireland staff are continuously monitoring water bodies, such as rivers and lakes, for any signs of fish suffering thermal stress in shallow water or drying out rivers and streams. We’re encouraging the public to report any sightings of fish suffering thermal stress to our 24-hour confidential hotline on 0818 34 74 24 so we can respond as quickly as possible to help rescue or relocate these fish
Public Consultations
Inland Fisheries Ireland this week launched a 6-week public consultation on the Draft Great Western Lakes Management Plan. Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin are some of the best wild brown trout fisheries in Europe and are collectively known as the Great Western Lakes. Inland Fisheries Ireland wishes to develop a long term management plan for these lakes to address many of the factors currently impacting on the ecological wellbeing of native fish stocks in their catchments.
For more information, including the draft plan, a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions, and how to participate in the public consultation and have your voice heard, check out the web page here: Western Lakes Plan
The Annacotty Fish Passage Project is underway and to create greater awareness, Inland Fisheries Ireland is hosting a Public Information Meeting on Tuesday, August 23rd 2022 at 6pm. The venue is the Castletroy Park Hotel on the Dublin Road in Limerick.
The M.C. on the night will be Noel Davidson of The Entrepreneurs Academy and there will be presentations from the project team at Inland Fisheries Ireland followed by a ‘Questions & Answers’ segment with the audience.
Anyone with an interest in this project and all stakeholders are invited to come along. To find out more about the project or to register for the Public Information Meeting on August 23rd, please visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/annacotty
And now the weather…
The hot, sunny weather is to stay with us for most of the weekend. Remaining hot today with temperatures of 25 to 30C, possibly cooler along coasts where sea breezes develop. Much the same tomorrow, even warmer in places with temperatures of 26 to 31C and possibly higher. Some cloud will bubble up in the afternoon and there is a slight chance of an isolated thundershower developing also.
Sunday will be another hot day with highest temperature of 25 to 30C. Cloud will bubble up through the middle of the day, sparking off scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon, which could produce some very heavy downpours and localised flooding.
After Sunday the weather turns cloudier and cooler as the week goes on, freshening as the week goes on and with low pressure bringing some showers at times.
The fantastic start of the new bluefin season continued for “Kiwi Girl” fishing out of Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo with four successful trips and a total of 14 bluefin tuna so far.
Into a tuna on Kiwi Girl
Further north fishing out of Killybegs, TunaMick got off to a good start with the Marine Institute satellite tagging 2022 on board Leah-C.
Marine Institute tagging bluefin tuna in Donegal Bay
Over two days, 7 fish were boated, tagged and released (all fish ranged between 300 – 450 lbs.) including a first for Darragh Mc Guinness which is a nice little addition to his species count for Killybegs Mariners SAC. Darra also managed to catch some blue shark later in the week skippering his own boat. That’s a bluefin tuna and a blue shark this week out of Killybegs for Daragh. Excellent fishing!
Daragh Mc Guinness with his first bluefin tuna onboard Leah CBlue shark for Daragh
Adrian Molly of Tuna.ie also reported a continuation of the excellent bluefin fishing in Donegal Bay.
Nice bluefin for tuna.ie
Go Fishing…
Kiwi Girl
From Mullaghmore Harbour, our Sea Fishing Ireland experience aboard the M.V. Kiwi Girl will bring you to some of the best inshore fishing grounds in Europe. We offer a wide range of Sea Fishing Ireland Boat Trips to suit both novice and expert, from Short 2 Hr Sea Fishing Boat Trips to Big Game Options.
Kiwi Girl is a Fastcatch Kingfisher 31′ with a 420 HP Caterpillar engine.
Skipper: Adrian Molloy Base: Killybegs Operational area: Up to a 30 mile radius from the point of departure.
Authorised bluefin tuna boat
Notes:We can also offer you some of the finest Sea Angling in Ireland, inshore and offshore on the best boats and with the best skippers.
Whatever your angling interests from ultra light tackle and fly fishing for big reef pollack to trolling and stand-up tackle for fast fighting Tuna – we aim to please ! Dolphin and whale watching, scenic tours and wildlife trips available along some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland. Shark fishing! Skate fishing! Tuna fishing! Donegal has it all.
Sligo Boat Charters are based in Rosses Point, Sligo (10 mins from Sligo town on local bus route). Services available include deep sea angling, reef fishing, shark fishing (August-October) and eco tourism cruises. Trips can be tailor made to suit anglers and include modest half day, full day and evening trip rates for groups, individuals, and children. Rods and tackle are available for hire on board and skipper can arrange accommodation if contacted in time. Gift vouchers are also available. Sight seeing tours for non anglers.
Tuna CHART (CatcHand Release Tagging) utilises authorised vessels to catch, tag and release Atlantic Bluefin Tuna for data collection purposes off the Irish coast. The programme, developed by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute in partnership with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department for Environment, Climate and Communications, operated on a pilot basis in 2019 and 2020.
Cormac Burke & Gavin Dorrian, both members of Killybegs Mariners SAC, had a trip of a lifetime in Kerry on the species trail. Read their report below…
Kevin’s & Cormac’s adventure…
Well that’s our excursion to Co. Kerry all over and I’m sure we’ll most definitely be back after this brilliant angling experience!
Finding our particular target species was hard work at times and it saw us fishing 12 hours per day (15 hours on one of the days!) at twelve different venues overall – sometimes with fantastic results and sometimes not so much.
A massive thanks to Chris O’Sullivan for his advice on venues and tides, and to John Marshall who joined us for a day to “show us how it’s done” by getting a club record stingray and beating Gavin’s stingray record that he had only set less than 24 hours earlier.
Bull huss for CormacStingray for GavinNew club record stingray for JohnOn the minis
Kerry trip species (all from shore)
1. Ballan wrasse
2. Corkwing wrasse
3. Goldshinney wrasse
4. Black goby
5. Red mouthed goby – Cormac club record 15cm
6. Ring necked blenny – Cormac club record 8cm
7. Rock goby
8. Pollock
9. Pouting
10. Tompot blenny
11. Bull Huss – Cormac club record 86cm
12. Flounder
13. Tub gurnard – Cormac club record 30cm
14. Shore rockling
15. Ballion wrasse – Cormac club record 14cm
16. Thornback ray
17. Undulate ray – Cormac club record 45cm
18. Stingray – John M. club record 65cm
19. Dragonette
20. Garfish
21. Mackerel
22. Painted ray – Gavin club record 70cm
23. European eel
24. Conger
25. Grey gurnard
Six new club records for Cormac
One new club record for Gavin
One new club record for John M.
Five new species (red mouthed goby, ring necked blenny, ballion wrasse, undulate ray, bull huss) for Cormac’s total = 52
Four new species (painted ray, red mouthed goby, garfish and sting ray) for Gavin’s total = 48
Lady Patricia
Lady Louise
Silver Dawn
