Angling World: Tom McAdam is widely regarded as one of the finest sea anglers in Ireland. His skill and enthusiasm for the sport has stood him in good stead over the years and many rewards have flowed from this dedication.
As a member of Telesport Sea Angling Club, McAdam has represented Ireland at three world championships and two home internationals. He was also the Irish team manager in two junior world championships.
In the past, shore angling was his preferred choice. In this, he excelled and regularly featured as outright winner of the big open-shore competitions. More recently, however, his efforts have drifted towards boat-angling as "the fish are not on the beaches any more", he said.
Living in north Co Dublin, McAdam is now a regular in local competitions. Three years ago he won the popular Rush Open with a huge tally of 35 pollack, and he finished in second in the past two years.
Last Saturday week he continued his winning ways with a comfortable win in the annual Howth "Dr Michael Woods" boat competition. Gilling close to Lambay Island, McAdam caught 14 pollack to 54cm (about 5lb) and wrasse to scoop first prize against a strong field.
Results: 1, T. McAdam (Telesport), 146pts; 2, G. Clarke (Howth), 80 pts; 3, M. O'Reilly (Howth), 76pts.
Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now has a new website, www.stopnow.ie, which features items relating to the background to the campaign, the economics of salmon exploitation and the mechanism by which anglers and other interested parties can donate to the campaign.
The Loughs Agency held its first Saltwater Fly and Lure Two-Day Angling Festival recently in Carlingford Lough. More than 80 anglers took part and a number of bass were caught on the fly along the Greenore shore.
Casting expert Gary Coxon (Sage UK and APGAI) offered advice on casting large lures on single-handed rods and fly-tyer Terry Jenner was kept busy tying a variety of saltwater lures and weed guards onto flies.
James Cassidy, Eddie Carlisle and Henry Thompson took top honours on Day 1, and a duo from Warrenpoint coasted home in first position on Day 2 - Brian Connelly and Rory McManus were delighted with their first fly-caught bass after three years of trying.
Good bass fishing is reported from the Kilmore/Rosslare area in Co Wexford. A number of returnable bass were caught and anglers took in fish up to 3lb.
A specimen haddock of 7lb 8oz was caught last month by John Dennehy from Cork while fishing aboard Tigger, skippered by John Angles from Castletownbere, Beara Peninsula.
Following a recent central council meeting of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers, an application to host the 2005 World Boat Junior Championships was tendered to CIPS-Mer, the world body of sea angling. If successful in the bid, the championships will be held in Cork.
Tuam and District Anglers is holding an open competition for the Des O'Donnell Memorial Cup out from Greenfields on Lough Corrib this Saturday.
Entries should be returned before this Thursday to allow for fishing partners to be arranged. For further details, call Ian Callander on 09096-79012.