More than three miles of illegal drift net, including one net of 1½ miles in length, have been seized during the past few weeks by regional fisheries board staff patrols in conjunction with the Naval Service. The seizures were made along the western seaboard by the Central Fisheries Board inshore protection vessels An Bradán Beatha and An Cosantóir Bradán.
This huge quantity of illegal netting would have the potential to kill up to 1,000 salmon, some of which could be from rivers significantly below their conservation levels. In November 2006, the Government adopted the scientific advice for the management of salmon and began prioritising conservation over catch.
Congratulating the regional fisheries boards, the Naval Service and the Air Corps on their excellent work in protecting the vulnerable salmon stocks, Central Fisheries Board chief executive John O'Connor expressed his extreme disappointment that a number of individuals continued to indiscriminately exploit the resource.
Meanwhile, to mark the success of the "Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now" campaign in achieving an end to drift-net fishing for salmon in Ireland, a framed display of a new salmon fly specially commissioned for the occasion was presented to the committee by Peter Mantle of Delphi Fishery in Co Mayo.
"This new fly, designed and tied by Peter O'Reilly, is called the Greene's Gablock, after Niall Greene, chairman of Stop Now. A 'gablock' is the metal leg spur of a fighting cock. It is also another word for a crowbar," explained Mantle.
Both meanings of the word are appropriate to Stop Now, which has fought so doggedly and effectively to end indiscriminate netting of salmon at sea. All salmon conservationists owe them a huge debt of gratitude, he added.
Greene's Gablock is tied on barbless silver hooks in sizes 5, 7 and 9, and features a silver body, black-wing, green butt, flashy silver and black tail. It is expected to be an effective salmon fly for both river and lake fishing.
At a function in Delphi Lodge recently, Niall Greene, John Murphy, Bob Wemyss and Simon Ashe of Stop Now were presented with the framed Gablock. Greene was also given a leather fly wallet containing a further dozen Gablocks for use on the riverbank.
For further information, contact Peter O'Reilly at 046-9028210 or see www.oreillyflyfishing.com
The revival of the prestigious end-of-season fly-fishing competition at Pontoon Bridge Hotel took place last Saturday week on Lough Conn, Co Mayo.
The competition was run annually throughout the 1960s up until the last event in 1983. At the new event, 46 competitors from seven countries participated, and they were ably assisted by 23 local boatmen.
The winner with two trout was Peadar O'Maoláin, a barrister and retired army officer from Moycullen in Co Galway. His prize included a Maver prestige fly rod and reel, €150 and the winning trophy.
Frank Bairéad, also from Moycullen, landed a good trout of 1.1kg and best international angler prize went to Guy Verberne from Amsterdam.
At the celebratory dinner attended by more than 120 people, John Walkin, chairman of the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, welcomed the visiting anglers to Lough Conn. In his address, he expressed concern about the Government's pending proposal to abolish the regional boards.
Canadian visitor Gen John De Chastelain, a regular angler on Conn, was presented with a commemorative silver tankard for his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.
The evening was rounded off with a commemoration of the late Dessie and Eugene Bourke. The two brothers were renowned local ghillies from Laherdane on the shores of Conn.
The event was such a success that it was announced that the competition will be held annually.
Well-known angler Julie McGeever took part in an end-of-season competition between Headford & Corrib Anglers and Fermoy & District Anglers' Club on Lough Corrib, out from Greenfields, the weekend before last.
The competition, now in its 15th year, is always a keenly fought event, fishing for the Paddy Fitzgerald Cup. This year's winner was Christy O'Connell from Ballyhooly, Fermoy, Co Cork with a terrific trout of 3.5kg taken on a Green Peter on a drift off Inishambo.