For the fifth year in succession Screaming Reels from Rosie's Sea Angling Club in Cork took pole position at the 30th Rosslare Small Boats Festival. The three-man team outclassed a field of 36 boats from Britain and Ireland with a huge catch of 29 species.
Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), Daiwa, Lowrance, Sea Angler magazine, Fáilte Ireland, Wexford County Council, IPB Insurance and Mannings, this year's event attracted 115 anglers from Wales, Scotland, Isle of Wight, Ireland and England.
With 38 species recorded, the quality of fishing in Wexford continues to create substantial revenue for the local economy. The event is the most prestigious small boat festival in Europe.
Screaming Reels once again proved their mettle and the crew of Martyn Rayner, Seirt Shults and Neville Murphy continue to raise the bar. Second place went to the boat Sandstorm from Porthcawl in Wales and in third place Dunlin from Southport.
For the first time, IFI introduced a marine tank for displaying some of the species. This proved a great success with the public, enabling them to see thornback ray, wrasse, gurnard, bull huss and bass before they were released back into the sea alive.
Redmond’s in Rosslare Strand hosted the prizegiving which included a donation of €3,500 to the Irish Heart Foundation. The RNLI also received a generous donation.
Next year’s event will be held from September 10th-17th, 2016, and IFI is calling on all small boat anglers to take part.
As a “thank you” to Mike Hegarty and friends for an invite to Killarney last year, the Cornamona Angling Club returned the compliment last Wednesday with a day’s fishing on Corrib. The fishing was around the many islands in the Dooris area in ideal conditions but catch returns were surprising poor. While all met fish only six were boated. “When water levels are high, the fish go down,” one local angler said.
Highlight of the day was undoubtedly the barbecue on Inishnawee Island. Lamb chops (three each), onions, peppers, Maam black pudding, jacket potatoes all cooked on the largest frying pan I have ever seen. At least 60cm in diameter attached to a fishing rod with reel attached. The wine tasted pretty good too and there was maybe a swig of a stronger beverage. The day concluded with refreshments in O’Malley’s Bar in Cornamona.
The 6th Irish Fly Fair and International Angling Show will be held in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, on November 7th and 8th. The two-day event will feature celebrities Charles Jardine, Hywel Morgan, Glenda Powell and Peter O’Reilly demonstrating and advising on all aspects of fly fishing. Spey casting legends Scott McKenzie and Gary Scott, and casting instructors Bas de Bruin and Sepp Fuchs will also be in attendance.
Experts from Inland Fisheries Ireland, Tom Doc Sullivan, Prof Ken Whelan and FISSTA will host talks on angling-related topics and the tackle trade will be well-represented with a huge range of trade stands.
Show organiser Stevie Munn said: “We hope to build on last year’s success with new trade stands, fly tyers and celebrities. This is a show not to be missed.” For more details see irishflyfair.com or anglingclassics@aol.com.
Waterville Lakes and Rivers Trust hosted the annual Lough Currane sea trout two-day competition which again was a resounding success with 84 sea trout caught and released by 24 anglers.
At close of play, Colin Wilson from Belfast just pipped Dublin angler Enrico Fastasia to take top rod.
The Appleby Cup for the longest fish went to Colin Wilson and Liam Ellis, both with fish of 50cm.
angling@irishtimes.com
