It was a real pleasure to be associated with the angling extravaganza at Westport, Co Mayo, last weekend. Clew Bay, with its reputed 365 islands and renowned for its boat festivals, played host to a new and unique two-day shore festival that received high praise from the 60 tourist anglers who participated.
The Helm Pairs Championships, the brainchild of Vincent Keogh, entailed one of the competitors fishing the surf beaches of Louisburgh while their partner cast a line from an island in Clew Bay.
The venue chosen for the shore was Balliniskey Beach, close to Louisburgh, a magnificent surf beach with rollers and surfers resembling a Hawaii Five-O movie. Angling, too, lived up to expectations. Plenty of small turbot, good flounders and a 4lb bass caught by Terry Wilson from Boyle.
Anglers bound for the islands were brought to Inishgort, a small island with a defunct lighthouse as its centrepiece but sufficiently large to accommodate 30 anglers.
Here, angling was excellent with all competitors recording fish. Ray, conger, rockling, dogfish, bull huss and flounder made up catches and conservation was to the forefront, with all fish returned alive to the water.
A special word of praise to the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB) and its manager, Michael Kennedy, for supporting this first-time venture. Seven members of the WRFB did a splendid job providing two protection boats to ferry guests to and from the island.
Also, to the Westport Order of Malta girls who helped with the stewarding. Their services, from a medical viewpoint, luckily, were not required.
Results: Sat.: 1, S. Roche/G. Byrne (Cono-Flex); 2, K. Caulfield/J. Farrell; 3, B. Donnelly/R. Galvin. Sun.: 1, K. Caulfield/J. Farrell; 2 (tie), P. Brierly/N. Greene (Cono-Flex), C. Schuls/E. Flynn; 3, F. Baxter/P. Clarke. PS: Vincent Keogh, proprietor of The Helm, is organising a two-day Skate Festival in Clew Bay in two weeks. First prize for the biggest skate is £1,000 and a further £1,500 for best variety.
Roy Peirce from Cornamona, while fly-fishing on Lough Corrib recently, landed a fine 5lb 4oz brown trout on a Claret Bumble and four days later a 10-pounder on a Connemara Black.
John Corcoran also achieved a memorable feat on the Lung River, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, with a magnificent 6lb brown trout.
Tomorrow, Seiko Shore Angling Championships incorporates the Leinster Closed Shore (gold medal); Leinster Junior (gold medal); Leinster Ladies; East Coast Inter-Club Pairs and fourth leg Leinster League. Check-in Byrnes Pub, Kilcoole, from 11 a.m., fishing 2.307.30 p.m.
To enter, ring Frank Baxter at 874-7263 today.