The 33rd World Shore Angling Championships, hosted by the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers (IFSA), got under way on Saturday and will continue until Friday along the south-east coast of Ireland, with 18 countries competing for the coveted FIPS-Mar world title.
Over the past two weeks, the area has been a hive of activity as the 250 competitors and 100 team officials engaged in practice sessions.
The opening ceremony began with a street parade from White’s Hotel to the Opera House, followed by a ceremonial event attended by the town mayor and local TDs and councillors.
From an Irish perspective, it is the first time to have a ladies team competing.
Conservation will be to the forefront throughout, with a catch and release policy as competitors strive to catch a wide variety of fish, including whiting, codling, flounder, turbot and dogfish.
The championship will close with a gala dinner and prizegiving on Friday evening in White’s Hotel.
The IFSA would like to acknowledge the support of Wexford County Council, National Opera House, Garda, rescue services and sponsors.
Brown trout fisheries
A public consultation on the management of pike in wild brown trout fisheries was recently launched by
Inland Fisheries Ireland
(IFI). Interested parties are invited to make submissions for consideration by the newly appointed
Pike
and
Wild Brown Trout Policy Review
Group. This group comprises representatives from all disciplines within IFI.
Ciaran Byrne, IFI chief executive, said: "We know there are varied opinions out there and this is the chance for the public to have their say. This consultation will help inform our future policies in this area."
The review will run for four weeks until 5pm on Thursday, December 1st, 2016. Submissions must be made in writing for publication on the IFI website and should be marked "Public Consultation – Pike Management in Brown Trout Fisheries" and sent to Policy Review, IFI, Sunnyside House, Macroom, Co Cork.
Meanwhile, IFI is calling for vigilance on Ireland's rivers and lakes following the State of the Environment Report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which shows a substantial loss in the number of quality river sites.
Only 21 sites were classified as quality rivers in the monitoring period (2013-2015). This compares with 575 sites between 1987-1990 and 82 between 2001-2003. In addition, 18 per cent of rivers and 27 per cent of lakes were defined as “less than good” due to fish ecological status.
Preliminary assessment suggests that barriers to fish migration and physical deterioration of habitats may be partly to blame.
Between 2010 and 2012, there were also 70 fish kills reported. However, serious pollution of rivers has fallen to just over six kilometres compared to 17 kilometres in 2010-2012 and 53 in 2007-2009.
New TV waterways series
Make sure to watch the eight-part series
Along Home Shores
on UTV Ireland each Thursday at 7.30pm and repeated on Sundays at 6.30pm. Avid sailor
Bobby Kerr
discovers the hidden treasures of the Ireland’s coastline and waterways.
In each episode, he examines how people utilise the natural resources of our waterways to create employment, while also showcasing their beauty along the way.
“I have been truly amazed by the scenic beauty of Ireland’s coastline and inland waterways and the fascinating characters I met. Through the prisms of heritage, business and culture, I have gained a unique insight into Ireland. The sheer magnificence cannot be overstated,” he said.
Kerr brings the personality of coastal towns, villages and waterways to life as he travels anticlockwise from Dublin around Ireland before ending his journey back in Dublin. We see him fishing, swimming, sailing, meeting local businesses, cycling, staying overnight in unusual accommodation and much more.
The series is funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and sponsored by Volvo.
Fishing in the Bahamas
If you fancy doing something completely different for Christmas or New Year and want to be fully pampered with festive fare, why not come with your family or friends to the
Delphi
Club in Bahamas?
"There are still a few rooms available over the holiday period and fishing guides are available every day except Christmas Day," according to proprietor Peter Mantle. Contact: The Delphi Club, PO Box AB20006, Marsh Harbour, Abaco AB-20006, Bahamas.
Inniscarra match fishing
More than 100 anglers enjoyed five days of match fishing on Inniscarra Reservoir in Co Cork over the bank holiday weekend and continuing with the legacy of the world feeder championships of 2014, it was a tip-fishing only event featuring well-known feeder venues such as the Garden Centre, Graveyard and Inishleena.
The close match saw Steve Ringer go into the final day in third position but managed 237 roach to finish in top position with 52.010kg. Coincidently, Ringer won his first gold medal on the same venue in 2014 with Team England.
Fantastic sponsorship from Guinness contributed to a prize fund of €23,000 along with €5,000 of tackle from Sensas Ireland. The winner received a custom-made trophy complete with a hand-crafted feeder hallmarked in Cork silver sponsored by Jackie Lennox Chip Shop.
Results: 1, S Ringer (England), 52.010kg; 2, N Mazurek (Ireland), 46.070kg; 3, D Barlow (England), 45.200kg; 4, A Wakelin (England), 44.120kg; 5, R Wootton (England), 45.520kg.
The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland is set to host the world youth championships on the Coachford Greenway in August 2017.
angling@irishtimes.com
