THE Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland, together with international partners from Scotland, Wales, England and the Central Fisheries Board (CFB), is developing the Celtic Sea Trout Programme, which aims to examine sea-trout life history and the effects of environmental variations on stocks.
The Irish element of the programme will target sea-trout populations in rivers along the east and south coasts and the Irish Sea. Sea-trout stocks support rod fisheries in rivers and represent significant conservation value, yet little is known about the conditions they endure at sea. Anglers can play their part by collecting scales from fish caught from Strangford Lough, Co Down to Timoleague in west Cork. Scales (seven to 10) should be removed from behind the dorsal fin with the tip of a clean knife. Envelopes are available from CFB but ordinary envelopes are acceptable (one for each sample) with the length of the fish, weight, location, date and method of capture written on each envelope. Scales should be returned to Mark Corps, CFB, Swords Business Campus, Swords, Co Dublin.
• The Central Fisheries Board (CFB) has appointed Dr Ciaran Byrne as its new chief executive. Byrne was previously assistant chief executive officer with the Shannon Fisheries Board and director of field services and research and development with the CFB. He will take up his appointment later this month.
• The Mayfly season is over for another year on Lough Corrib, according to fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley. Extremely bright and calm conditions in May resulted in poor fishing and only sporadic bouts of mayfly hatches. The absence of gales meant that most females will have returned to the lake to lay their eggs, so hatches next year should see a big improvement, he said.
• On the Costello and Fermoyle fisheries in Connemara, fishery manager Terry Gallagher says: "Traditionally we don't start catching salmon until early June but not so this year. During the week up to May 24th, a group of local anglers fished a few evenings and met with great success."
Padraig MacDonagh, fishing the Cabbage Pool on beat one, and Jean Pierre Maire on the Dinner Pool, both landed a salmon of 4.1kg. Maire accounted for another three in a neighbouring pool and caught a very fresh 5lb grilse on his first cast at the inflow of Lough Rusheen. More salmon are making their way over the counter on beat one, so the mood at Costello is optimistic for the season, Gallagher says. For fishing information, tel: 091-572196 or e-mail: cosfer@iol.ie.
• Fishing is improving with some fresh grilse and springers pushing in on high tides, according to Jim Wilson, estate manager of the Mount Falcon Country House Hotel. The fishery will be donating €5 to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation for each salmon returned safely to the water this season.
• David Roe from the South Shore Sea Angling Club won the prestigious Penn Shore League final in Silloth, England, recently. The competition, involving 40 of the best match anglers in the UK and Ireland, is the culmination of points awarded at open competitions throughout the year.