ANGLING NOTES:IN reply to the letter "Capturing bass" ( The Irish Times, May 8th), it is clear the writer is not a sea angler. To catch a bass today is a rare feat, to catch an Irish specimen over the magical weight of 4.5kg (10lb) is a once-in-a-lifetime catch for most anglers.
As one who has fished on almost every beach and out of every port in Ireland over the past 30 years I could probably count on one hand the number of bass I have caught. Why not let the captor enjoy the moment and declare the fish as a specimen to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC) or, better still, bring it home for dinner.
Founded in 1955, this independent voluntary body is representative of angling interests. The principal function of the ISFC is to verify, record and publicise the capture of large (specimen) fish caught on rod and line by anglers in Ireland.
There is no "shame" in publishing the photograph in The Irish Times. After all, the Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 clearly states it is lawful to catch by rod and line two bass in any 24-hour period. Last year 11 bass were ratified for specimen status!
Catch and release is practised across all sea angling competitions and festivals in Ireland today. Gone are the days of bringing in a catch for weigh-in and dumping the non-edibles (wrasse, dogfish, etc.) over the pier wall. Score cards are now in vogue.
PS The bass in question was a magnificent fish of over 5kg (11lb) caught by Seanie O’Keeffe while fishing the south beach in Courtown, Co Wexford.
In the late 1980s, the then Minister for the Marine, Brendan Daly, introduced a commercial ban on the catching of bass following scientific advice that the species was under threat of extinction.
Happily, the ban continues today and has led to a huge volume of overseas and home-based anglers flocking to our shores in search of this magnificent fish.
- On Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry, the month of May will go down as exceptional for big sea trout with fish up to 5.4kg (12lb) taken when conditions were right, according to fisheries manager John Murphy. “We expect very good fly fishing from the beginning of June,” he said.
Anglers with fish over 3.2kg (7lb) included Dave Ecclestone (his second specimen this year), Thorsten Schneider, Tom Barry, Ken Towner, Bob Priestly, Peter Keenan, Bob McDonald and Stephen Mattews. Pride of place went to Heinz Stratmann from Germany with a wonderful sea trout of 5.5kg (12lbs 5ozs), a record for the Waterville System.
Spring salmon were taken every day from the end of April with the best day notching seven to 6.3kg (14lb). “It is very encouraging to see the quality and quantity of salmon and sea trout presently running and we expect an excellent return of June and July fish from the sea trout smolt migration,” Murphy said.
- Daniel and Tara Byrne from Dublin enjoyed a great day’s pike fishing on Lough Iron in Co Westmeath recently and boated seven fish on spinner. The lake is accessible only by boat via the Inny River.
- The River Moy accounted for a reported catch of 259 salmon for the week. While water levels continued to fluctuate this had little impact and good fishing was reported throughout the system.
On Mount Falcon, Mark Kane, Dublin, caught and released a salmon at 5.9kg (13lb) on spinner and 15-year-old Ben Price caught one of 3.1kg (7lb) on worm. Good reports also from the Foxford Salmon Anglers’ water (Rinnaney), where Jim Martin, Northern Ireland, had a fine 6.4kg (14lb) fish on worm.
Further upriver, the Cloongee Fishery also enjoyed good fishing. Brendan Doyle, Monaghan, took two fish of 4kg (worm) and 4.5kg (spinner) and Paul Wymes, Dublin had two on fly (both released).
On East Mayo Anglers’ Association water, Peter and Michael Nab from Switzerland had three salmon averaging 5kg on spinner, while Jerrard Portes, France, had two on the fly.
- Carrowmore Lake enjoyed good fishing with 11 salmon reported. Mary Harkin, Dublin, had a nice fish of 3.8kg, while Michael Naughton was successful with three up to 3.6kg.
- Lough Conn anglers out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel reported good fishing with lots of small trout released. Ciarán O’Toole, Westport, had eight to the Sooty Olive and Black Pennel, while Don J Smith, UK, caught two for 1.4kg. Christopher Wathen, UK, had 11 for his week to Dabblers and Green Peter, best 1kg. Eddie Rowe, Dublin, caught three counters on a Royal Wullf.