Angling Notes/Derek Evans: Pressure is building from those with an interest in salmon conservation to pressurise the Government to end drift netting for salmon at sea.
Following a meeting in Athlone, Co Westmeath, representatives of game anglers, fishery owners and tourism interests launched a new national organisation to campaign for the termination of mixed stock salmon drift netting off the coast of Ireland.
Successive governments have paid far too much attention to the organised voice of commercial interests who, in turn, have almost eliminated salmon from our rivers. Now there is a strong voice representing salmon anglers and fishery owners determined to address this imbalance, according to the newly elected chairman of the 14-person steering committee of the "Stop the Salmon Drift Nets Now" campaign, Niall Greene.
The arguments in favour of ending this exploitation are now firmly established. With the exception of the Republic of Ireland, all European and North American countries with significant salmon flows along their coasts have stopped the practice. The Government must follow the example of these countries, said Niall Greene, who is from Limerick.
There is also a moral and legal argument in that drift netting not only exploits salmon running into Irish rivers but also those of the river systems of England, Wales, France, Spain and Germany. There is also the important argument that recreational angling is of far greater value to the economy than drift netting.
The founding organisations include the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers, National Association of Recreational Anglers, Salmon and Sea Trout Recreational Anglers, Trout Angling Federation of Ireland, Donegal and Kerry Angling Federations, Eastern Salmon Anglers' Federation, South East Salmon Federation and Waterville Fisheries Development Company.
Also participating are Delphi Lodge and Blackwater Lodge Fisheries. The inaugural meeting was attended by observers from the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Ulster Angling Federation, Irish Landowners' Organisation and European Landowners' Organisation. For further information, contact Niall Greene at 086-8269222.
Norway must surely be one of the finest sea-angling venues in the world. Where else would you catch halibut to 54lb, 40lb cod, 19lb coalfish, 17lb torsk, 8lb haddock and some magnificent redfish from the 350-metres deep fjords?
All these great fish were caught by 18 Dublin-based sea anglers on their visit to northern Norway. This year's visit was the fifth in succession organised by Terry Carolan. The group stayed with Terry's sister, Paula, and her husband, Eric Krogstad in their 200-year-old farmhouse in Kastnes, some 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle and one hour's drive from Bardufoss Airport.
Taking full advantage of 24 hours of daylight, the group often fished until 4 a.m., mainly in sheltered waters of deep fjords. While each angler accounted for many quality fish, "king of the fjords" this year was Sean Jenkins from Sutton, Co Dublin, with an excellent halibut of 54lb. Large perks accounted for all the fish - no bait required.
Apart from the wonderful fishing, perhaps the highlight of the adventure centred on the exotic meals served by the Krogstads. How about elk steak, reindeer stew and grouse casserole washed down with fine Norwegian wine and Irish coffee after a hard day's night!
The North Western Regional Fisheries Board recently hosted a second juvenile angling day at the Cathedral Beat on the River Moy. This special event is one of many held throughout the region as part of the board's policy to promote angling for young people, as outlined in its five-year development plan published last year.
The day proved a huge success with 58 youngsters in attendance, aged from six to 16 years. Fisheries staff provided coaching and advice and extra instruction was provided by Recreational Angling Ireland. Fishing started at 5.30 a.m. and those dedicated youngsters who attended the early session were rewarded with four salmon.
Owen O'Boyle, aged 13, from Ballina was first to see action with a small salmon of 2.02lb, using worms. Minutes later, Mark O'Malley also landed a small salmon and, not to be outdone, local teenager David McLoughlin, hooked a better fish of 6.5lb from the bottom pool. With the tide fast approaching, Owen O'Boyle landed his second fish of 5.31lb, to end the early session at 6.30 a.m.
Part two commenced at 10.30 a.m., however, it was several hours before Joe McAllister from Manchester landed his first ever salmon, a grilse of 3.5lb, putting him firmly in contention for the prizes. In what proved to be a quiet afternoon (despite some flounder and an eel), Edward Thornton, aged 13, landed the only other fish of the post-tide period. This was also his first salmon and the whole Thornton family were justifiably proud of the youngster's achievement.
The Ridge Pool Hotel was the venue for the prize-giving with refreshments provided by the fisheries board. A fantastic array of prizes donated by Garry Piggott from the Ridge Pool tackle shop and Michael Swartz from Ballina Angling Centre ensured each of the 58 boys and girls went home with a substantial prize.
Similar events are scheduled for the coming weeks on Ballinlough, near Westport, Co Mayo, and Lough Doon, near Dromahaire in Co Leitrim.
Note: The first recorded blue shark for this season was caught last Tuesday off Kinsale, Co Cork, aboard Willem van Dijk's boat Harpy. The lucky captor was Charlie Dolan from Innishannon, Co Cork, and the fish weighed approximately 95lb with an overall length of 2.10 metres. In line with conservation methods, the fish was tagged and released unharmed.