Ardmore beach in Co Waterford lived up to its reputation as one of the finest shore-angling venues on the southeast coastline at an interclub competition last weekend.
Anglers from the Borough SAC and Ardmore SAC joined forces for a five-hour challenge at which there was plenty of action for the 25 competitors and some “cracking” fish worthy of any beach in Ireland.
“The original plan was to hold the competition on Youghal beach but on arrival there were three other clubs there already,” Stan Ryan says.
“Conditions were not great at Ardmore as the sea was very calm, but nobody told the fish and there was action from the first cast.
“The winning club was to be decided with the longest fish, with the exception of dogfish. Within minutes of the start, a 40cm flounder was landed, only to be beaten shortly afterwards with a bass. Then came a small conger.
“With a short while to go, top Ardmore angler Brian Mansfield landed a 76cm bull huss which looked like a winning catch. Minutes later Willie Roche stepped up with a 99cm conger to clinch the title for the Borough club.”
Flounders, coalfish, whiting, codling, bull huss, bass and congers were landed and no angler blanked on the night.
“There were also five juniors, all of whom caught fish. This was wonderful to see, for without getting our young people involved, angling will continue to decline as a sport,” Ryan says.
Mansfield had 17 fish to win the competition, while Willie Roche won the Borough and interclub pot of €110.
Thanks were expressed to Johnny Riordan of The Shamrock Restaurant in Dungarvan for his generous sponsorship.
A group of local enthusiasts are working to open a much-needed and long overdue maritime museum in Howth. The group is hoping to lease the Mariner’s Hall on the west pier from the Department of the Marine.
“We have received very encouraging support from various local organisations including Paul Reid, county manager with Fingal County Council, and David Pryor of the Fishery Local Action Group North East,” Pat Murphy says.
“In May we commissioned David Averill from Sheehan & Barry Architects to undertake a preliminary survey of the property which we have forwarded to Government Ministers.”
Boat anglers will be pleased to hear Clare County Council has confirmed the Department of the Marine has approved its application for funding for coastal infrastructure work improvements at Kilkee, Co Clare.
“The funding will go towards separating the marine and leisure boating activity from the car park area and provide for installation of CCTV and lighting. Weather permitting, the works will commence in the next fortnight,” says area engineer Cyril Feeney.
The popular one-day intensive Match the Hatch – Small Stillwater Course with Dr Ken Whelan and Jason O’Riordan will be held on Sunday, November 29th at Courtlough Fishery, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Learn how to fish imitative flies with success; insect/ invertebrate identification; select flies to match trout’s diet and sample insects from your local water. For booking, go to courtlough.ie/trout-fishing/.
Sean O’Brien (Kilcock) enjoyed a great day’s fishing with the Mountjoy Pike Anglers on the Shannon near Athlone last weekend. Fishing from the bank with dead bait, O’Brien managed the biggest fish, a beauty of 9.58kg. Most of the pike averaged between 3.6kg and 6.8kg.
Results of Heat 3 Winter League at Annamoe Trout Fisheries in Co Wicklow: 1. V Tiskus, 8 trout, 327cm; 2. P McDonnell, 7f, 298cm; 3. K Elliott, 7f, 297cm.
A total of 60 were landed and returned by 15 anglers. The competition is sponsored by Southside Angling Centre.
angling@irishtimes.com
