Donavin Brinklow reports on recent fishing on the Erriff.
As the dry spell hit us in July we had very little action on the Erriff, due to low rain fall and with water temperatures touching 27 degrees the decision was made to temporarily close the fishery. Fishing restarted once the weather cooled in early August.
5 August – 6 salmon
The first flood after the dry spell saw Gerry Merrick land 3 salmon, the best weighing 7 lbs and John Phelan landed 3 salmon to 6lbs on Beat 9.
6 August – 12 salmon and 2 sea trout.
Peadar O’Maolain landed 2 sea trout around the 1lbs mark, and a 6lbs salmon on Beat 7 using a Currys red shrimp. James O’Neill landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9 ,Peter Coyne landed a 3lbs salmon on Beat 9, Conor O’Leary landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 8, John Phelan landed 3 salmon on Beat 9 – best 7bs, and Gerry Merrick landed 4 salmon on Beat 9 – best fish 4.5lbs.
7 August – 17 salmon and 1 sea trout.
Greg Skorszynski landed a 5lbs salmon and a 1lbs sea trout from the Washing Pool on Beat 4. G. Muldowney landed 2 salmon on Beat 5 weighing 4 and 4.5lbs. Roger Gegg landed a 5lbs salmon on Beat 5. Jake Delaney had a great day landing 7 salmon on Beat 9 up to 7lbs. J Phelan had 4 salmon on Beat 9 – best fish 8lbs. Ronald Zwyssig landed a 6lbs salmon in the Squares Pool on Beat 9 and Andre Zwyssig landed a 4.5lbs salmon in the Middle Garden Pool on Beat 9.
8 August – 37 salmon!
Eabha Jones landed her first Erriff Salmon on the fly weighing around 4lbs. Jake Delaney landed 3 salmon on Beat 9 around the 6lbs mark. John Phelan landed a 7lbs salmon on Beat 9 in the Top Squares Pool. James O’Neill landed a 5lbs salmon in the Coronation Pool on Beat 8. Peter Coyne landed 2 salmon on Beat 8 weighing 6lbs and 3lbs on a Willie Gunn and a Collie Dog. Martin Wiltort landed 2 salmon on Beat 6 of 3lbs and 4lbs. Johnny Betts had a great day on Beat 4 and 3 landing 8 salmon including a 15lbs fish on a Cascade.
Ian Ferris landed 2 salmon on Beat 9 for 6lbs and 3lbs. Mark Helmore landed 2 salmon on Beat 9 to 5lbs on a Cascade . James O’Neill landed 2 salmon on Beat 5 of 6lbs and 7lbs on a Cascade . Alexander Mills landed 5 salmon on Beat 5 using a Willie Gunn, the best weighing 6lbs. Jimmy Keogh landed 4 salmon between 3lbs and 4lbs on Beat 7. G. Coey landed a 6lbs salmon on Beat 9. Roland Zwyssig landed a 5lbs salmon on Beat 4. Conor O’Leary landed 2 salmon on Beat 4 a 5lbs fish in Kings Pool and a 3lbs in Kellys Bend.
Eabha Jones with her first ever salmon
9 August – 14 salmon
Roland Zwyssig landed a 6lbs salmon on Beat 2. Luke Drea landed 3 salmon on Beat 6 between 3lbs and 5.5lbs on a black shrimp pattern. David Christie landed a 5lbs salmon on Beat 7 on a Cascade. Ken Mills landed a 3.5 lbs salmon on Beat 6. Tobias Stern landed 2 salmon on Beat 6 at 3.5lbs and 8lbs. Roland Zwyssig also landed a 2.5lbs salmon on Beat 9 on a yellow tube. Conor O’Leary landed 4 salmon to 5lbs in the Coronation Pool. Conor Graham landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 8 using a Willie Gunn .
10 August – 10 salmon and 1 sea trout
Steven Mann landed a 3lbs salmon in the Falls Pool on a yellow tube. Andre Zwyssig landed a 3lbs salmon on Beat 7. Gerard Coey landed a 3.5lbs salmon in the Falls Pool. Martin Wiltort landed a 2.5lbs and a 2lbs salmon in the Coronation Pool on Beat 8 using a Willie Gunn. Steve Jones landed 2 salmon on Beat 9 weighing 3lbs and 4lbs on a Bann Special. Ken Mills landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 5. Ian Ferris landed a 6lbs salmon on Beat 3. Gerard Coey landed a 5.5lbs salmon on Beat 7 and Andre Zwyssig landed a 2lbs sea trout on Beat 2.
11 August – 9 salmon
Andre Zwyssig landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 5. John O’Connor landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 7 using a Cascade. James O’Neill landed a 14lbs salmon on Beat 3 using a Green Highlander and 2 more salmon on Beat 6 weighing 3lbs. Steve Jones landed a 3lbs salmon on Beat 4 using a Willie Gunn. John Casey landed 3 salmon on Beat 4 for 4lbs, 5lbs and 8lbs using a Willie Gunn.
12 August – 15 salmon
Nick Fenton landed a 3lbs salmon and a 1lbs sea trout on Beat 3. Pat O’Toole landed 3 salmon on Beat 8, two weighing 4.5lbs and one 3lbs. Sven Muengel landed 4lbs and 8lbs salmon on Beat 8. Jonathan Weltz landed 3 salmon to 6lbs on Beat 5 using a Collie Dog and another 6lbs salmon on Beat 9. Ken Mills landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 7 on a Cascade. Conor O’Leary landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 7 with a Collie Dog. Benny Weltz landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9.
13 August 11 salmon and 1 sea trout
Steven Jones landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9 using a Bann Special. Ken Mills landed a 2lbs salmon on Beat 7 and four salmon on Beat 9 between 3lbs and 7lbs. John Ryan landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 3. James O’Neill landed a sea trout on Beat 4. Martin Witort landed a 5lbs and a 4.5lbs salmon off Beat 6 on a Willie Gunn. Gerry Merrick landed a 5lbs salmon on Beat 5. Niall Lynch landed 8lbs and 4lbs salmon on Beat 5 using a McCormack shrimp.
14 August – 4 salmon
Paddy Mullin landed a 5lbs and a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9. John Ryan landed a 4lbs and a 7lbs salmon on Beat 7.
15 August – 9 salmon
It was a Leenane anglers club day with 8 salmon landed weighing between 3lbs and 9lbs, the heaviest caught by Peter Joyce.
16 August – 4 salmon
Conor Graham landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 8. Jens Carlsson landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 8. Jimmy Keogh landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 7 and Albert Caffrey also landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 7.
17 August – 1 salmon
Jen Carlsson landed a 3lbs salmon on Beat 7.
18 August we had 2 salmon caught
Peter Murphy landed a 4.5lbs salmon on Beat 9 and David Murphy landed a 5lbs salmon on Beat 9 using a Cascade.
20 August – 5 salmon caught
Seamus O’Neill landed 4 salmon on Beat 6 all around 3.5lbs on a Collie Dog. Steven Jones landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9.
21 August – 4 salmon and 1 sea trout
Joseph Martin landed a 6lbs salmon on Beat 9 using a Cascade. Simon Cassidy landed a 6ls salmon on Beat 6 on a Collie Dog. Oscar Grieve landed a 2lbs salmon on Beat 3 in the Pot Holes using a purple and gold shrimp pattern. Padraic Traynor landed a 3lbs salmon and a ½lbs sea trout on Beat 3 in the Pot Holes using a Thunder and Lightning.
22 August – 3 salmon
Noel Crawford landed a 3.5lbs salmon on Beat 9 using a Cascade. Niall Lynch landed a 6.5lbs salmon in Doyles Pool and a 3.5lbs salmon in Colonels Run on Beat 6 using a McCormack shrimp.
26 August -2 salmon and 1 sea trout
Nick Fenton landed a 3lbs salmon on Beat 9 using a black and orange. Robin Adams landed a 4lbs salmon on Beat 9 also on a black and orange. Niall Lynch landed a 2lbs sea trout on Beat 9 using an Executioner
Johnny Betts with a fine 14lbs fish
Go Fishing
The Erriff System is comprised of the Erriff River and the two small loughs of Tawnyard and Derrintin. The River Erriff is one of the premier salmon fishing rivers in Ireland. A spate river, it is characterised by lively streams and deep fish-holding pools. It has 8 miles of prime angling water, divided into 9 beats. Beats are un-crowded with only two rods on most and a maximum of 3 sometimes. Angling is rotated on a daily basis.
Luke Aston had a new group in for a few days this week. They started off the week fishing with light tackle – shads and pirks on day one and some ground fishing and wrasse hunting the next day.
Ling
PollackPollack
They also had a go at some estuary fishing, with spurdogs, thornback ray and bull huss on the menu.
SpurdogThornies by the doubleA nice bull huss
And finally, they enjoyed some shark fishing, with 4 porbeagle shark brought to the boat, as well as several more hookups. The largest porgie was estimated at 250lbs.
The smallest shark on the day, and the only one taken aboard.A bigger specimen!
Go fishing…
Clare Dragoon
Clare Dragoon is a LOCHIN 366 powered by 650HP engine, skippered by Luke Aston and operating out of Carrigaholt Co. Clare…
I have some offers up on my web site www.fishandstay.com and if anybody is interested in putting a trip together please do get in touch. Also I Twitter from the boat on @fishandstay and try to update my face book page www.facebook.com/CarrigaholtSeaAngling fairly often!To experience some of the best deep sea fishing available in Ireland contact Luke. Telephone: +353 65 9058209 or +353 87 6367544 Email:[email protected]Web:www.fishandstay.com
Shark fishing has been tough lately in Galway Bay, due to the presence of an algal bloom on the sharking grounds. John Fleming’s guests, however, have been enjoying good fishing for whitefish, with decent pollack, whiting, wrasse, a few cod and even big pouting making an appearance.
A nice cod
A good pollack for this young angler
And one for this young man
That’s a big pouting!
They also had a go for tope, and after lsing one at the boat side, landed this lovely fiah.
The tope really is a handsome fish
Kevin MacGabhann, skipper of the Maighdean Mara, has also been out getting good reef fishing for his guests. As in all walks of life, the taxman always takes his share – in this case most likely a porbeagle shark. One of Kevin’s anglers was reeling in what looks like it was a good pollack – unfortunately this was all that was left after a shark attack on the way up!
The taxman gets his share!
Go fishing…
Blue Shark Angling Galway
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
Blue Shark Angling Galway, Phone John Fleming : +353 (0)87 7571320
Galway Bay Fishing
A regular Galway Bay Safari is from 9am to 6pm. The Maigdan Mara will pick up your party from the pier at Spiddal, County Galway. The boat is yours for the day, though of course skipper Kevin will advise you where the best fishing is to be found. Tackle hire is free.
Inland Fisheries Ireland to develop management plan for the Western Lakes
CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland welcomes the request from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to develop ‘medium to long-term’ management plan for the seven lakes
Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency with responsibility for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, has confirmed that it is to develop a medium to long-term management plan for the Western Lakes.
The state agency has been formally asked by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to proceed with its proposal to develop an evidence-based management plan for the seven lakes and to submit timelines for the plan to the Department by the end of September.
Picture of Lough Carra in Mayo
The Chief Executive Officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland, Francis O’ Donnell, has welcomed the request. He said that the plan will primarily focus on key areas such as biodiversity and whole ecosystem conservation as the basis for the protection and development of wild salmonid stocks in particular, such as wild brown trout.
He commented: “From our research to date, it’s clear that the Western Lakes are under threat, and we must take action underpinned by best available scientific data to protect and conserve the unique status and importance of these salmonid waters in the long-term. The new management plan should inspire a positive vision for the future of the Western Lakes and serve to protect them as they are topographically distinct waters in terms of salmonid habitat.”
The Projects Office and Research Division within Inland Fisheries Ireland is being tasked with the development of the management plan. It’s likely to include catchment-wide surveys to identify fish population dynamics, salmonid habitat deficits as well as water quality pressure points. Where feasible, habitat restoration and development projects will be carried out as well as vegetation management on land and water adjacent to the lakes.
The management of invasive species, such as various coarse fish and curly waterweed, will also be an important feature of the plan. An emphasis on stakeholder engagement between state bodies, public representatives, angling clubs, conservation groups and local communities is also expected to be a key component.
O’Donnell added: “These lakes are among some of the last remaining wild brown trout fisheries in Western Europe, so it’s critical that the plan is subject to rigorous environmental governance and that it takes ecological and socio-economic impacts into account. Inland Fisheries Ireland is now looking forward to developing the detail of the plan and delivering the actions outlined, working in close partnership with the Department and all relevant state agencies and stakeholders.”
The request to develop a management plan follows detailed discussions with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and advice from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Belmont Anglers report that their competition last week (22 August) went well. They had 18 anglers fishing the event. The weather on the day was beautiful and conditions were very suitable. There were some good catches, mostly mixed bags.
The following are the winners
Colm Oliver
Jeff Morrison
Hugh Mc Keran
Noel Stapleton
Eric Davies
Paul mc Neils
Belmont Anglers would like to thank all the anglers for taking part on the day.
Belmont Angler’s next event will be on 5th September on the canal at Shannonharbour. Keep in touch at their Facebook Page.
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.
Matt Nolan writes a fine obituary for a pioneer of Ireland’s inland fisheries…
Denis O’Driscoll who died aged 76 was an inspirational figure in the world of Irish angling. He was involved in the late 1960s in pioneering survey work on Irish trout rivers. Later still he made a number of breakthroughs in developing facilities for special needs anglers and in networking with Bord na Mona in setting up new lakes at Boora Parklands. In his retirement years he worked both locally and nationally in the commemoration of the Irish Famine of 1845/49
He was born in the hill country a few miles north of Macroom in West Cork. It was there he honed his football skills playing for the local club and where he got his first taste of trout angling. It was there too that he nurtured his droll sense of humour and his Cork accent that was to stay with him throughout his life.
Denis O’Driscoll, photo courtesy Matt Nolan
Having completed his education in De La Salle College, Macroom, he joined the Inland Fisheries Trust and was assigned to the Electrical and Technical Survey Unit. It was an adventure that was to take him to every corner of Ireland doing pioneering work on the quality of Irish trout rivers under the direction of the renowned fisheries biologist Noel Hackett.
It was while he was working in Corofin, Co Clare that he met the catch of his life, when he was introduced to Claire Egan, a local girl who was to become his wife of just over 50 years.
In 1970 Denis was appointed as Fisheries Superintendent in charge of The River Brosna and Little Brosna Catchments and sometime after that he and Claire got married and moved to Kilcormc in County Offaly. Over the following years Denis and Claire and their new family became ingrained in the local and South Offaly community.
In his work, Denis threw himself wholeheartedly into developing angling throughout Co Offaly and The North Tipperary regions. He sought not to over-cater for the needs of the expert angler, but he concentrated instead on visiting tourists as well as the those with special needs and the occasional anglers who often put their trust in the stars and not in their skill or tackle and who were usually blessed with the gift of telling stories.
He loved more than anything to stroll through meadowlands along the Little Brosna at Sharavogue on Summer evenings during May where he could meet the locals who would tell him stories about anglers who fished there fadó, fadó.
If he was lucky, he would meet “Mike Frank” who only fished at weekends and then usually from bridges. Mike Frank always wore his wellingtons a little turned down and he for ever seemed to have a half-smoked cigarette behind his right ear. His tackle was basic, but he invariably had his own reasons for not catching fish such as the effects overhead power lines and airplanes were having on trout stocks.
In 1987 Denis was elected as staff representative on The Central Fisheries Board where he was involved with the implementation of a new staff scheme for all fisheries staff. He made a difference.
It was in the early 90s that Bord na Mona first started looking at ways of diversifying and dealing with cut away bogs in the Midlands. Denis became involved with Tom Egan and other Bord na Mona staff in creating new fishing lakes on cut-away bogland. It was the first of a number of pilot projects at Boora near Cloghan in Co Offaly. The area is now one of the main tourist destinations in the county.
In 1994 he was the main driving force behind the design and development Ireland’s first special needs angling lake at Loch an Dochais also in Co Offaly and which Uachtarán na hÉireann, Mary Robinson came to open. It too has seen much success over the years.
In 2002 he took early retirement which only seemed to catapult him into the middle of another of his great passions, The Irish Famine or An Gorta Mór as he preferred to call it.
Locally he organized famine walks and memorials to famine victims. Nationally, he lobbied politicians and others to have a National Famine Commemoration Day and eventually The Government conceded and due to the work of Denis and others, we now have a National Famine Committee, who each year have the responsibility of organizing an Annual Commemoration of The Irish Famine, both here in Ireland and overseas.
In his off time he loved gardening in his vegetable garden and writing poetry. His poetry related to everyday happening in the Irish Midlands and he had two of his volumes published.
Denis never forgot his West Cork roots and always had great regard for Irish customs and traditions. He attended most local funerals in the time-honoured traditional way. Yet in a strange twist of fate his friends were restricted in the way they could attend his funeral. However, it seemed as if the entire local community, as well as colleagues and friends from around Ireland lined the streets of Kilcormac, in a downpour of rain, to say a final farewell to their friend for one last time. The funeral cortege with his coffin draped in the Cork colours made its way slowly from the funeral home in Mucklagh, through the narrow streets of the town to The Church of The Nativity in the centre of Kilcormac village.
Fr Joseph Gallagher PP Tullamore celebrated the funeral Mass and recited the graveside prayers. He spoke of the Denis he knew, who had a passion for helping others and for remembering the horror that was the Irish famine but he said that more than anything else, he was a family man who loved his wife and children.
Following the funeral Mass the cortage made its way to St Josephs cemetery, stopping on the way outside his home in St Cormacs Park.
Following the graveside prayers Michael Blanch founding chairman of the Committee of the Irish Famine Victims gave the graveside oration and said that “without Denis O’Driscoll there would be no National Commemoration Day either in Ireland or overseas.” It was a fitting tribute for the Kilcormac man.
Then as the rain swept in from the Sliabh Blooms, Mary Cuddy sang that great Cork famine anthem “Skibbereen”. It was a request that Denis himself had made.
It was all a nice testimonial tribute to the man who was a kingpin in his local community.
He is survived by his wife Claire, daughter Mary and sons Proinsias, Donnacha,Eoin and Críostóir.
Julie Cook from Invercargill New Zealand enjoying a days fishing on Lough Lene in Co Westmeath, on a 2019 trip to Ireland
Madeleine Kelly reports on an event to take place as part of the 2nd International Women’s Flyfishing Day to be held on 11th September 2021. Last year over 500 women from 14 countries took part and it is hoped that this year will reach even further…
The second ever International Women’s Fly Fishing Day (IWFFD) will take place on Saturday 11th September 2021. It’s planned that at 11am, in every time-zone across the world, that female fly anglers will post photos of themselves to FaceBook or to Instagram, either taking part in a flyfishing outing that’s happening on that day or undertaking something fly fishing related, that will show their enjoyment of flyfishing.
This is an initiative from two women in two very different parts of the world – Maddy Kelly from County Down in Northern Ireland and Pamela Caldwell Dunlap from Hurricane in West Virginia, USA. They met on a women’s Flyfishing site – Women Wine & Waders – (https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/1496931843942254/) that was set up by Pamela and they’ve been sharing fishing tales and life stories for the four years since.
Maddy Kelly enjoying lunch on the shores of Lough Melvin, Ireland.Pamela Dunlap getting ready for a days guiding on the Potomac River, WV, USA.
The Mission Statement of International Women’s Flyfishing Day is “To bring women together from all over the world, virtually, for one day in mid-September to celebrate their fly-fishing life and to encourage them to be role models who will support new women who take up fly fishing.”
Unfortunately the effect of Coronavirus is still being felt around the world and although some women will be flyfishing, some plans will have been curtailed because of adherence to local Government guidelines which differ from country to country. There’s always the chance as well that weather may interfere with fishing plans and as International Women’s Fly Fishing Day is a world-wide event there will be some women in the part of the world that is currently out of the fly fishing season. To allow for those circumstances the photo or video posted can be of anything related to fly fishing e.g. practicing casting, tying a fly, or even reading a book on the topic or watching a fly fishing video etc. Or for women unable to be doing anything related to flyfishing at 11am on 11th September 2021 they can post a photo or video that shows that they do indeed enjoy fly fishing.
Julie Cook from the Southland Fly Fishing Club in Invercargill New Zealand is, at the minute, the most easterly woman planning to take part which means she’ll get the first opportunity to post her 11am photo, and Catrina (Cat) White from Los Angeles is the most westerly. She will close the day of celebrations.
Julie Cook from Invercargill New Zealand enjoying a days fishing on Lough Lene in Co Westmeath, on a 2019 trip to IrelandCat White from Los Angeles enjoying fishing on the Henry’s Fork River in Idaho.
With photos being posted at 11am from all over the world the day will unfold from New Zealand to the west coast of the USA over a 20 hour period.
Fly fishing, and angling in general, gives so much to the angler. Mindfulness is very popular now-a-days but anglers have known the mindful effects of angling for a long time. And it’s not just peace of mind, there’s also the fitness aspect. Wading into waist-deep water will work your core as will scrambling five miles up a riverbank and back down the five miles to your car with your rod and essentials for the day – that competes with any gym workout. And to complete the scene there’s nothing like lunch alongside a water’s edge with a nice cup of tea.
A lot of anglers, as well as fishing, start to care for their rivers and waterways. They organize work parties to clean up litter, fix river banks, create and improve access, build bridges and stiles, remove fallen trees, and clear water blockages that prevent the movement of migratory fish – all very physical work.
Then there’s the workout for the brain. Anglers will say that they switch off while fishing and are in another world and that worries and problems just slip away. But the day is spent watching, really seeing what’s there and analyzing everything – the bug life, the water movements, the feeding patterns, watching for clues that might be as simple as feeding birds.
Angling is a work-out in nature. And women are catching on to the secret and they’re passing on the information to other women. More and more are becoming qualified as coaches and instructors or are attending women’s fishing days as volunteer-helpers.
Maddy Kelly has been flyfishing for over 30 years and has fished throughout Ireland. Since 1993 she has been a regular member of the Irish Ladies Fly Fishing team which takes part in the Ladies International Flyfishing Championships fished against teams from Scotland, Wales and England. She has recently gained coaching qualifications and has been organising events to introduce women and young people to flyfishing.
Maddy Kelly at Straid Fishery in Co Antrim, Ireland, where she runs most of her training events as a volunteer with the South Antrim Angling Hub’
Pamela Caldwell Dunlap is a more recent convert to flyfishing. Prior to discovering the joys of flyfishing she was not keen on the outdoors at all. She was introduced to it on a first date 6 years ago and enjoyed it so much that since then she has organised camps for women to learn and has been responsible for a number of women becoming anglers.
The internet friends, Pamela and Maddy, have spent four years sharing stories of the days that they organise for women to enjoy flyfishing. Though separated by 3,590 miles, most of it ocean, it turns out they’ve a lot in common. They are both committed to encouraging and supporting new women into flyfishing.
For more information please visit International Women’s Fly Fishing Day on FaceBook
Posts to celebrate International Women’s Fly Fishing Day may be made to the following Facebook group. And as it may not be possible to post at 11am they can be made all day.
Dave Edwards from West Cork Charters saw his anglers get an interesting mix of fish…
A couple of distant trips this week saw Julian Lewis Jones get amongst the Albacore Tuna as well as plenty of Blue Sharks.
Albacore Tuna for Julian Lewis Jones
This was followed by a spin to the offshore wrecks before the easterlies put paid to any further offshore trips for a few days.
Evan McGovern was pleased to finally get his specimen Ling. A cracker at 31lb which wns Catch of the Week and Dan Lynch was happy to add a further specimen of 27.5lb to his already long list.
Evan McGovern with his specimen ling – 31lbDan Lynch with a 27.5lb ling
Shane and Gary also smashed their PB’s on the trip. Bluefin were sighted offshore so our focus will soon turn to them over the coming weeks
1 of 2
Shane and Gary also smashed their PB's on the trip.
Shane and Gary also smashed their PB's on the trip.
West Cork Charters operates the Silver Dawn, a 41′ Rodman 1250 with twin 430 HP Engines out of Courtmacsherry. 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.
Kayla Costello from Co. Galway has been out fishing with dad Adrian recently on Lough Corrib. Not only has she been out fishing with dad, but she has been out-fishing him too! Kayla caught her first ever pike over the weekend, and caught some lovely perch over the course of a couple of visits recently too. All fish were caught and released to fight another day.
