John Fleming, skipper of the Brazen Hussy II, reports good fishing over the weekend, with specimen spurdogs and great size pollack coming to the boat.
Although weekends are fairly booked up, John has availability for trips on Friday and Monday coming, with decent weather (hopefully) forecast.
John Fleming
Brazen Hussy 2, 
Blue Shark Angling Galway,
Phone John Fleming : +353 (0)87 7571320
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueSharkAngling
Donavin Brinklow reports on the first few weeks of the season on the Erriff.
The start of the season was tough with not much rain and low river levels. The first flood on the Erriff produced a few fish for the Delphi anglers. On the 5th May Nico Mittmann caught the first salmon of the year in the Bridge Pool on beat 9, weighing 6lbs and another of 7.5lbs in the Garden Pool. The next day proved to be good too, Urs Leibundgut landed a 9.5lbs salmon in the Bridge Pool using a Silver Stoat.
Owen Trill landed a wild salmon of 8lbs on Beat 9 using a Willie Gunn a- the fish was safely released.
10th May Steven Jones landed a 9 lbs wild salmon on Beat 9 in the Gauge Pool using a Willie Gunn.
On the 16th May Jimmy Keogh landed a 12lbs ranched salmon on beat 9 in the Middle Garden Pool. On the 23rd Conor O’Leary, fishing beat 9 landed a 10 lbs wild salmon in the Falls Pool on a Collie Dog. The following day Neal Loughrey also landed a 10lbs wild salmon on beat 9 using a Cascade and Kristian Douglas landed a small sea trout in the Garden Pool.
John Phelan had 4 sea trout around the 0.5lb mark in the Garden Pool on the 3rd June, and a 4 lbs salmon in the Falls Pool using a Posh Tosh. On the 4th Paul Malloy also landed a 6lbs wild salmon in the Middle Garden Pool.
The next day Jake Delany landed a 10lbs wild salmon in the Middle Garden Pool on a Posh Tosh. 9th June James O’Neill landed a 6lbs ranched salmon in the Bridge Pool . 10th June Gerry Merick landed a 8lbs wild salmon in the Falls Pool using a Posh Tosh fly. James O’Neill landed a 0.5lbs sea trout in the Gauge Pool on the 13th.
All wild fish were safely released .There were 11 salmon caught 9 wild and 4 ranched and 6 sea trout for low enough rod effort. With the grilse run getting underway, the Erriff should see more effort and more fish over the next few weeks.
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.
Telephone: (095) 42382
Skipper Dave Edwards of West Cork Charters reports on his first blue shark of the season:
A great few days making use of Silver Dawns 60-mile licence.
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
An angler from Belmont Anglers reports on their first competition in over a year which was fished in perfect conditions on Sunday…
13 June: Belmont Anglers held their first event in months today. Weather was ideal with a lot of cloud cover. The following are the winners
We also had a flying visit from a African grey parrot. We have found its owner who had been searching for the bird for 4 days.
Jason has all the details on his win:
Peg 18 was my peg for today’s match. With a lot of cloud cover I had a feeling it would fish OK and it did. I decided to fish a 10 meter pole line and 4 meter pole line. In the first 30 minutes I hooked a handful of small rudd. Then it went quiet for a few minutes . My float went under and I hooked into a 3lb tench. This was followed by another tench of around a pound a little while later. Nothing much happened for me in the last hour. Possibly introducing casters in the grounbait mix unsettled the fish. But over the 4 hours I had done enough to win the match and win the biggest fish prize which was a €50 voucher from Vivado tackle shop – a great gesture from them.
I decided to give the voucher to the young lad that entered the match to help him add to his collection of fishing gear.
Thanks again to Noel and the rest of the club members for organising a great day and im looking forward to the next outing
Belmont Anglers would like to thank all the anglers for taking part, including the new people, you were all very welcome.
The next match is in July. Details will be posted nearer the time on their Facebook page.
Belmont Anglers is taking new members.
For details of this and all their news and up coming events check out their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1691060974490981
Dave Edwards, skipper of the Silver Dawn out of Courtmacsherry was on with the first reported blue shark of the season…
We were out on a whale survey on Saturday 12 June and took the chance to put a line out over lunch break. We fished a simple flapper mackerel bait with only a few fish leftovers for a short trail.
It wasn’t long before we had a bit of interest in the bait and it turned out to be our first cblue shark of the season, and the first blue caught this year in Ireland. The shark measured 170cm to the fork.
Water was 14.2c offshore so although cool it’s a good bit warmer than my last Blue in December.
David Edwards,
West Cork Charters
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
Charter skipper Des O’connell reports from Caherciveen…
Charter boat Fuego out of Cahersiveen had had some some good fishing recently. We’ve had lots of pollack up to 10 pounds and cod of 14 lbs and 18 lbs and lost some more. Mackrel are patchy but we are getting plenty of species including some good ling and whiting.
Ocean Tramp 37′. 370HP Cummins
Skipper: Des O’Connell
Licence: 562
Base: Caherciveen Operational Area: Up to 30 miles from Cahercivee, 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/
Well, it was a reasonably nice weekend everywhere, but the weather the last few days has been decidedly grey, drizzly and windy at times. Certainly here in the west anyway! In spite of the inclement weather, it is warming up, both on land and at sea, and the fishing is improving.
Salmon fishing is picking up in many places as grilse runs get underway. The early part of this week saw sport improve markedly on the Blackwater, while the grilse have arrived in Galway and are providing good sport. Rivers in the southwest are fishing well, with good fishing reported from the Bandon, and salmon to 13lbs off the Ilen. Salmon are moving on the Moy, which recorded its best week yet. Lake anglers did well in Killarney, while Carrowmore also started to fish well, with sea trout joining the salmon.
The mayfly is over for another year, so there are few trout reports from the loughs, although early risers in the know will be targeting Caenis feeders on calmer mornings for the next few weeks. River fishing is going well, and anglers on the Nore had great sport.
Sea angling is really picking up now with the sea warming up. Boat and shore anglers are all seeing increased activity and more fish all around the coast. East coast anglers have been enjoying excellent fishing, particularly for smooth hound and tope. The first shark was caught aboard Tom Collins boat in west Cork, while anglers up the coast in Clare enjoyed great mixed species fishing. Good bass fishing has been reported from Wexford all the way up to Donegal, and Galway Bay also reported great species fishing, with our Fish of the Week being this specimen ballan wrasse for Mariusz Lyszczynski.
Pike and coarse fishing is also picking up. Coarse angling clubs have been able to hold club competitions but festivals and inter-club competitions will get underway now, and we should see more reports from these soon. Jacek Gorny has been after pike with clients on Lough Ree lately, with their efforts paying off handsomely.
The weekend looks perfect in most areas, with warm dry weather forecast, light westerly winds and temperatures of 20-26 degrees. Cooler in the west, with breezy conditions on Atlantic coasts. Monday looks nice too, with a drop of rain coming in on Tuesday and fresher conditions dominating after that.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Kevin Crowley
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
Lough Conn & Lough Cullin Angling Report week ending 6/6/21
Heavy rain and some strong south easterly winds had an impact on angling. Heavy thunder bursts and with some low air pressure kept the fish down. A particularly tough week weather and fish wise on the lakes. Lough Cullin only reported 4 trout towards end of the week.
On Lough Conn, Murphy’s Boat Hire had a party of 6 anglers from Wicklow, organised by Michael Sheeran. They had good sport over three days, averaging 10 trout to the boat a day, all released. The best trout weighed 2 lbs. and the fish were caught all around the Massbrook area of the lake.
Along the Brackwansha Shore and Cormorant Rocks, Francie White, Sligo, and Stephen Browne, Cloghans, had 8 keepers, the best weighing 1.75 lbs., all released. Peter Roche also had some good fishing in Brackwansha on dry olives, the heaviest trout weighing 1.5 lbs.
In North Conn, some Dublin anglers ventured out with some of the locals. In Neds Bay Willie Scully and Tony Mc Grattan, Dublin, had 4 keepers over 2 days with numerous smaller fish all released. John O’ Neill and Gerry Heaslip, Dublin, had a large number of small trout to the boat and overall had 5 keepers each, along the islands near Bog Bay. All fish were released.
Colm Mc Andrew from Lahardane, had some good fishing with the best trout for 2 lbs. outside Castlehill Bay. Donal Rafferty from Dublin had 6 keepers, in Bog Bay, the heaviest weighing 2.5 lbs. and 3 pounder on wet mayflies, all released.
Declan Cooke had 2 trout to the boat while fishing with Kevin O’ Boyle along Mossop’s Rock. Kevin had a trout for 2.75 lbs. on a Claret Bumble. In Tolan’s Bay Kevin returned 2 small trout while Declan lost a good fish after about 2 minutes of playing the fish.
Six salmon were also reported from Lough Conn, mostly trolling spoons although two of the fish were caught on mayflies! Two of these salmon were caught in Victoria Bay, one in Massbrook and the other 3 near the River Deel.
Kevin O’Boyle reports from the River Moy…
Angling Report week ending 6/6/21
The River Moy reported 117 salmon caught for the week which consisted of mixed weather remaining on the cool side with a distinctive nip in the air. Water levels decreased marginally throughout the week ranging from 0.54m at the start of the week to 0.45m on Sunday 6th June. These levels were recorded at the OPW gauge at Childers Heights just upstream of Ballina.
Starting at the Ridge Pool on the Moy Fishery, 3 Salmon were recorded caught, two on the fly and one caught on a worm. A lot of fish were observed moving upstream through the weirs. One salmon was also caught on the Cathedral Beat.
Seventeen salmon were reported from Ballina Salmon Anglers, the biggest being 7 lbs. while most averaged 3-4 lbs. Some were caught on bubble & fly while most were caught on the worm.
Knockmore Anglers reported 4 salmon, all grilse, while 2 grilse were caught in Attymass waters at Padden’s Pool.
Coolcronan Fishery reported one salmon caught and the fishery is open to the public with some good bank fishing available. Anglers are limited on the fishery to ensure space and peace. Permits range from €30 for a half day to €55 for a full day which is considered dawn to dusk. Weekly permits are also available, and prices are flexible. Permits can be obtained by contacting Nick Cousins on +353 (0)83 8344114.
Armstrong’s Fishery reported 5 Salmon for the week, the best weighing 13 lbs., caught on a worm, others caught on the shrimp.
Byrne’s Fishery reported 3 salmon for the week.
Granville Nesbitt reported 10 salmon caught in the Foxford Fishery, the best fish weighing 13 lbs. on the prawn.
Gannon’s Fishery reported 4 salmon for the week. Thomas Keller from Germany had the best salmon for 13 lbs. on a shrimp.
Foxford Salmon Anglers had an exceptionally good week with 28 salmon reported from their various waters. The best was a fish of 13 lbs. with a considerable number of salmon released. All angling methods worked well, and the river is in good condition for the coming week.
Cloongee Fishery had 4 salmon mostly at the lower reaches of the Fishery all on bubble and fly to various Cascade patterns.
Numbers were down on East Mayo Anglers’ water who reported 13 salmon, of which 10 were released. The heaviest fish was caught by Paul Mc Grath, Swinford, for 12 lbs. on the fly, while Richard Quinn from Wicklow had a 12 lbs. salmon on a spoon. Most were big fish in double figures with the smallest weighing 5 lbs.
Some small salmon were reported upstream of Cloongullaun Bridge, 6 grilse mostly caught on worms or bubble and fly.
Reports of 2 salmon caught on the Ballyvary River were received while 4 salmon were reported from the River Deel. Two of these were caught on the fly, and one each on the worm and prawn.
Marcin Kantor explains the how and what of his best bass fishing adventures last season…
Marcin’s notes: Seabass fishing tips, based on my own experience of fishing for sea bass with lures. I was lucky enough to catch some fantastic sea bass back in 2020, and decided to use that to give you all some bass fishing tips and tricks and explain my best seabass lures. Sea Bass fishing in Ireland can be tricky at times, but when the conditions are right make sure you know what lures to use and which conditions will they work best in. This is not a sponsored video, I am explaining what works for me and trying to help you out guys, since I am getting an awful lot of questions about best lures for bass fishing. Enjoy the Video & Tight Lines
For More details on his set up and special deals see Best Bass 2020. What Lures & Why. Seabass Fishing Ireland – YouTube and when you’re there don’t forget to Like and Subscribe.
