The Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI) kicked off for the summer season, with several groups enjoying fishing lessons and field trips. Sphere 17 and Whitechurch Youth Services were among the first groups, while Chapelizod’s Community Festival incorporated angling and environmental lessons into its programme of events.
Sphere 17, from Darndale, travelled to Malahide to take a charter boat for a few hours of sea angling. The trip was one of six over the past month which included lessons in coarse and game fishing.
Meanwhile, Whitechurch ventured to Courtlough in Balbriggan where they received coaching in bubble and fly fishing for trout and best-practice catch and release methods.
In addition, at the Chapelizod festival, 16 young people enjoyed an environmental and history lesson on the Liffey from fisheries staff. This was followed by an opportunity to examine juvenile trout and salmon.
Co-ordinator Oisin Cahill said: “The DAI aims to empower young people to appreciate and enjoy their local amenity by showing them what it can offer alongside giving them an understanding of the importance of conservation and protection.”
Enquiries are welcome from groups or individuals interested in the programme. Availability will be on a first come, first served basis. Email: oisin.cahill@fisheriesireland.ie.
Minister signs new fisheries Act
A new Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2017 (No. 16 of 2017) has come into operation following signing by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, and signature by the President on 6th July, 2017.
The Act confers explicit power on Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for inland fisheries offences and resolves an issue concerning IFI’s power to prosecute that came to light in February 2017.
Minister of State for Natural Resources Seán Kyne said: “Having taken the Bill through both the Dáil and Seanad, I am delighted to see this law being signed. It will help IFI carry out one of its core responsibilities of protecting, managing and conserving over 74,000 kilometres of rivers and streams and 128,000 hectares of lakes across the country.”
Loughs Agency seeks logs
The Loughs Agency is encouraging anglers to log their fishing efforts when fishing in the Foyle and Carlingford region on the new eLicence website. Have you purchased a licence this year? Log in with your angler number at elicence.loughs-agency.org and update your angling log throughout the season.
Lionel Knobbs, angling development manager with the Loughs Agency, said: “While it is a legal obligation to make returns for salmon and sea trout, the agency is keen to see fishing logs from coarse and sea anglers as well.”
Shark bonanza in Galway
Galway Bay skipper John Fleming enjoyed a fantastic weekend shark fishing, saying: “Probably, all in all, the best weekend sharking we have ever had, not the highest number of sharks but four porbeagles in three days . . . this hasn’t been done in Galway in a long time, and, to top it off, six blues.”
He went on: “We had two baby ‘beagles’ which was great to see, around 22kg, and two around the 45kg mark. What a powerful fish they are, with long deep runs and long fights. We also landed six blues ranging between 31kg-45kg.”
Not a bad start to the shark season. All were tagged and released.
There is still some availability at the weekends and plenty of midweek days to do battle with these fantastic predators. To book fishing with John call 087-7571320 or visit the Facebook page of Blue Shark Angling Galway.
Good catch on Killala Bay
On Sunday, a group from Ballyhaunis ventured out on Killala Bay aboard the charter vessel Leah with skipper Donal Kennedy. The first drift took place well out in the bay over rocky ground and although fresh mackerel were scarce, the skipper came well prepared with plenty of frozen mackerel. Throughout the day a variety of species were caught including cod, pollack, ling, pouting, cuckoo wrasse and coalfish.
Fine trout caught in slow week on Moy Estuary
Judd Ruane, skipper of Pegasus, reported that sea trout fishing on the Moy Estuary slowed down somewhat during the past week. Despite the tricky conditions, a number of fine trout were caught. Aidan Spooner and three friends had nine fish, while the Roger Small party from the UK boated eight. Other successful anglers included Pat Simpson and two friends with nine and Terence Kane and son had seven.
To book a day’s sea trout fishing, contact Judd on 087-6736969.
angling@irishtimes.com
