Matt Kemmy wins Ballyforan Easter Angling Festival

By

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May 2, 2019

Bill Cassidy, Connacht Match Group, reports on the Ballyforan Easter Angling Festival…

Ballyforan Easter Festival is a new event which we hope to establish as a major attraction on the river Suck.

The festival was run over two days as a pilot to see what reaction it would create. Well, the response was great with some anglers joining us from overseas.

The main venue the famous Bends but as this section was not capable of accommodating all the anglers we had to use another section upstream which proved to a great move as it produced the biggest weights

Results were

Section 1 day 1

angler — Richard Pratt, 1st on Section 1 day1 and 3rd overall

Richard Pratt……………25 lbs 12 oz
Kevin Leahy…………….13lbs 08 oz
Tony Brunt………………9 lbs 15 oz
Paul Mc Caul……………31 lbs 07 oz

Section 1 Day 2

John Andrews won day 2 on section 1 and finished 5th overall

John Andrews…………..22 lbs 14 oz
Matt Kemmy……………33 lbs 00 oz
Ronnie Goldwater…….14 lbs 02 oz
Bill Cassidy……………….38 lbs 08 oz

Top 5 overall

Matt Kemmy ……………56 lbs
Paul Mc Saul……………..52 lbs 13 oz
Richard Pratt…………….52lbs 02 oz
Bill Cassidy………………..52lbs
John Andrews………40 lbs 13 oz

Connacht Match Group would like to thank all those who helped with clearing swims and making road access possible.

Thanks to the farmers for the use of their property for the weekend

It is intended to run the festival again next year increasing it to a 3 day.

We would also like to run one on the August Bank Holiday.

This is a great venue with great potential but access and facilities need a major upgrade.

Go fishing…

Connacht Match Group

Sensas Connacht has been running for approximately 3 years, what started off as a few lads fishing a competition between themselves every few weeks has now turned into a very strong match group with international presence.

NCFFI

Connacht Match Group is affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland and are members of the Angling Council the National Governing Body for coarse and predator angling. www.ncffi.ie

New research shows near extinction of angel shark in Irish waters

By

Orla Sheils

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May 2, 2019

New research published by Inland Fisheries Ireland has revealed how angel shark stocks have declined alarmingly in Irish waters. The study published in ‘Endangered Species Research’, includes long-term angling data which shows how stocks of this ‘Critically Endangered’ species crashed in the late 1990s and remain severely depleted today. An analysis of angling data over a 40 year period at two hotspots in Irish waters, Tralee Bay (Kerry) and Clew Bay (Mayo), reveals a sharp decline of at least 95% over the last 25 years.

Since 2000, only 20 angel shark have been recorded by Inland Fisheries Ireland with just one caught since 2011. This compares to an average of 65 angel shark tagged annually in Ireland by angling charter boat skippers for the IFI tagging programme at the peak in the 1980s. Between 1958 and 2016, a total of 1,261 angel shark were recorded with most of the fish (85 per cent) captured in Tralee Bay with a further 9 per cent captured in Clew Bay. The data for these historical hotspots for angel shark in Ireland are significant to international angel shark conservation efforts.

While angel shark were common in waters from Scotland to North Africa, they are susceptible to capture in commercial fishing gear and as a result, their populations have declined sharply. Their large size, slow reproductive cycle and tendency to live on the seabed mean they are vulnerable to capture.

*Catch Per Unit Effort of angel shark over recent decades*

Since the 1970s, Inland Fisheries Ireland scientists have been coordinating the tagging of sharks and rays caught on Irish recreational angling boats. The Marine Tagging Programme distributes numbered tags to skippers along with information and a logbook while Irish Specimen Fish Committee coordinates the collection of information of specimen fish caught in Irish waters.

Dr William Roche, study co-author and Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “The contribution of angling charter skippers to this programme has produced a dataset of international importance to marine conservation. Our analysis shows that catches of angel shark have declined to almost zero in both Tralee Bay and Clew Bay. However, there is still some hope for angel shark in Ireland, as there have been anecdotal sightings of the fish in recent years.”

Lead author Sam Shephard said: “The imperative now is to learn more about the species in its previous strongholds and in any new locations, and work to protect these critical environments. Inland Fisheries Ireland is keen to contribute to international efforts to safeguard this species.”

Visit Endangered Species Research to read the full article.

Big huss and specimen spurdog on Galway Bay for Dublin anglers

By

myleskelly

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May 2, 2019

Charter Skipper, John Fleming was on to tell us that they finally had a few spurs on Galway Bay last week. Fishing with a group of lads from Dublin he steamed to their first mark and set up on anchor over a patch of mixed ground.

It was a slow start with a few huss for Chris and Alan Kelly. Eventually on the turn of the tide they got a proper hit and Darren Kelly got his first specimen spurdog with a length of 110cm and weight of 14.5lb.

At last a good spurdog – and a specimen too

Unfortunately things went quiet altogether after that so they changed mark for the flood tide. Once again they set up over mixed ground and waited patiently. John Mellerick had two good bites but unfortunately the fish which everyone was pretty confident were spurs spat the baits.

Tom Lynch had a very good take at the stern and it ended up being a smashing huss of 15lb just shy of specimen.

Go fishing…

Blue Shark Angling

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

Address: Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Telephone: +353 (0)87 7571320
Email: [email protected] Website: http://bluesharkangling.ie/

Cracking Carp for Dan in the North East

By

David Byrne

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May 2, 2019

Local tackle shops are a great source of fishing information and on a visit to Anglers World in Navan this morning I spoke with Dan O’Callaghan who had been on a carp session in the north-east last weekend. As we all know, fishing can be tough by times and its great to have success especially when we get that special catch. Dan had been keeping an eye on the weather during his session but mother nature did not cooperate. Dropping pressure and low temperatures were not ideal. However, Dan persevered with hand feeding boilies into his chosen swim and eventually on the last evening got that all important bite and take. After a good fight from a well conditioned fish, Dan netted a beautiful 18lb carp. Well worth all of the effort. After a quick photo, the fish was released safely back to the water. If you are passing and need to know what’s happening locally why not drop in for a chat. Dan informs us that in addition to their range of pike, coarse, game and sea angling gear, carp enthusiasts will find a full range of specialist tackle in-store.

Anglers World, Balmoral Business Park, Kells Road, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. Tel: 00 353 46 9071866
www.anglersworld.ie offer you specialist fishing tackle products from around the world, Pike, Carp, Coarse, Sea, Game & Fly are all covered. Based in Navan,County Meath.
Email: [email protected] Web: www.anglersworld.ie

A full listing of tackle dealers nationwide can be found at https://www.fishinginireland.info/tackleshops/index.htm

Mayfly up on Corrib with buzzer also producing good fishing

By

Kevin Crowley

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May 2, 2019

Declan Gibbons reports that sport on Corrib has really taken off lately.

The Lower Corrib Area is fishing well to buzzer and the Upper Corrib is fishing well to olives and mayflies.

In the Cornamona area The Cornamona & District Anglers Association hosted their Annual C&R Competition in Aid of The Galway Hospice, 60 Anglers recorded 145 fish with an average length of 38cms. winners on the day Mike Coyne & TJ Carroll with 13 fish for their day on wet flies. Longest Fish was 51cms and there was a tie for this category with Mike Keady & Cormac Dunleavy sharing the Prize.

Competitors in the Cornamona Pairs competition prior to setting off. — Competitors in the Cornamona competition prior to setting off.

Cornamona C&R Hospice Competition Pairs Winners TJ Carroll & Mike Coyne (centre ) with Club Officers

Staying in the Cornamona area Tom Doc Sullivan http://www.tomdoc.com reports good fishing for the week gone by with Rory McCabe from Wicklow landing 4 fish on Friday last, John Mullins had 4 fish for his day.

Peter Cox from Dublin had 5 fish on dry olives for his day on Corrib and Richie Johnston had a lovely fish of 3Lbs on a golden olive bumble.

In the Oughterard area Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge 091-552550 reports of reasonably good angling and with weather conditions becoming more favourable predicting the angling to match it, all fish caught at the Lodge for the week were caught on olives and buzzer, On Easter Monday Mike Murphy from Shannon had 3 fish for his day, Jack Kingcade from Northern Ireland had 7 fish on Wednesday last with the best fish being 52cms. Thursday Martin Mullane had 2 fish for his outing and on Sunday Mark Kinnane had 2 fish for 7Lbs, Joe Murray had 1 fish for 3Lbs and Shannon angler Glen O Connell also had 1 fish for 3Lbs.

Staying in the area Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Bay Boat Hire, Guiding & Self Catering 087-9604170 also reports of good angling in the area. On Monday last John Broadbent from Donegal had 3 fish on wets with the best fish being 2.5Lbs, On Friday last Kevin himself had 5 fish on wets from 1.5Lbs up to 3Lbs, On Saturday Kevin along with his Brother Eamon landed 2 fish with the best fish being 5Lbs. On Sunday last Jim Fitzsimons and his 2 Sons were trolling and landed 2 fish averaging a pound and both returned. Midlands angler Ian had 2 fish on the fly and Richard & Hugh McGuire had 7 fish for their day on Corrib with fish varying in size from a 1Lbs to 3Lbs.

In the Cong area Caolan McDonnell landed a superb fish of 9lbs on the dap.

Richard Molloy from Ballard Shore Boat Hire & Self Catering (tel. +353 87 2879339) reported that Joe Duff and a friend landed 10 fish to the boat in the Cornamona area, including 4 fish over 4lbs (all released).

Mary Miller from Lough Corrib Fly Fishing (tel.+353 (0) 89 4507 213) was also in touch with a great photo of Paul Smithson, who landed a fine 6lb 5oz trout while out with boatman Greg O’Donoghue. The fish took a size 12 epoxy buzzer in Ballindiff Bay. Mary reports that buzzer has been attracting plenty of fish, but wetfly fishing with mayfly patterns is also producing fish.

Mask fishing well as olives and mayfly appear

By

Kevin Crowley

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May 2, 2019

Ronan Cusack reports on an upswing in fishing on Lough Mask:

Mask continues to fish well over the past week with some excellent catches reported. Good olive hatches plus the odd mayfly have also begun to appear in some of the usual hotspots. Wetfly fishing along the shallows is still the most productive method.

Denis Kelleher and Phil Brooks had an enjoyable day over the weekend with 6 trout over the limit plus several undersize (best fish 2lbs, all returned). Tom and Neil Foley had 4 trout on Sunday and again numerous undersize on wets. Tom Doc Sullivan had a lively day on Mask last week landing 5 fish to 2lbs on wets. Ronan Cusack and Tim Hannon had a good evening on buzzer earlier this week with 6 fish up to 2.25lbs (all returned)

Fly hatches on Mask are just beginning to take off so pack your bags and head west.

Ronan Cusack with a well-made Mask trout of 2.25lbs

Matt Kemmy wins Ballyforan Easter Angling Festival

By

myleskelly

-

May 2, 2019

Bill Cassidy, Connacht Match Group, reports on the Ballyforan Easter Angling Festival…

Ballyforan Easter Festival is a new event which we hope to establish as a major attraction on the river Suck.

The festival was run over two days as a pilot to see what reaction it would create. Well, the response was great with some anglers joining us from overseas.

The main venue the famous Bends but as this section was not capable of accommodating all the anglers we had to use another section upstream which proved to a great move as it produced the biggest weights

Results were