Skipper John Fleming reports continued good fishing for white fish in Galway Bay. Mackerel have been plentiful at times, a marked change from last year, which has been great for bait supplies. Certain days have provided excellent fishing with plenty of pollack, coalies and whiting.
A fine cod comes aboardPollack
Other days have been patchy, but even with that some excellent fish have been coming to the boat, including some nice cod and ling.
Ling
Pollack
Pollack
Ballan wrasse
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
It’s a busy time of year for coarse angling, with a lot of people dusting off the rods and keepnets to target some of our coarse fish, whether for numbers or specimen fish. We would like to remind anglers, particularly those new to the sport, of the regulations governing coarse and predator angling.
Coarse Fish
This includes roach, perch, tench, bream, rudd and hybrids. The Coarse Fish Bye Law No. 806 of the year 2006 provides that:
Anglers are permitted to take up to 4 coarse fish per day
The maximum size limit for coarse fish is 25cm. All coarse fish over 25cm must be released.
In addition, it is illegal to fish with more than two rods. It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to another.
Pike
The Pike Bye Law No. 809 (2006) provides that@
Anglers are permitted to take one pike per day
The maximum size limit is 50cm. All pike over 50cm must be released.
In addition, it is illegal to use live bait, and to possess more than 12 coarse fish for bait.
Leave No Trace
In addition to the legal requirements, anglers are advised to fish responsibly and sustainably, look after fish welfare, and abide by the principles of Leave No Trace.
Use a keepnet large enough for your catch
Don’t use a keepnet in very warm weather
Don’t leave rubbish – clean up after yourself
Respect landowners’ property
A guide to Irish Angling Regulations can be found here, or click on the image below.
Go Fishing
Inland Fisheries Ireland has lots of information on coarse angling on our website. This includes info on the different species, tackle, methods and tactics, where you can target them and much more. Check it out here.
Inland Fisheries Ireland’s online permit shop is well stocked for the current season, especially now as it has just added permits for the Ballyvary Fishery and Cloongee Fishery to its virtual shelves, both in the River Moy catchment.
The Ballyvary Fishery extends from the confluence of the Castlebar and Manulla Rivers to Lough Cullin and from Carrowkeel Bridge on the Clydagh River to Lough Cullin. Salmon, trout, pike and coarse fishing are available. Permits are priced from €20.00. Buy Ballyvary Fishery permits
The Cloongee Fishery is one of the most prolific fisheries on the River Moy. It is also known as a fishery that performs well early in the season. The Fishery consists of over 3 miles of both double and single bank stretches. Permits are priced from €20.00. Buy Cloongee Fishery permits
Kit Dunne of Wicklow Bay Charters reports that May is showing signs of a good season. Early May trips in the Bay produced a mixture of fish including pollock, coalies and codling on the broken grounds with the odd ray & smoothhound ound too. No specimen yet, but plenty of time for them.
Kit’s first trip south on the 8th May with Robbie Troy and Family saw 4 tope landed to 30lb, a few bullhuss and a lone Homelyn ray.
Robbie Troy junior with the first Homelyn Ray this year
Robbie Troy junior with a fine pack tope
The weekend of 14th Spring tides saw plenty of fish caught. There were lots of hounds to 90cm, a few huss, 1 ray and tope for Michael’s group. Pollack, codling and a lone black Bream in the evening for the Holten Family trip.
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Half days produced codling, pollock and coalie for the Moore Family group
Jason Perry with one of his many Smooth Hounds
Sunday produced lots of Hounds, one fine Thornback Ray, 1 Huss and a few fine Gurnard close to specimen length.
All in all May is showing great signs of a good season.
Thomas Mahons group landed this fine Thornback Ray, and returned it alive too.
Individual seats will be issued this week for June, not many days left for charters but plenty of evenings.
Go Fishing
Angling Charters are offered on a full-day, half-day and evening trip basis and can be tailored to suit your needs. Two boats are available – Lisin and Castle Maiden. All levels of anglers are catered for. Anglers will benefit from your skipper’s angling experience and local knowledge with advice and guidance on-hand at all times.
SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS
Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new angling methods.
ANGLING COACHING
Whether you’re a Club, Individual, School or Junior, you can have an angling coaching session or programme tailored to suit your needs.
Belmont Anglers fished their Open at Shannon Harbour on Sunday 15th May. By all accounts a great day was had by all the anglers.
There were some great fish weighed in including some really handsome tench and bream.
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Results
Jason Delahunty 9lb 2oz
Jeff Morrison 3lb 9oz
Colin Oliver 2lb 6oz
Peter turner 2lb 5oz
The voucher was John James mulligan
Belmont Anglers would like to thank the following people for sponsorship Joe Cahill, Belmont, Vivado Fishing Tackle, Tullamore and Inland Fisheries Ireland
Upcoming events
Belmont Anglers next event is on the 5th June. Details will be posted on their Facebook page in due course.
Join the Club…
Belmont Anglers is taking new members.
Belmont Anglers is a Coarse Angling club based in the Irish midlands. Competitions are held regularly on the Grand canal and river Shannon. All are welcome to participate.
The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain, but in Ireland, it falls mainly on the west… at least that was the story last week, as Connacht received double the usual amount of rain during the week, while the rest of the country was more towards the average. Temperatures are on the rise, and we are enjoying a mildish spell with most areas experiencing relatively warm weather over the week, but the sun has remained a bit elusive, poking out from the clouds here and there but rarely staying for long before retreating behind a haze of grey.
Anglers on the River Moy were making the most of the wet Connacht weather last week as the rain seems to have got things going on the river, with many of the fisheries recording improved catches and the Ridge Pool getting off the mark with a few nice fish landed. A total of 67 salmon were caught throughout the fishery during the week.
The Ridge Pools’ first salmon of the season, caught by Garrett Ruigrok on a Bann Special
The fishing continues to ramp up on our loughs as we embark on the yearly Mayfly frenzy. It’s a period that can test the breaking strain of relationships, test the patience of boat partners, lead to pitched battles on the slipways and anti-social behaviour on the water…
Nathan Creaven released this trout over 2 lbs., caught on a dry Olive in Inishlea Bay.
Cavan seemed to be the epicentre of a lot of coarse fishing last week as a number of angling clubs headed to various venues in the Breffni county to hold club competitions. On the Erne system, the 4th qualifier for Ireland’s Feeder King was held with young angler Charlie Richards coming out on top. The month of May is usually the best time of the year to target tench, as they really come on the feed ahead of spawning. A couple of anglers from Edenderry found them to be in biting mood when practicing for this weekends club match on the canal. Con Heavey racked up a very respectable 39+lb of fish, mostly tench by the looks of it, and because we don’t often see bags of tench like that from the canals in our reports, we are happy to award it this week’s Catch of the Week.
A great bag of canal tench for Con Heavey of Edenderry Coarse Anglers
The rest of the day will see sunny spells in most parts of the country, and it should remain dry overnight. Tomorrow will bring sunny spells with temperatures rising to 19 degrees in places. Sunday will be much the same, but the east will have the chance of a shower or two. Monday will see a change, as rain will spread from the southwest bringing heavy and sometimes thunderous downpours across parts of the country. This unsettled pattern with heavy showers and blustery winds will continue into the middle of the week.
Laois anglers Roger and Jean Munnis had an exciting day on Pegasus with skipper Judd Ruane landing 12 fine sea trout on the Moy estuary with skipper Judd Ruane.
Notes: We specialise in seatrout fishing and the Moy estuary is our hunting ground. We offer an excellent choice of sea trout fishing which caters for all levels… from complete beginner to the experienced angler and all tackle is provided if required.
Notes: The angling boat Pegasus is equipped with the latest technology, fishing tackle and safety equipment. Licenced for a maximum of 4 rods skipper Judd Ruane specialises in catching sea trout on the beautiful Moy Estuary. Daily charter departs Ballina Quay and booking is essential. A salmon licence is required.
Des O’Connell reports on the Charter boat fishing out of Caherciveen in Co. Kerry…
Great fishing on our charter boat, Fuego, last week. A French group had 12 species on their trip. After that a group from Killarney had a really busy day pollack fishing with fish up to 8 lbs and filled all their boxes.
We’ve also had some good catches of cod on the boat. The largest one was just over 7 lbs. Good to see plenty of mackerel around too.
Have one place left for Saturday’s charter phone for details: 087 284 3283
Ocean Tramp 37′. 370HP Cummins Skipper: Des O’Connell Licence: 562 Base: Caherciveen Operational Area: Up to 30 miles from Caherciveen, Knightstown and Portmagee.
Notes: Deep sea fishing around Dingle Bay, the Skelligs and Blasket Islands. All types of fishing catered for – conger, ling, pollack, garfish and many more species. Can take 10 anglers comfortably. Half day fishing trips and mackerel trips also available.
The lakes are improving slowly but surely. Temperatures improved as the week went on, as did the catches. Hatches were sporadic with Mayfly reported from most bays in the lakes. Shallow and sheltered bays on Lough Conn were the most successful, namely Cloghans Bay, Castlehill Bay, Inishlea Bay and Bog Bay. The most productive flies for the week included, dry Mayfly, assorted Olive patterns including Sooty Olives, Bumbles, Claret Dabblers and Raymond.
On North Conn, Simon Leonard from Ballina had two trout for just over 2.5 lbs. near Kents Pool. An angler from County Antrim fishing out of Ian Wises at Cloonamoyne landed eighteen trout for the week, all on dry Mayflies. Ken McLoughlin from Castlebar had two small trout for over 1 lb. each, released, caught on Sooty Olives in Tolan’s Bay.
Nicky Smyth from Foxford had one trout for over 2 lbs. on a Green Wulff, while fishing partner Shane from Knockmore had two small trout on wet mayflies also released in Bog Bay. Adrian Murphy from Cloghans and John Burke, Foxford, fished Castlehill Bay and had some good sport, with Adrian having two keepers, caught on dry Olives and John with two trout for nearly 3 lbs. on bumbles, all released.
The ITFFA Connacht Cup was held on Sunday from Gortnorabbey Harbour with a 30 cm catch and release limit. Forty-eight anglers fished with seventy-four trout recorded. Nathan Creaven from Tuam, was the overall winner with four trout caught on dry Olives.
Nathan Creaven released this trout over 2 lbs., caught on a dry Olive in Inishlea Bay.
Lough Cullin saw its busiest week to date. Anglers reported some lively fishing although most fish were small and were all released.
Kevin Gallagher and Padraic Kelly from Castlebar fished Lough Cullin on Sunday 8th May and had over twenty trout to the boat for the day. Most of these fish were small and were mainly caught on wet Mayfly and Olive patterns. All fish were released.
A nice trout caught on Lough Cullin on Sunday 8th May, released alive
The annual Albert Berry Cup, partners competition was held at the weekend with forty-four anglers taking part. All anglers had an enjoyable few days’ angling and are already looking forward to 2023. Thirty-four trout were caught and released. Pat Foley from Cavan was the overall winner with fishing partner Gerry Hughes. Pat had five trout over two days for 6.9 lbs. and had heaviest trout for 2.12 lbs.
Sixty-seven salmon in total were reported caught for the week from the Moy Catchment, of which nine were released. Fifty-six salmon were reported caught on the River Moy itself. Two were reported from the Ballyvary river. Nine salmon were reported from Lough Conn, of which two were reported caught at Pontoon Bridge and seven from around the lake.
Conditions were good on the Moy for the week, but the fishing was quiet for most of the river. Water levels recorded at Ballylahan Bridge were 0.511m on Monday morning and after heavy rain on Friday rose quite quickly to 0.908m and levelled back again to 0.492m by Sunday night. Water temperatures averaged 9.5 ˚Celsius throughout the system
The Ridge Pool reported its first salmon of the season on Wednesday with a 12.5 lbs. salmon on the fly. This was followed by two more salmon on Thursday and Saturday for 8.5 lbs. and 10 lbs. respectively, all caught on the fly.
The Ridge Pools first salmon of the season, caught by Garrett Ruigrok, on a Bann Special
Ballina Salmon Anglers reported five salmon, the best of which weighed 10.5 lbs. caught by Stephen McNally from Northern Ireland, which was his first fish. Armstrong’s Fishery produced three salmon, the best of which weighed 9 lbs., all caught on worms. Gannon’s Fishery kicked off their season with three salmon, the best of which weighed 12 lbs., all caught on worms. Granville Nesbitt reported four salmon caught from the Foxford Fishery, all caught on worms. The best fish was caught by John Chambers, Northern Ireland, for 10 lbs.
Foxford Salmon Anglers reported five salmon, of which three came from Bakers waters and two from Rinnaney, best of which weighed 10 lbs. Most of these fish were caught on bubble and fly. There were local reports that at least one salmon was caught on the Foxford town stretch. Seven salmon were reported caught in Cloongee Fishery, all on bubble and fly, the best of which weighed 10 lbs. East Mayo Anglers had their best week to date. They reported twenty-five salmon, the best weighing 12.5 lbs. caught on the worm, with nine released.
John Chambers from Northern Ireland caught this 10 lbs. salmon on the worm in the Foxford Fishery
As reported in the introduction, two salmon were caught spinning at Pontoon Bridge, while seven more were caught mostly trolling spoons on Lough Conn.
Sea trout fishing on the Moy estuary was very good, with perfect water conditions combined with good tides for angling. Sea trout entering the system at this time of year can be greedy and tend to take any bait presented to them.
Several boats reported “lively action” with some good seatrout recorded up to 3 lbs. weight, and most came to sand eels. Philip Thornton from Ballina had 2 seatrout for near 4 lbs. on sand eels.
Pegasus II
Fuego
