ANGLING NOTES:FOLLOWING an online petition to ban shark-finning in California (as covered recently in Angling Notes), governor Jerry Brown has signed the bill AB 376 into law.
Shark-finning is a process by which fishermen catch sharks, slice off their fins and tails, then throw the fish back into the water to die. About 85 per cent of US shark-fin consumption occurs in California.
“We applaud Governor Brown for signing AB 376,” said Bill Wong, member of the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance. “It puts California at the forefront of the global effort to save sharks, led by a coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, conservationists, animal rights activists, commercial fishermen, business leaders and artists,” he said.
The ban takes effect from January 1st, but businesses and individuals can sell shark-fins obtained before the ban went into effect until July 1, 2013. California is now the fourth US state to enact a ban on the sale of shark-fins, joining Hawaii, Washington and Oregon.
* Sea angling out of Courtmacsherry in Co Cork over the last few weeks has been outstanding, according to charter skipper Mark Gannon. A Dublin group fished on the Lady Louiselast Sunday and caught plenty of mackerel and good pollock and coalfish on the inshore reefs.
Fishing over a wreck some 32km east they encountered more pollack, cod and ling to 4.1kg, haddock to 1.8kg and conger to 6.8kg. Two weeks ago Krzysztof Knopp from Poland caught a huge bass of 7.5kg (16.5lb) in Courtmacsherry harbour. The fish is the heaviest bass caught this year and the fourth heaviest ever recorded in Ireland.
* Angling guide Kenny Sloan reported a recent pike expedition in Foxford, Co Mayo, with German anglers Joachim and Marlow Kaiser. Young Marlow was delighted to catch his first pike, followed by a second, measuring 86cm and 74cm, respectively. Tel 094-9256501.
* Lough Swilly Flies Angling Centre, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, end-of-season sale continues until Saturday. Avail of the great discounts and special offers on all stock.
* Congratulations to Ballynahinch Castle and Fishery in Connemara, Co Galway, on winning the Georgina Campbell award of Hotel of the Year 2012. “It is very heartening to see the efforts of the team rewarded in this way, particularly in our 65th anniversary year,” said general manager Patrick O’Flaherty.
* The first of the winter league competitions got under way last weekend at Annamoe Trout Fisheries in Co Wicklow. Conditions were good for the 16 anglers with a light breeze and small ripple. Ten anglers returned 36 rainbows averaging 1.5kg.
Overall, the top two winners will receive two tickets for sea trout fishing on Clohamon Beat, Bunclody, on the River Slaney. Results: 1, P McDonnell; 2, P McDonnell; 3, R Scott. Heat two is scheduled for November 5th. Entries to Brian Nally, 086-259 8563.
* The Pearly Dabbler (above) is a useful pattern to have in your fly box. It is ideal tied on sizes 10s and 12s for those that fish stocked lakes for rainbows when there is little fly life around .
The pattern gives a nice flash from the pearl body when light catches the fly at different angles. “You can also weight the fly by adding a small amount of flat lead under the pearl body to get the fly deeper if required,” according to fly-tyer Jimmy Tyrrell. Available at irishflycraft@gmail.com and 086-845 1257.