OK, so you thought my recent report of a 346lb blue fin tuna caught off the Donegal coastline was exceptional. Well, how about this? Last Friday, Mr Adrian Molloy captured a tuna almost three times that size and, from within a stones throw of land.
Making the most of the good weather Adrian ventured out from Killybegs aboard Michael Callaghan's 22ft HighRyder boat Lelia C for best part of last week. It was an exceptional week to say the least. By Friday he had five tuna to his credit, the biggest reaching 300lb.
Then on Friday ,while fishing 250 yards west of Rathlin O'Beirne Island, they noticed about 20 tuna feeding frantically on sprat no more than 20 yards away. Manoeuvring the Lelia C into position, the skipper went full steam ahead through the shoal. It was at this point the big fish struck the trailed black squid lure.
Adrian was ready. Well harnessed with hi-tech tuna gear and strapped into a swivel chair suddenly he had the fight of his life on his hands. One-and-ahalf hours later and totally exhausted this remarkable feat came to a conclusion with a blue-fin tuna of 968lb safely landed on the deck.
It makes any other fish caught in European waters across 60 species look like a children's tea party. This fish was almost as long as the boat. What is even more remarkable is the sighting of tuna in the area estimated at least 1,500lb. Where is it going to end?
As expected, Adrian is claiming an Irish, British and European record and now awaits ratification from the various specimen fish committees.
Very heavy rain and strong winds curtailed coarse and pike angling in the Shannon region last week. However, the area is still very fishable. That said, angling activity is expected to slow down as the main tourist season comes to an end. One important event for the diary is the Dutch King of Clubs scheduled for October 21st to 24th in the Portumna area.
Game angling closed fully yesterday. On Ennell at the weekend, good hatches of green olives were observed and fish surfaced to feed on fly. Dr Waldron, Mullingar, had a good fish of 4lb 2oz and Tom McEvoy and John Brennan together accounted for three at 4lb.
The end-of-season Lakeland competition took place on Sunday across the three midland lakes of Ennell, Owel and Derravaragh. Seventy-nine anglers participated and 23 returned 34 fish. Results: Lough Owel: Martin McGorian (4.026lb); Ennell: Alan Tyrell (5.342lb) and Derravaragh: Peter Donoghue (1.896lb).
On the Lower Shannon, salmon angling ended on a low note with few fish taken. Mr Michael Faulkner proved an exception with two grilse and a salmon for 4lb, 6lb and 12lb, all on Flying `C' over three days. Local anglers returned a total of 20 fish, all to spinner and fly.
Still in the lower Shannon region, two French visitors accounted for 160 trout in five rod days. The biggest fish measured 42cm. All were caught on fly and released.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 679 1881. Email: angling@irishtimes.ie