Re-Opening on a pilot basis of Galway and Moy Fisheries for Angling– subject to review pre entry to Phase 3 of the Governments Road Map.
The following Protocols for the phased reopening of the Moy and Galway weir Fisheries will apply for all anglers wishing to fish on these beats up to June 29th.
Only anglers resident within the prescribed travel distance (currently within your County ( Galway or Mayo) as appropriate to the venue or 20km radius of your home if crossing county bounds) will be allowed to fish on the Moy and Galway Fishery beats. These travel distance maxima will be adjusted accordingly with government advice.
Anglers will be permitted to fish for a maximum period of 4 hours in any one day.
Permits will be available for 4 hour slots during an angling day and all bookings must be made in advance
All booking and permit purchasing will be carried out remotely, on-line or by phone through the fishery manager Ballina ( [email protected] or 096 21332) Galway ([email protected] or 091 562388) . The Fisheries are now open for bookings.
A maximum number of three anglers on the Ridge/Weir pool, 4 anglers on the Galway Weir, 2 on the New Beat and 4 anglers on the Cathedral beat will be allowed during any one time/slot
The following charges per angling slot will apply:
Beat
Period
Price
Beat
Period
Price
Ridge Pool Weirpool
25 May-15 June
€40
Galway Weir
16 June-29 June
€60
1 June-29 June
€60
Cathedral beat
25 May-15 June
€20
New Beat
16 June-29 June
€40
1 June- 29 June
€20
Pollnamonag Springwells
25 May-15 June
€10
Ashtree
16 June-29 June
€20
With regard to the use of Sluice Barrage Walkway (controlled by the Office of Public Works) to access the east bank of the Galway weir and the Ridge pool walkway on the west bank of the Moy, Only one person at any one time will be allowed to ensure social distancing guidelines are observed.
High Bank Permits for Galway City Residents will be issued on an annual basis under the normal pricing structure. All relevant regulations regarding social distancing and duration of angling allowed( maximum 4 hours will be enforced. Payment for permits and licences must be contactless. Bag limits as outlined will apply, as will current angling regulations.
The usual fee of €2 for local residents on the Cathedral beat after 6pm will be in place but the same time restrictions (currently 4 hours) will apply.
Anglers must travel and fish alone, no non-angling persons will be allowed on the beat or bankside.
Information on anglers (i.e. Name/Address/contact details, Angling dates/times will be retained for an agreed period for contact tracing purposes. All data will be captured and held by IFI in compliance with GDPR regulations. Toilet facilities will be available for use, but canteen, changing area’s and tackle storage facilities will NOT be available to anglers on any of the Fishery beats.
An outdoor sanitation station will be available at the Ridge pool, Cathedral beat and Galway weir for hands, angling apparel and fishing gear.
A maximum of 2 salmon per angler per slot may be taken. Anglers may fish on a catch & release basis once this bag limit has been reached.
All anglers must provide and wear their own personal flotation device while fishing on the Moy/Galway Fisheries.
Anglers are expected to land and tag their own fish where applicable.
All anglers must maintain appropriate social distancing (2m) at all times from staff and other anglers on the Moy/ Galway Fisheries.
OPW Beat; (Up-stream of Weir) Permits for this Beat will not be issued at this time as adherence to social distancing guidelines would be difficult to maintain.
Erriff Fishery
Maintenance works on the Erriff fishery have been completed and permits may be purchased contactless only at [email protected] or 095 42382 for fishing after June 8th. The operation of this fishery will also be reviewed pre entry to phase 3 of the Governments Roadmap.
Andy Burnett is a well-known match angler on the coarse angling scene, but he also likes to get out and fish for pleasure too. Last week he brought me to a couple of local waters in Co. Roscommon to record some video on coarse fishing. The target species was tench, possibly the hardest-fighting of the coarse fish species, and he certainly produced the goods on camera!
Venue No. 1
Fishing a feeder from shortly after dawn, Andy was soon into fish, and the change from hot sunshine to cool, breezy weather certainly seemed to have got the fish feeding. The fish were of a very impressive size – averaging 5lbs – with at least 5 or 6 fish over the specimen size of 6lbs.
One of the better tench for Andy, who had several fish estimated over specimen weight.
What a Catch!
The fish kept coming all morning, and it was an impressive display of angling skill. Andy was rewarded with his biggest ever bag of wild Irish tench – 24 tench estimated to average 5lbs each, so a total catch of ~120lbs! That’s some fishing!!
I had to get on the road again, having been up since 3.30am, but Andy stayed on and had another 4 good tench, bringing his total to over 140lbs for the day.
A big catch of tench for Andy Burnett from a Co. Roscommon water. Andy caught 24 tench for over 120lbs.
Venue No. 2
The following morning we fished another water, with much nicer conditions prevailing. A cacophony of birdsong greeted the sunrise as Andy landed his first fish. Fishing the waggler float, the first half dozen or so fish were small rudd and hybrids, but a switch of tactics to a method feeder soon saw him land the first tench of the day. This was followed over the next few hours with a further 7 fish, averaging 4lbs or so, as well as a nice bream, the first bream Andy has ever seen here.
A nice Roscommon bream for Andy Burnett
It was a fantastic two day session that showcased what Co. Roscommon, and the Hidden Heartlands region can offer the coarse angler. Look out for the video, coming soon!
Lough Sheelin Angling Report June 1st – June 7th, 2020
“When the evening hatch is over and the day is done, the fisherman doesn’t always have a heavy creel to show for it, but he is richer inside.”
Dan Holland
The weather was the single greatest obstacle to successful fishing on Lough Sheelin this week. Scorching heats of 27°C plummeted to lows of 4°C by the weekend with the fishing reflecting these meteorological changes by producing few piscatorial chances for its anglers. After the previous week’s excitement of large mayfly hatches, elaborate entomological aerial dances and corresponding falls of spent on the surface water, the lake this week appeared to rebel, trying its best to break even the most stolid angler, draining instead of supporting with a spirit crushing display of difficult lough fishing.
Wilsons Pt. 7pm June 2nd 2020
Although there were still good hatches of the greens, particularly around Crover, Arley Pt. and into Walker’s Bay, dipping temperatures and fresh north easterly winds drove some of these flies into the western shore; on many occasions these same chilly winds stunted the numbers of spent going out and by the weekend it was just too cold to put on a dance and the fly stayed in the bushes.
Two’s company
This lake is the epitome of frustration, there is nothing stereotyped or predictable about this or any wild brown lake and it is this fact, I am assured, that makes it so magical. Being a lapsed angler myself (regrettably due to work and mundane life pressures) I sometimes struggle with the psyche of the angler for despite repeated struggles and blanks, their addiction never wanes and they constantly remind me that this is why Sheelin is so special for ‘if it was easy and predictable then it would soon become rubbish, sure why would you spend your time, energy and money doing something that was easy ?’.
It seems to me, as a reluctant bystander, that you have to have the thinking and analytical ability to go along with the experience for the experience to be of any value and even at that the trout here might not respond.
Somewhere over the rainbow, Lough Sheelin June 5th
Going through the week, 5am on Monday trout were mopping up spent in the middle of the lake and a few lovely trout of over 4lbs were recorded. As the day progressed fishing conditions deteriorated and with bright sunshine and crippling heat there was no great rise although there was plenty of fly on the water. A drop in evening temperatures spoilt what would of been dream spent fishing but falls turned out to be patchy with not much movement to what was on the water. There were huge hatches of Murrough but the fish weren’t responding. Tuesday was another very hot day so although there was plenty of spent on the water particularly from Walker’s Bay down to Crover there was no big response from the trout and catches were tricky. At 8.30pm there was a big hatch of greens from Wilsons Point down to Crover but there was no matching fall of spent due to a dip in temperature and an unwelcome chill to changing wind directions. As temperatures dropped further and cold, fresh, strong to gusty northwest winds churned Lough Sheelin angling numbers dropped and although there were some catches on dries it was mainly fishing on the blind using teams of wets. The cold evenings at the weekend effectively killed off any hatches and except in the odd sheltered bay there was a noticeable absence of fly life.
Lough Sheelin June 1st 2020
Sheelin was and is undoubtedly alive with all sorts of flies and insects, all potential trout food and for now it is the weather that is having an adverse effect on catches. This was the first week since the mid May where the wet flies made a reappearance up until then it was nearly akin to a criminal offence to mention them as mayfly season is synonymous with dry fly fishing.
Dry fly fishing bring its own special thrill. Fish are comfortable in deep water (particularly in hot weather) and convincing them to break the surface, the edge of an inhospitable environment to take an artificial fly among lots of natural is no small trick. There’s a visceral excitement to seeing the take, in all its forms – a bulging swirl, a violent slash or a barely perceptible sip. The best thing of all is that seeing fish active at the surface erases any uncertainty about whether they are present. You can see them with your own eyes and you can see them feeding, it wipes out the doubting Thomas in us all.
Down under
When it comes to trout, dry fly fishing can be a superbly challenging game. Often the fish are ‘keyed in’ on a particular kind of insect, and your fly needs to resemble the natural and to drift to the fish in a natural way. Becoming really good requires stealth, good casting and some knowledge about trout and aquatic insects – hence the continuous inclusion of photographs of a variety of flies and terrestrials in these reports. Although there are times when several kinds of flies can be hatching at once, which makes it tricky to figure out which ones the trout are eating, at this stage of the season, it would be a fairly safe bet to continue on with spent patterns with a consideration to using the odd sedge, daddy or buzzer pattern.
The water for the end of the week was a choppy stretch of greyness with only the odd trout rising for reasons of its own, it was then time to turn back to the wet flies – mayfly stimulators, Claret Bumbles, Golden Olive Bumbles, Kate McLaren, Dabblers (Claret & Silver) and Bibios.
The bend of a rod
Boating numbers held at 35 -40 per day until the cold set in which radically reduced this to 5 or 6 by Sunday.
86 fish were recorded for the week, with a 7 pounder caught on a Royal Wulff being the weight of the week. There were also three fish weighing in at over 6lbs. Most fish averaged 2 ½ to 3lbs.
Most fish were caught using a wide variety of spent gnat patterns. The most successful spent patterns were those that were dressed so that they lay close to and quite flat on the surface of the water. An unusual ‘white spent’ caught an impressive trout of 8lbs 6oz for its inventor a few weeks back.
Flies to make fish rise
1 of 5
Spent patterns
and more spent gnat patterns......
Sedge patterns
Mayfly patterns
Green Wulff
The Wulffs were popular this week, with the Grey and Royal landing some 4, 5 and 6lb fish. Whereas the Grey Wulf has some sort similarity to the spent gnat, the Royal has no resemblance to the natural whatsoever. This is an attractor pattern and a descendant of both the Royal Coachman fly and the Wulff style of hair wing flies named for Lee Wulff. Presumably this pattern’s ‘stand out in the crowd’ appearance causes the trout to pick it out from the multitude of spent lying prostrate on the surface water.
Spent Gnat fishing usually kicked off after 6pm and ended as the light faded into darkness. During office hours mayfly stimulators, Klinkhammers and a selection of wets sometimes struck gold.
Although now is predominantly about the mayfly there are also plenty of other potential trout food out there – terrestrials, caenis, Apple green midges, buzzers and the appearance at the later end of the week of the largest sedge our ‘after dark’ specimen – the Murrough.
Sheelin's natural flies and natural beauty
1 of 19
Welshmans Button
The mighty Murrough
Sheelin moth
Spent Ephemera and spent Heptagenia sulphurea
Saying hello
Red-necked Footman, Wilsons Pt.
Mayfly spent in the final throes of death
Mayfly nymph
Lough Sheelin June 1st 2020
Buff-tip moth
Ephemera danica
A preening Murrough
A Murrough at full stretch
A male Sheelin Buzzer
Taking a break
Murrough water
Moonlight Lough Sheelin, June 5th
Into the night
Evening fishing on Sheelin
The fish success this week were mostly using spent and mayfly patterns with traditional patterns featuring in the returns – Wulffs (Grey, Royal, Green and Yellow), Emerging Mayfly, Melvin May, Ginger & Olive May, Goslings, Mosley May, French Partridge, Green Drake, Cock Robin with Claret Bumbles, Golden Olive Bumbles, Bibios, Klinkhammers, dry Buzzers (sizes 8-12), Grey Duster (size 10), Spent Gnat patterns, Stimulators, Dabblers (Green, Golden Mayfly and International), the Octopus, Welshman’s Button, Chocolate Drop, Muddlers and small dry sedges. The Murrough have their appearance on some evenings but the weather have stalled their hatches.
The best areas for fishing was literally a ‘throw of the dice’ affair with some places fishing well and others being very poor. As one angler put it ‘it’s not even the areas, it could fish well on one end of the boat and very badly at the other’ so much is the unpredictability of this mercurial angling jewel.
Some of this week's finest
1 of 12
The beauty of a Lough Sheelin trout
Gary McKiernan with his 67cm trout
Christopher Defillon with a beautiful trout caught on the blind
An after dark fish
A Sheelin stunner
A one pounder
5.5lb on a Murrough, returned
4lbs 6oz Holywell on spent
3lbs 15ozs
1lb trout
Return of a 67cm fish
Reflection
The places that produced catches were down along the Western shore of the lake, Stony Island, at the back of Church Island, Merry Pt, Wilsons pt, Inchacup, Chambers Bay and from Kilnahard down to Crover, Crane Island, Bog Bay, Sailors Garden and into Goreport, Lynch’s Pt, Derrysheridan and Derry Pt.
Stony Island
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
Return of a 67cm fish
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 949 which strictly prohibits from June 14th 2017 onwards:
The taking of any brown trout of less than 36 centimeters.
For a person to fish with more than 2 rods at any one time.
To fish with more than 4 rods at any one time when there is more than one person on board the boat concerned.
For a person to take more than 2 trout per day.
All trolling on the lake from March 1st to June 16th (inclusive).
To fish or to attempt to take or to fish for, fish of any kind other than during the period from March 1st to October 12th in any year.
The continental conditions we had enjoyed for so long have finally left our shores and the weather this week has been dominated by much cooler north westerlies driving a drop in air temperatures; there was even some wet stuff falling from the sky on occasion, though not enough to give our rivers and lakes the badly needed ‘fresh’ that so many fish and anglers want…..
Low water levels are still hindering salmon fishing on many rivers, while higher water temperatures were becoming a worry before the weather finally broke. Some hard caught salmon have been reported from the Munster Blackwater, the Bandon and the Suir but reports are few and far between.
Anglers are asked to keep an eye out for red skin disease (RSD) on salmon in our rivers again this season; many salmon were reported to be suffering from this disease in 2019 and it seems as though it has returned with the fish in 2020, with cases already reported in the rivers Corrib and Leannan. Anglers are asked to forward any reports of salmon with signs of RSD along with photographs and an estimate of fish weight to [email protected] or notify us by calling IFI’s 24 hour confidential hotline number on 0818 34 74 24 or 0818 FISH 24.
A salmon from the River Corrib showing early signs of the disease in 2019
Shore anglers featured well in reports this week. Bright conditions and clear blue skies can make for difficult fishing but the anglers who did spend time at the coast seemed to do well enough; bass, rays, smoothies and some mackerel coming ashore from various marks around the country.
Linda Manton in clear blue Clare
Many charter skippers are readying their vessels for June 8th when they will once again be able to take bookings for angling trips. Skippers have been very proactive in designing their own customised Covid 19 guidelines to suit their boats and keep their anglers safe while on board – top marks to them.
Lisín 1 all set for launch
As part of the Irish Marine Recreational Angling Survey, IFI in consultation with stakeholders have developed a behaviour and attitude questionnaire to inform about the state of sea angling in Ireland. If you consider yourself a sea angler, regardless of your level of ability or enthusiasm, we would love to hear from you.
We haven’t seen many reports in from pike and coarse anglers this week, although we know of some large catches of tench in the upper Shannon region. We hope to see some more reports from coarse and pike fisheries next week when we expect more anglers to get out fishing.
Ireland’s loughs have continued to fish well for trout anglers. Some large fish were reported on Sheelin to both spent mayfly and to the murrough which are starting to hatch around the lake. On Lough Conn, local anglers reported their best mayfly season for a long number of years, with low numbers of anglers thought to have had a very positive effect. Over on Lough Corrib, the caenis hatch is well underway providing superb sport for the early risers.
Playing a fish on Lough Sheelin
And now the weather….
Rain will become widespread through Ulster, north Connacht and north Leinster overnight on Friday, holding mostly dry further south. Windy and rainy on Saturday, especially in the morning, top temps 11°C-15°C. Sunday will be mostly dry day with some sunny spells. Highest temperatures to 13°C in the north and 18°C elsewhere in moderate northerly winds. Mostly dry and cloudy on Monday with some sunny spells. Highs of 12°C in the north, 16°C elsewhere in light northerly breezes. Tuesday will start cloudy in most areas and rain will push in from the Atlantic, becoming patchier as it moves eastwards overnight. Highest temperatures to 17°C.
It is expected under Phase 2 of the relaxation of lockdown measures that people will be able to travel anywhere within their own county; this will open up access to many of of our rivers, lakes and coastal areas to increased numbers of anglers who are desperate to get on the water. Remember to observe good hygiene and social distancing measures wherever you find yourself fishing.
Safe fishing to all this weekend and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Shore anglers have done well this last week with reports of some decent bass, smooth hound and ray fishing from different parts. There’s even some mackerel showing up close to the shore in places. With the increased relaxation of measures expected from Monday, more anglers will be able to get to the shore to wet a line within 20km of their homes.
Inshore Angler Chris O’Sullivan uploaded another good video on his YouTube channel – smooth hound and undulate ray being the quarry in Tralee Bay this time. Chris has some nice stuff up there and it’s well worth a look.
Nicki Foley was out after bass on a balmy bank holiday evening last weekend and, despite some very calm conditions, the fish didn’t disappoint.
Nicki Foley displays one of her bass
Decky Walsh was also out over the weekend, but he had bigger fish to fry with some good sized smoothies to 13lbs landed under cover of darkness.
Decky Walsh & smoothie
Dean Quigley was after his first LRF bass of 2020; he managed to land a fish or two from a calm sea in bright sunshine – not easily done at all so fair play Dean.
Dean Quigley and his first LRF bass of 2020
Under similar clear blue skies on the Clare coastline, Linda Manton took her first cast in over 4 months. She wasn’t disappointed, landing some early season mackerel in a truly stunning setting.
Linda Manton in clear blue Clare
On the north coast some good ray fishing has been reported, both Sean Murray and Sam Stirling reporting excellent fishing from different marks along the Donegal coastline.
Sean Murray and a nice shore caught ray
If you do make it out to the coast in the coming week and manage to catch a few yourself do drop us a line on [email protected] and we’ll post up your report.
Water levels are very low making Salmon fishing challenging, however, a change is forecast for the coming midweek and it may freshen up the system. Trout fishing remains good at the moment on the Munster Blackwater. Fishing is reported to have dropped off above Fermoy towards Mallow, waiting on some rain to encourage fish movement. Reports of some grilse running in the system.
Anglers and fishery owners are asked to be watchful of red skin disease (RSD) in any fish taken on their beats and forward details including photo if possible and estimated weight to [email protected]or call and report via Inland Fisheries Ireland 0818 34 74 24 confidential hotline. Stay Safe.
27/5/20 Suntan factor 50 was the order of the day but takeaway the 5 and you have the facts of the day. Wind Southwest light to calm and hardly a cloud in sight. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.1 centigrade.
28/5/20 The Currane Anglers were at a standstill thanks to a strong Southeast wind followed by bright sunshine all day. Yesterday’s weather 17.3 centigrade, so on that note we will head for memories past on Lough Currane and my apologies to UK and Currane Angler, Mr. Gary W Humphrey for not putting it up sooner.
The above Photo brings back many happy memories of Fishing Lough Currane with my Father & Brod O’Sullivan of Stela Maris Waterville.
This particular trip was very fruitful the Year 2000 June. I believe we had fantastic fishing with Brod who at the time said it was like the old Days, 11 Salmon & 17 Sea Trout caught all around Lough Currane, all Trolling. The weather at the time was very rough with intermittent showers which prevented the Drift Netters from venturing out to Sea. This we believe allowed a fantastic run of Grilse to enter Lough Currane and we were lucky enough to be there for this Bonanza. Regards,
Gary.
29/5/20 A better fishing day weather wise but sadly the Lough Currane Wild Atlantic Salmon kept their Mouths shut and stayed deep as the Currane Waters get lower and lower. Wind Southeast light to fresh with the odd strong gust, Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 23.0 centigrade.
30/5/20 All quiet on all fronts. Wind Southeast light to fresh. Sunny all day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 22.1 centigrade.
31/5/20 Well its at the end of May plus the June bank Holliday all in one, not one fish recorded this day and what would you expect with a low Lake, clear skies, and air temperatures in the high twenties. I know Currane Anglers are true Professionals but give us a break. Wind Southeast light. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature, 21.9 centigrade.
Sun setting on Lough Currane
1/6/20 The Currane Angler’s blood pressure is nearly as low as Lough Currane and as you can see by this photo taken 3 miles away, give or take from the Bull rock and that sums up today’s lack of action, or you could say the heat is on the Currane Anglers, so on that note we finish today’s notes on this evening sunset on the Currane waters. Wind West light and bright sunshine and very warm. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 24.1 centigrade.
2/6/20 The Currane Anglers had Currane withdrawal symptoms today as the temperature rose to a height of no spin no flies and that is no Bull, that sums up today’s angling news. Wind NW light to fresh and very warm and little to no cloud. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 21.9 centigrade.
3/6/20 As we all know the Waterville Fishery is extremely low in the water department and today’s North-Northeast wind certainly did not help the Currane angler’s enthusiasm, which is quite understandable but Thankfully this reporter is currently one boot ahead, just. That sums up today’s notes. Wind as already stated, bright and sunny all day but as you can imagine today was much cooler thanks to the North East wind. Yesterday’s weather 20.2 centigrade.
Wild Atlantic Way on the 2nd of June 2020
4/6/20 Again the weather is the talk amongst the Currane Anglers and for good reason, one minute its roasting, the next minute it’s the complete opposite and today was no exception, with a strong and Gusty Northeast wind blowing, whether your Salmon or Sea Trout Anglers, the present conditions are an anglers nightmare. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.2 centigrade.
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
A number of charter skippers around the coast are preparing for the start to their fishing seasons come June 8th and the anticipated relaxation of lockdown measures in phase 2 of the roadmap to reopening Ireland.
Many skippers have prepared their own Covid 19 guidelines to ensure that anglers stay safe while on board their vessels.
An example of onboard Covid 19 guidelines – this one courtesy of Wicklow Boat Charters
Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters is taking bookings for the coming month, with June and July being particularly good months for specimen smooth hound fishing on the east coast.
Further down the coast Dungarvan Offshore Charters are afloat since last Saturday with Algerine sporting a new coat of paint. A test run saw plenty of mackerel and a few pollack boated, booking of limited numbers of anglers will be allowed from the 8th. Hand sanitiser and other precautions will be in place on board.
Irish Deep Sea Charters in Glandore will allow 6 anglers on the Chloe Jay and 4 on Rod ‘n’ Reel from next week; this shouldn’t affect their shark trips too much. They will be also running whale watching and family trips if there is sufficient demand on Sundays in June and July. Deck marking will indicate 2 metre distancing and masks are recommended.
In Courtmacsherry, the Lady Patricia has been taking local family groups out fishing since May 20th with some good results and Courtmacsherry Angling should be able to increase their offerings as the phases move on.
Plenty of macks in Courtmac
Over in Clare, Carrigaholt Sea Angling and the Clare Dragoon are back on the water with limited bookings available from June 8th.
In Donegal, Tuna.ie fishing trips will commence again on ‘Deep Blue’ during Phase 2 of the relaxation of lockdown measures. Angler numbers will be limited to four in order to be compliant with social distancing guidelines. No person will be permitted aboard this season if showing symptoms of a cold, flu or cough. Hand sanitiser must be used upon boarding and leaving the boat, it is recommended that all persons wear face masks or coverings. Masks will be provided if required.
Bluefin action on Tuna.ie
If you are a charter skipper and you want to be included in a post like this then please get in contact with us at [email protected]; we will update posts like this regularly as we move through the phases and get back to angling safely nationwide.
The bass is a species respected by anglers all over the world as one of the hardest fighting fish for it size. In Kerry I’m lucky to have the facilities to chase after these amazing species and due to quarantine I’ve had the chance to really try for them. Catching bass was never my strong point but I’ve had a few decent ones while fishing for other species. I decided as I had plenty of crab left over that it would do no harm to use them up so off I set. I started off on the wrong foot after finding out I brought the wrong reel meaning the heaviest line I had was. 22 which is very dodgy especially when fishing rough ground.
The day started off great with a nice bass on the first cast but soon slowed down and it was dark before I got the next bite. The rod started tipping but I thought nothing of it as the fish didn’t seem to be going for it. The rod slowly bent over and stayed there so I assumed the fish was gone. After 10 minutes I decided to check the bait. The rod didn’t seem to want to move so I thought the fish had got me stuck I kept the pressure on however and after feeling the odd tug against me I realised that the fish was still on.
It took 10 minutes of constant pressure before the fish came free but that was just the start every bit of weed the fish passed it dived for it. After a few minutes of non-stop fighting the fish tired out and I managed to land it. I realised by just looking at the fish that it was my pb bass. I was as happy as a kid in a candy shop. I was just as delighted to watch the fish swim back instantly with no hassle.
Call for Sea Anglers in Ireland to Participate in National Survey
Inland Fisheries Ireland is looking to gather information from all Irish sea anglers through an online survey as part of a new programme – the Irish Marine Recreational Sea Angling Survey (IMREC) . The findings of the survey will help inform the larger project with the overall aim being to improve the management of stocks and support conservation efforts thereby contributing to increasing the availability of fish to sea anglers in the future. For more information about IMREC, visit https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Projects/imrec.html where you can learn more, including a full FAQ guide.
This online survey seeks to collect information on the behaviours, attitudes and catch preferences of all Irish sea anglers. This information will feed into the IMREC project where it will be analysed by researchers. Inland Fisheries Ireland has established this new programme which will give a clear picture of how fishing activities relate to stock levels. This work is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
The survey will take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete and participants will receive an Angling Ireland neck buff and line clipper for taking part. Participants will also have a chance of winning one of three sets of tackle vouchers for a fishing shop of your choice (1st prize €200, 2nd prize €150, 3rd prize €100). You can participate in the survey by visiting the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IMRECSurvey.
