Angling Notes: Shark angling in Irish waters suffered its worst season since records began, according to sea angling officer Peter Green. The volume of fish, as experienced in previous years, was simply not there, he said.
While tag receipts are still incomplete for this year, a figure of less than 100 means, in effect, the lowest returns since records began in 1970. This is a far cry from 1994 when over 1,000 blues were recorded.
Long spells of fine weather and an abundance of mackerel shoals are essential to produce two to three weeks of good shark angling. These two ingredients failed to materialise this season, according to Green.
World-renowned centres at Kinsale, Crosshaven and Clifden, usually first off the starting blocks, revealed catches were few and far between with the latter centre producing only 14 for the season. Inevitably, when shark returns are down, the angling effort drops, a situation far from ideal, particularly for tourist anglers who flock to this country to enjoy the spectacular sport.
Meanwhile, on the tuna front, 16 blue fin were captured off the Donegal coast this season - 12 for skipper Adrian Molloy and two each for skipper Michael McVeigh and charter vessel, Bonito. Skipper Nick Dent, operating out of Baltimore, Co Cork accounted for 21 albacore tuna.
• As efforts to end the practice of drift netting for salmon at sea continue, four county councils and one town council have adopted resolutions supporting the drift net issue, according to the Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now campaign (SSDNN).
Five other county councils are expected to table similar motions at their next sitting.
County councils of Clare, Kildare, Kilkenny and South Tipperary and Ardee town council have endorsed the stance taken by SSDNN and, in all cases, the resolutions attracted cross-party and independent support. An invitation by Louth County Council to local members of SSDNN to make a presentation is scheduled for next month.
Commenting on the support, chairman Niall Greene said: "Local councils are well aware of the damage caused to commercial fishing in estuaries by drift netting at sea and the importance of angling tourism in their areas."
• The second a.g.m. of the Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors of Ireland (APGAI-Irl) was held in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath, last Sunday week.
The tone of the meeting was somewhat upbeat following the success of four members who travelled to the United States recently and passed the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Master's examination. The FFF Master's is recognised as setting the standard worldwide for fly-fishing and casting instruction.
APGAI-Ireland was founded in response to a perceived need for an organisation of highly qualified instructors to teach fly-casting and fishing to quantifiable, transparent standards, thus enhancing the enjoyment of the sport for newcomers. The association now has 16 members.
The meeting elected the following officers for the coming term: chairman, Peter O'Reilly; vice-chairman, Pat Mulholland; secretary, Liam Duffy and treasurer, Patrick Trotter. For further information on prospectus and syllabus, tel: 049-4334731.
• Around the fisheries
Ballyhass Lakes, Macroom, Co Cork: A new inter-club catch-and-release boat fly-fishing competition is planned over six Saturdays in January and February. The event is open to 16 club teams and will be staged over four-hour sessions. Boats and life jackets will be provided.
The entry fee is €100 per team. In addition, a capitation fee of €5 will be collected from each angler and donated to the Disabled Anglers' Association. Applications should be returned to Tom Lofts at 087-2248097 by December 31st in time for draw on January 1st.
Rathbeggan Lakes, Co Meath: For those hardy souls who ventured out, the back lake produced good sport with rainbows in the one to two-pound class. Best catch went to Wayne and Anthony Lawrenson from Lucan with more than 30 fish on a half-day session. Buzzers and small nymphs topped the fly patterns.
Please note: Spinning for trout with single barbless hook is now allowed on the back lake only. (Tel: 01-824 0197)
• Lough Glore Anglers is holding an open-boat competition at Donore Shore on Lough Derravaragh, Co Westmeath, next Monday. Registration starts at 8 a.m. with fishing times 9 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. Entry fee is €50 per boat of three anglers. The prize fund will exceed €1,100. Further details from Paddy or Derek at 044-61852.