Breaking news for salmon and sea trout anglers. Following advice prepared by the Standing Scientific Committee, the National Salmon Commission has recommended to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan that certain rivers and loughs be reopened for salmon and sea trout angling for the 2008 season.
Following complete closure of Lough Gill for salmon angling in 2007, the North Western Regional Fisheries Board (NWRFB) has announced that salmon angling will again be allowed on the lake from tomorrow.
Under new regulations, salmon caught from January 1st to May 11th must be returned unharmed. During this period only one barbless hook is allowed and worming will not be permitted. From May 12th to August 31st, however, anglers may take up to three salmon per day and use all legitimate methods. From September 1st this will revert to one fish per day.
The same regulations will apply to the inflowing Garavogue and Bonet rivers when their season opens tomorrow and February 1st, respectively.
Vincent Roche, NWRFB chief executive officer, said, "It is imperative that spring salmon stocks are conserved and, for that reason, the fishery will be open on a strictly catch-and-release basis for spring fish." Hopefully, in due course, stocks will recover sufficiently to allow a limited number to be taken annually, he said.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has announced a plethora of changes from an angling perspective for the coming season. They include the following. River Fane: open for angling. Rivers Boyne, Castletown and Slaney (including sea trout less than 40cm): catch and release. River Liffey: closed for salmon and sea trout. Rivers Dee, Flurry, Glyde, Dargle, Avoca, Owenavarragh and Vartry: closed for salmon and open for sea trout under 40cm.
In rivers that are open (when bag limit is reached) or where catch-and-release is to be practised, the use of worms will not be permitted and a single, barbless hook is compulsory. On rivers open for angling, an annual bag limit of 10 fish will apply.
An angler may take three salmon or sea trout (over 40cm) from January 1st to May 11th, but not more than one fish on any day during that period; three per day from May 12th to August 31st and one from September 1st to end of angling season.
A conservation stamp for rebuilding of the salmon resource will apply in the eastern region during 2008 and all monies generated will fund the rehabilitation of rivers below conservation limits.
Both fisheries boards are anxious to point out that if there is abuse of catch-and-release, the boards will request that the river (or rivers) in question be closed to all fishing. Free copies of catch-and-release DVDs will be available in January.
See www.dcmnr.gov.ieor www.fishingireland.netfor confirmation of new regulations and bylaws.
• Salmon licence charges for 2008 are: annual licence - €134; district licence - €64; 21-day licence - €50; juvenile licence €20; one-day licence - €36.
• An end-of-season pike competition ended in great joy for one junior angler. While fishing in the annual Carra Trout Anglers' pike competition, Eamonn Kennedy caught a magnificent pike of 10.6kg, sufficient in size to win overall prize for biggest fish on the day.
The western regional fisheries board staff were on hand to ensure all pike caught were measured and tagged and relocated to local pike lakes.
"Eamonn (aged 12) and his brother Bernard (aged 14) are very keen anglers and operate catch-and-release for all their fish," according to dad Bernard Kennedy.
• Robbie Coventry took top honours at the recent Raheny & District SAC Christmas Competition at the Hungry Acre in Greystones, Co Wicklow with six fish that included an excellent coalfish of 38cm. Species caught included flounder, dabs, rockling, small whiting and coalfish. In all, 47 fish were recorded and returned. Results: 1, R Coventry, 6 fish; 2, T Byrne, 7f; 3, T Fogarty, 7f.
• Corkagh Park Fishery, Dublin (Tel: 01-4592622): Corn and maggots continue as the bait of choice for carp on the coarse lake. Last week Harry Kilpatrick caught 10 up to 4.5kg. Over on the trout lake, two US visitors enjoyed a great day's fishing landing 22 rainbows.