ANGLING NOTES:THE ANNUAL report of the Howth Branch of the RNLI is an interesting read, and featured a prestigious award for its operations manager.
Throughout the year ending 2007, the Howth station answered 47 service calls, the second highest in its history. The all-weather lifeboat was called out on 18 occasions and the inshore on 29, four of these joint services with both lifeboats involved.
Howth Lifeboat operations manager, Rupert Jeffares, who has more than 40 years involvement in the service, was awarded a gold badge at a ceremony this summer in the Barbican in London by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, second wife of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.
In Dublin, Malahide fundraising chairwoman Rose Michael received a silver badge for 30 years service at an awards presentation at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, from coxswain Philip McNamara of Donaghadee lifeboat.
Howth Sea Angling Club raised more than €1,000 for the Howth Lifeboat last year.
A 10hp outboard engine has been generously donated by an anonymous donor to the Howth branch of the RNLI. The Honda model is a four-stroke short-shaft engine. It comes complete with accessories and a tailor-made "dolly" for ease of transportation. The donation will be sold via www.howthlifeboat.com and www.hyc.ie. For more details, contact Russell Rafter at 087-2469088. To view the engine at Howth lifeboat station, contact George Duffy at 01-8393311.
Not too many anglers, I imagine, would have had the opportunity to fish for sturgeon. From an angling perspective, the species is unheard of in Irish waters, although I do recall a rare catch by commercial means in Ballycotton, Co Cork, years ago.
Pound for pound, sturgeon is regarded as the most valuable of all harvested fish, no doubt because its ovaries are prepared for caviar. In Marlowe's Edward II, it is referred to as a "royal fish". The Lord Mayor of London can even claim those caught in the Thames River above London Bridge.
Among its many habitat are the subtropical and sub-Arctic waters in north America from the Gulf of Mexico to Newfoundland; in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the Great Lakes, and the major rivers along the west coast from California to British Columbia.
Recently, angling colleague George Partridge, while on holiday in Oregon in the north-west of the US, said fishing for sturgeon was the best fishing experience of his life.
He went on: "We spent October 17th fishing with Dan Christopher, owner of Quality Fishing Adventures, on the Columbia River below the Dallas Dam, near Astoria, Oregon. An early start saw our group of six on the river, bottom-fishing with 32oz leads, using live sand shrimp as bait.
"Action was almost immediate, with the first fish hooked within 30 minutes. Regulations permit fish between 42 and 60 inches to be retained, with a bag limit of one per person per day. Smaller fish must be returned, while larger ones must not be removed from the water and unhooked while alongside the boat.
"Sturgeon can grow to an impressive size, as we saw on the previous Monday when Mick Patterson, after a 30-minute struggle, brought one to the boat measuring an estimated 9ft in length. They grow even bigger. Although sturgeon can be fished from the shore, this method is considered less productive.
"Dan, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and could not have been more helpful. In all, a thoroughly enjoyable day's fishing which we intend to repeat next year." For further information, see www. qualityfishingadventures.com
Clonanav Fly Fishing has launched a new online store entitled shorefishingireland.com. The store is dedicated to the latest gear for shore anglers and features great prices for beachcasters, multiplies, rigs and clothing. For more information, visit shorefishingireland.com.
angling@irish-times.ie