Fishery manager Brian Curran reports on some long-awaited water, and sport, at Costello and Fermoyle.
After the long hot spell and low water levels from mid July, it was a relief for the water to arrive though it was slow in filling the very depleted system. With the water came the fish on the take and while there was many coloured salmon hooked and returned,we also has many fresh sea trout both in the river and making their way through the loughs.
Last week saw 12 salmon caught by the following anglers: Seamus Nee 3 salmon and 6 sea trout,Geoffrey Fitzjohn 2,Brian Curran 2,John Connolly 2,Barry Curran home on holidays from Canada had 2 salmon and a number of sea trout.
It is great to see sea trout back in numbers after a disastrous year last year caused we believe by the hot and very dry spring while this year there was a welcome flood in late May into early June which flushed the smolts out of the system.
On the 9th August, Peter Westwater had 5, Sean Bollustrum had 7 for an evening on the 10th while local anglers Micheal Dillon and Enda Bonner had 13 sea trout on Glenicmurrin the best over 3lbs.
With the higher water levels the run of sea trout is expected to continue and good sport should be had on the various loughs on the syste
Costello & Fermoyle is a jewel in Connemara’s crown, with a short, productive river draining a chain of lakes, all providing quality salmon and sea trout fishing. Salmon run the system from April, with the grilse run peaking in June, while sea trout start in May, with the most prolific runs in June and July. Fishing can be excellent right through September.
Bookings can be done through the web site, irelandwestangling.ie, or contact Brian at
Telephone: +353 (0)91 572196 or 087 2399988
E-mail: curranb52@gmail.com
Rain was needed and rain arrived. Over the past seven days rainfall has been well above average for much of the country. The northern half of the country recorded the highest rainfall totals, ranging 2 to 6 times the average. Not unsurprisingly the sunny southeast was driest with more or less average rainfall for the time of the year. Sunshine was in shorter supply, and between the rain and the dull days water temperatures in our rivers and lakes have fallen sufficiently for July’s angling advisory to be lifted.
Heavy rain brought the Moy into flood, seeing a lot of grilse move through the system and 454 salmon were caught for the week. Heading to Kerry, the Owenmore also benefitted from the rain and anglers there enjoyed great sport with sea trout and salmon being caught and released. Anglers on Currane were confronted by wild blustery weather as the rains came, ruining their chances with just one day where decent fishing was enjoyed. Staying in the Waterville area, the Inny fished well though as the floods brought on a good run of fish. West Cork rivers also had some fishing to enjoy. The Ilen, Coomholla, Glengarriff and Melagh all reported fish, as did the Bandon, but it was the Ilen anglers that fared best with 25 salmon. Finally, anglers on the Munster Blackwater had a great weekend and more good fishing this week. Most fisheries reported good catches across all their beats.
There was not much to report from the rest of the freshwater anglers. We have one report from Lough O’Flynn where visiting and local trout anglers having been getting some decent catches on fly.
Coarse anglers were equally quiet, with just one report. But what a report it was. Outstanding catches were enjoyed on first day of the Lough Rynn Festival. Catches were falling by the last day of the competition and the pressure was rising, but Tony Green held his cool to win the event with 68.430kg.
No pike angling reports, but a fish stock survey by Inland Fisheries Ireland research staff earlier this week discovered pike in Aughrusbeg Lough, Co. Galway. Inland Fisheries Ireland is investigating if the pike was ‘introduced’ to the lake through human activity, by the illegal movement of fish between watercourses.
Sea anglers have had a busy week. There were more blue fin tuna for the TunaChart boats in the North West. We previously reported on the catches onboard Michael McGettigan’s Fiona Tee, and this week there was tuna number 2 for Adrian Molloy on Deep Blue. Also fishing on Donegal Bay, Michael Callaghan of Leah C reports 3 tuna in the last week. Staying in Co. Donegal, the Killybegs Mariners fished the town pier with some small lures and a fish tank to highlight the amazing array of species present in the harbour and had a great time doing it.
Charter boat anglers on Leah out of Killala Bay had some great fishing recently. The reefs produced exciting fishing with pollack to 8lbs landed and drifting the sand saw a lovely mix of species including rays like the thornback, blonde and painted. Travelling south to Clare, Lisdoonvarna Fanore Sea Angling Club held their annual International Angling Week last week. Conditions were not always kind, but fishing was good, with everyone catching, and some very nice fish were caught too. At the other end of Clare, skipper Luke Aston has been having a tremendous variety of fishing from spotted rays, to gurnards, pollack and blue and porbeagle shark. Fellow Clare skipper Sean Maguire, on the Lady Gwen II was also getting amongst the sharks and both of the Clare skippers are finding that, like last year, there are more porbeagles than blues about once more.
Charter boat Fuego from Cahersiveen reports good ling fishing this week and the ground fishing has not been bad either. Dave Edwards from West Cork Charters experienced the highs and lows of shark fishing this week going from 50 shark caught and released, to his first ever blank! But persistence pays off and the next day he was back in the game with a shark of just under specimen length. Persistence is also the watch word for of David Norman of West Cork Bass whose hunt for a 70cm+ bass was rewarded with 74cm fish which he released fit and healthy to grow even bigger.
Finally, Inland Fisheries Ireland has teamed up with Leave No Trace Ireland to launch a new checklist, highlighting the ten things that every angler should consider when planning a fishing trip. The new checklist includes advice for both novice and advanced anglers and you can find out all about it here.
The weather is to continue unsettled through the weekend with drier conditions developing early next week. Some sunny spells across the northern half of the country early Saturday. However, overcast skies will extend to most areas through the day, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heaviest later; hill and coastal fog in parts too. Parts of north Ulster may though remain fully dry. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18°C, in light to moderate southeasterly winds, freshening later along south and southwest coasts. Showery rain, mainly affecting southern and eastern areas but will clear eastwards during the afternoon. Sunny spells and scattered showers elsewhere will extend to all areas as the rain clears. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21°C. Moderate northwesterly winds will develop, increasing fresh to strong on southwestern coasts. Cooler and drier on Monday, then temperatures swing back to the 20s with some drizzle on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you’re heading to sea, don’t forget to check the tides.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
Skipper Luke Aston has a new group in for this week, and they have been having a tremendous variety of fishing. Given the conditions, some days have been unsuitable for getting offshore. The Shannon estuary, however, has provided good sport, with some nice tope, as well as a spotted ray, not a common catch.
Reef fishing early this week provided plenty of species, with pollack, cod, ling and gurnard among the fish coming aboard.
When they did get out shark fishing, it was a case of “the porgies are back” once again, with porbeagles more numerous than blue shark this summer along much of the west coast. Indeed, Luke says he has to use heavier traces now, with the blue shark traces often not strong enough for big porbeagles.
Fellow skipper Sean Maguire, on the Lady Gwen II, had a group out shark fishing, and it was a case of the ones that got away, with six dropped runs, and a large porbeagle lost at the side of the boat, estimated at 200lbs. Finally they did get a blue shark to stick, but at least they saw plenty of action.
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: lukeaston@eircom.net Web: www.fishandstay.com
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: fishadven@gmail.com Web: www.fishingadventures.ie
Barry Kelly, IFI Ballina brings us the MOY CATCHMENT ANGLING REPORT for week ending 08/08/21
Heavy rain and thunder bursts brought the Moy and all the rivers in the catchment into flood, flushing out the low warm water that dampened salmon angling the week previous. Water levels at Ballylahan Bridge on Monday morning read 0.297m and rose to 2.119m on Sunday night. Finally, water temperatures fell to 15˚ Celsius by Sunday. This rise in water levels saw a lot of grilse move through the system with 454 salmon caught for the week with a decent percentage released.
The Moy Fishery reported 13 grilse from the Ridge Pool while 3 grilse were reported caught in the Cathedral Beat.
Ballina Salmon Anglers reported an impressive 132 salmon due to the rising waters which attracted a lot of anglers.
Mount Falcon Fishery produced 15 grilse.
Attymass reported 5 grilse caught for the week.
Knockmore Salmon Anglers had 14 grilse.
Coolcronan Fishery reported an impressive 9 grilse, caught mostly spinning.
Byrne’s Fishery reported 4 salmon for the week.
Gannon’s Fishery recorded 21salmon in their waters.
Foxford Fishery produced 28 grilse mostly caught on worms and spinning.
Foxford Salmon Anglers produced 122 grilse from their waters with a high number released.
Reports from the Foxford town section indicate that at least 18 grilse were caught.
Cloongee Fishery reported 7 grilse with 4 released, all caught on bubble and fly.
East Mayo Anglers produced 50 salmon for the week of which 10 were released.
Reports from Lough Conn indicate that 2 salmon were caught trolling with only a few anglers on the lake in line with the usual pattern for this time of year.
Dave Edwards from West Cork Charters really experienced the highs and lows of West Cork shark fishing this week.
In the space of 2 trips he went from his highest ever total of 50 shark caught and released, all the way down to his first ever blank!
On Tuesday this week, Dave and his anglers struggled with heavily coloured water, probably due to algal blooms following the recent hot spell. These blooms have been reported from various places in Irish and UK waters. The lads worked hard before Aidan Flahavan finally spared their blushes with a fine Blue Shark that was just short of specimen size.
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.
Address: The Pier, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.
Telephone: +353 (83) 449 1403
Email: DavidEdwardsCymru@hotmail.com
Web: www.irelandseaangling.com
Jason O’Riordan and Ken Whelan are once again running their popular Saltwater Fly Fishing Course
Dungarvan, Sunday 22nd August
This one day course covers:
Course will be held in Dungarvan and on the Copper Coast on August 22nd.
Fee: €80 (places limited)
To book, contact:
+353 86 7835900
or
+353 87 2965712
Joe FitzHarris reports on Lough O’Flynn Angler’s recent outing plus some angling returns up to the end of the weekend…
Results from our event on Sunday August 8th were as follows.
Other recent angling returns include some good fishing from
Next club event will be early September.
Lough O’Flynn is a 300 acre rich limestone lake located in Co Roscommon just north of Ballinlough village. There are good stocks of wild and stocked brown trout averaging about 1.5 lbs with fish to 3 to 4lbs sometimes caught.
Find out more about Lough O’Flynn…
Facebook: Lake O`Flynn and District Anglers Association
Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane…
5/8/21 Floods, no comment! I asked one Currane Angler this morning did it make any rain? Very little he replied and that’s putting it politely. On today’s facts there were three boats out, no texts, no phone calls and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist that the Currane Anglers are frustrated with this drought. Wind WSW light to fresh with good cloud followed by showers.
6/8/21 There were eight boats manipulating their lures this day on the Big Lake and sadly no reports of any rod benders. The same could not be said for the River Inny C&R Anglers and for good reason, yes you have it, it made a small flood and our C&R Inny Anglers journeyed fourth, by all accounts there were a few caught on the fly and on the spin. Now we head for the Commeragh, it was reported that one Salmon was caught. Wind West fresh and overcast with heavy downpours.
7/8/21 We start today’s notes on Lough Derriana, the Mad fly fisherman was telling me that Derriana rose a little and the water is very warm at present which makes it more difficult to get that allusive fish because as you well know the Trout and Salmon go deeper in these conditions. There’s no argument to that, so on those words of wisdom we head for the C&R River Inny and it was great to see a good few Inny Anglers heading out, I can say the early birds did well on fly and on spin and it’s great to report that there were a few Salmon caught and released this day and the biggest reported was in the 10 lbs class. Lough Currane was all quiet this day, not surprising, Cheers C&R River Inny. Wind WNW fresh to strong at times followed by a good few heavy shower.
8/8/21 We start with the early Birds of the C&R Inny Anglers and their early enthusiasm was awarded with a few C&R Salmon. Now we cut across to the Lough Currane Anglers, there were a few nice baskets of Sea Trout on the drift and on the troll. WNW then veered WSW light to fresh.
9/8/21 Lough Currane was all quiet on the SW front. Now head for the Inny C&R Anglers and by all accounts there were two Salmon caught and released. Wind WNW light, followed by the odd shower.
10/8/21 The Currane Sea and Brown Trout drifters caught a few fish to their credit. Now we head for the River Inny, where there was one Salmon caught on the spin and released. On that note, we sadly head for a poaching article.
11/8/21 Waterville Fishery was all quiet on all fronts this day. Wind W and veered SW in the afternoon, light to fresh with reasonable cloud cover.
12/8/21 The Wind took control of the Currane Anglers, so you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that they converted very quickly to the C&R Inny anglers and there were a few successes and to be precise, two on the fly and one on the spin. Staying with the Inny, Met Éireann are forecasting some rain for the Inny this Saturday, as the chart shows. Wind WSW fresh to strong with reasonable cloud cover, followed by the odd shower.
Vincent Appleby
www.salmonandseatrout.com
Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0) 87 207 4882
E-mail:salmonandseatrout@gmail.com
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com
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
Charter boat Fuego from Cahersiveen reports good ling fishing this week. They are getting fresh mackrell at last and there are also big shoals of herring around. Some red bream showing in catches and great mixed fishing for haddock, cod and whiting. Weather conditions have not been the best with north west winds and strong tides, but when they are out they are making the most of it!
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.
Address: Caherciveen Marina, Co. Kerry.
Telephone +353 87 2843283
Email: desfishing@yahoo.ie
Web: kerryseaanglingcharters.com/
