There’s been quite a change in the weather and fishing conditions have improved dramatically in the last few days. Last week it was blazing sunshine and low water, now its cooler temperatures and floods! While last week’s conditions weren’t terribly suitable for freshwater anglers our salty counterparts made the very most of what was on offer in an update that at times feels like an episode of Shark Week…

We’ll start this week’s Irish Angling Update in Donegal and work our way south. Some of the Killybegs Mariners had good fishing for smoothhounds from the beach last week with fish over 1m landed. John Fleming’s guests enjoyed some superb action on Galway Bay over the weekend, with porbeagle sharks and pollacking providing the sport. Off the Clare coast anglers on the Clare Dragoon also enjoyed some exciting shark fishing week with porbeagles and blues taking the baits. There was shore angling action on the Shannon Estuary too where Tralee SAC fished a competition which was won by young up and coming angler Paddy McMahon.

To West Cork now where Stephen O’Donovan won West Cork and District match on Bantry Bay. The competition was fished on the Bantry Airstrip which always produces rays and huss. Ardmore anglers fishing on the Chloe Jay out of Union Hall were catching skate and ground fish, while 3 anglers fishing on Silver Dawn out of Courtmacsherry did battle with 30 sharks before calling it quits. In amongst the 30 sharks were 4 specimens – that’s Catch of the Week. Staying at Courtmacsherry we get a review of the charter and small boat season so far from Mark Gannon. To the kayaks now and a visiting angler from the US had a great day out with Angling Adventures West Cork.

Crosshaven Sea Anglers Club hosted the eagerly anticipated Hong Kong Trophy and Guinness Fish and a Half Trophy Competition at the weekend and it was a home win for unstoppable Anthony Austin. From the other side of Cork Harbour, Tomasz Kujawa won the 4th Cobh SAC master angler, his third in a row in the series! Finally, we finish our sea angling round up as worn out as the anglers from Dungarvan, who who could take no more punishment from the sharks after no. 23 was unhooked and decided instead to enjoy the thrill of feeding them like ducks and photographing the fun. Sounds like a perfect afternoon on the water to me!

We’ll slow the pace now and turn to a more sedate sort of summer fishing as we take in some coarse angling reports. Last week’s beautiful weather made for ideal lazing on the river bank fishing but it did no favours for anglers fishing competitions. Athy and District Anglers fished the 5th leg of their Summer League. Conditions were difficult and Tommy Cahill won on 4lb 13 ozs – more than double the weight of the next best angler. Junior anglers fishing the 2nd leg of the 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 did better. The method was float and many of the them topped 10kg by the halftime mark despite the scorching conditions.

Perch anglers fishing with Bodo Funke in the Boyle area had some outstanding catches before the hot weather took hold last week. Fishing a variety of lures and methods they caught plenty of fish with 4 perch over 40cm, best at 43cm.

Last week salmon anglers were confounded by low water levels and high water temperatures. Since Monday it’s high water and floods. There were a few fish reported from the Moy, Currane, Laune, Lein, Lee and Blackwater but all eyes are on this week as the floods are expected to bring on a run of fish. In other salmon news the fourth and final brown tag draw for the Roughty River is now open and anglers can can apply at the IFI website until midnight on Sunday, August 3^rd, 2025.

Much like the salmon anglers, trout anglers did not have it easy last week and many simply rested their favourite pools. A few anglers tried their luck in the evenings as the conditions cooled and trout came on the feed during the evening hatches. A visiting angler jumped ship at Foynes to cool his heels in the Deel and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon between its green and shady banks. On Sunday, Garykennedy fished a catch and release competition on Lough Derg. Senan Stanley has a video of his day where he caught 17 trout before rising winds saw him leave the lake, tired but content. Lough Derg’s croneen trout are on the move with the summer floods and Johannes Bulfin of Watershed Fly Fishing has had some very enjoyable fishing for this unique Irish fish. We finish in Mayo where anglers who normally report on the trout fishing on Conn and Cullin have been slipping out to the river at witching hour to catch trout on sedges. The magic of it.

Other news…

In other news, pocast Ireland on the Fly talks to Paky Trotter. Packy is a life long fly angler, guide and instructor who epitomises the spirit of teaching and learning in the sport. Suffice to say, there’s plenty we can learn from Packy.

And now the weather…

Largely dry at first tomorrow with plenty of cloud and just limited sunny spells. Showery outbreaks of rain will continue to develop in the southwest through the morning, slowly extending over much of Munster through the afternoon and later into south Leinster and south Connacht bringing the possibility of spot flooding (Yellow Rain Warning for Cork and Kerry over the weekend). Drier elsewhere with sunny spells and scattered showers developing, some of which could be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 16 to 21°C, coolest in the southwest, with moderate, occasionally fresh southeasterly winds developing, strong at times on southern coasts, where a Small Craft Warning is in effect for Saturday.

The outlook is for this unsettled weather to continue, with frequent showers or spells of rain, through the end of the weekend and into the middle of next week.

Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before heading off, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

All the angling news

Salmon Fishing Reports

• Laune low and just a handful of fish reported from Killarney last week
• A couple of salmon from Currane before last week’s heatwave
• Better numbers of grilse in Blackwater and rain gives cause for hope
• Another few salmon reported from the Lee
• Challenging fishing on the Moy
• IFI opens final draw for Kerry salmon anglers for 2025 – Roughty River

Trout Fishing Reports

• 2nd place for Senan in Lough Derg trout competition
• First summer floods see Croneen starting to run
• Trout fishing on Conn & Cullin slow but some nice trout reported from smaller rivers within the catchment
• Trout fishing takes a break over hot weekend – PiscariFly Update
• A good Deel of fishing for Brock with Celtic Angling

Coarse Angling Reports

• Tough conditions for 5th match in Athy Summer League
• 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 at Oaklands
• Big Perch around Boyle

Pike Fishing Reports

• Big Perch around Boyle

Sea Angling Reports

• Paddy McMahon claims 1st senior win with Tralee SAC
• Tomasz Kujawa wins 3 in a row at Cobh SAC master angler series
• Ardmore crew do well in Union Hall
• Half-time review from Courtmacsherry Angling Centre
• Stephen O’Donovan wins West Cork and District match on Bantry Bay
• Exhausted anglers stop at shark number 23 as 10 circle the boat
• Thirty sharks including 4 specimens on one trip
• Smoothound beach action for Mariners crew in Donegal
• Galway Bay alive with fish – great shark action on the Brazen Hussy II
• Sharks and sunshine on the Clare Dragoon
• Big Catches And Bigger Wins at Crosshaven Sea Anglers Club
• Pollack smashing lures and rods for kayak anglers in West Cork

Other news

• Ireland on the Fly talks to Paky Trotter