Angling Notes/Derek Evans: Ireland must follow Norway and start banning salmon farms from the mouths of wild salmon rivers and sea-trout nursery areas.
That is the message delivered to the Government by the Pure Salmon Campaign during its Farmed Salmon Exposed global week of action from October 9th to 14th. Eamon Ryan, TD has also tabled parliamentary questions in the Dáil on the issue.
In 2002, Norway protected its most important salmon stocks by banning salmon farms from 34 fjords and salmon rivers out of a total of 405 wild salmon areas. The Norwegian parliament is now proposing to increase the protected areas to cover 50.
Lough Swilly, Donegal Bay, Clew Bay, Killary Harbour, Beirtreach Buí Bay and the Kenmare River have been identified as particular areas of concern.
Sea-trout stocks on the west coast of Ireland have fallen since the advent of open sea cage salmon farming. Scientific research has shown how salmon farms can spread sea lice to wild sea trout, and mass escapes threaten wild salmon. The science is there - now it is time for action, according to Michael Kennedy of SOS (Save Our Sea Trout).
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) has launched a new-look website which provides easily accessible information on services offered by the board. Maps, publications, angling regulations and fishing translations in French, German and Dutch are now available at the click of a mouse. In addition, the site will soon include the 2006 pike and coarse conservation laws in seven languages: French, German, Lithuanian, Latvian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian. So, for pike fishing in Co Monaghan or Co Cavan, coarse fishing on the Royal and Grand Canals or sea fishing off the east coast, www.fishingireland.net has all the information.
Poor weather proved a good omen for a group of Dublin anglers at Courtmacsherry last weekend. Fishing aboard Mark Gannon's charter boat, The Lady Louise, the group led by Michael McCabe, was forced to fish the estuary within the inner bay. Following reasonable success with conger, ling, pollack, dogfish and cod to 4kg, the group turned their attention to spinning for bass.
We started at 5.30pm and by 6.30pm had landed a bass of 2.7kg and lost a few. However, the next fish was a beauty of 4.7kg, caught on a "joey" mackerel by Michael McCabe from Darndale, the first specimen bass from The Lady Louise.The final tally was four fish landed and seven lost, says skipper Mark Gannon.
After the highly successful Clifden Open Boat Tournament during the summer, details of next year's competition were announced last week. With a first prize of €5,000, early booking is advisable. The competition is scheduled for June 14th to 18th.
In association with Clifden Station House, Chamber of Commerce, Central Fisheries Board and Blue Water Fishing, the package will include four nights' dinner plus B&B; three days' fishing; gala dinner; evening entertainment and partner programme available on request.
Contact 095-21699 or info@clifdenstationhouse.com.
Annamoe Trout Fishery, Co Wicklow: With ideal water temperatures of 13 degrees for rainbows, 16 anglers landed a total of 44 during the first heat of the Scierra Winter League last Saturday week. Tommy Noonan from Co Tipperary took top honours with eight nice rainbows, averaging 1.5kg each. He used floating line with sink tip tied to Boobies and Dawson Olive lures. Local angler Derek Doyle was second on five trout and a similar line with Cat's Whisker and Twinkle Hare's Ear lures. Contact 0404-45470.
Ballin Lough Fishery, Co Mayo: 16 rods landed a total of 87 trout, 48 of which were released. Mick Bourke and a friend from Co Galway caught 21 (15 returned) with best at 1.7kg, while Brian Jameson and PJ Marsh, Co Meath, had 16, heaviest 1.4kg.
Best flies: Moy Bumble, Bibio, Delphi, Golden Olive Bumble, Orange Dabbler and Green Peter patterns. The fishery remains open until October 31st. Fishing details from 098-26128.