Smart app makes sea coast angling off Wales easier to plan

Angling Notes:To maximise the successful translation of Aberystwyth University research and expertise into mobile applications, the university has announce its investment in Welshpool-based company Codiki Ltd through the Aberystwyth Challenge Fund.

Codiki delivered its first product last December, ShoreCatch, an app for sea angling on the Wales coast which provides tidal information, weather forecasts, mark maps, fish species guides and information about bait and rigs.

ShoreCatch ( shorecatch.co.uk) also includes a catch genie function, allowing the user to enter fishing conditions at their location before generating specific lists of species which are available to catch. ShoreCatch is available on iTunes and at Google Play app stores.

The 25th IrishShore Angling Festival held recently on Leinster beaches, attracted 60 top anglers from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland to compete over three days for a prize and pool fund of €10,500.

Business was brisk in Seán Óg’s Hotel and Holiday Complex in Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford as competitors checked in each morning for the peg draw.

Ballinoulart Beach was first up with fish showing from first cast, mainly flounder with dabs, whiting, rockling, turbot and coalfish. Best round fell to Billy Buckley from Scotland with a coalfish of 39cm, and a 36cm flounder for Ireland’s Micheál Quinn.

Due to a force nine southerly gales on the second day, the competition was switched to Wicklow’s North Beach. In horrendous conditions, only a small number of fish were taken that included just one dogfish.

Day three was fished on Ballinesker beach in almost summer conditions but unfortunately, fish showed immediately and then stopped feeding for the remainder of the competition. Disappointingly, a number of blanks were recorded. Chris Clark from Hampshire, England was the overall winner with three zone wins and collected €1,000 first prize, Waterford Crystal Vase and day prizes for zone and super-pool wins.

Best fish winners were: B Buckley (Scotland), R Burrow (England) and M Quinn (Ireland). Each received an Abu Garcia multiplier reel sponsored by Viking Tackle in Bray. A Surf 3 4500 rod special prize, sponsored by Grauvel through Viking Tackle, went to David Roe (Ireland).

A total of 1,105 fish from seven species were recorded over the three days.

Eamon Cusack, oneof Ireland's most eminent fisheries experts and a recent CEO of Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, has been elected chairman of the Institute of Fisheries Management. The institute is a UK-based international body promoting sustainable management of freshwater and marine fisheries.

As current chairman of Shannon Fishery Partnership, Eamon has over 35 years’ experience in the development of inland fisheries.

A native of Galway, he grew up on the banks of the Dodder River in Dublin and while a member of Dodder Anglers became aware of the many pressures facing fisheries.

Cusack said he was “passionate” about rebuilding fisheries threatened by habitat damage and over exploitation. “I will strive to continue to build successful partnerships between government and non-government organisations.”

Commencing next month, four coarse angling festivals are scheduled for Lough Muckno in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, where match anglers can drive to the 220 permanent pegs now available.

Dates for the diary: Easter-1 with £10,000, March 30th-April 1st; Easter-2 with £15,000, April 2nd-5th; Muckno Mania 200 Festival with £20,000, July 1st-5th; and Muckno Autumn Festival with £20,000, September 30th-October 4th.

“Match angling in Ireland is an important element in attracting overseas tourists to Ireland. To meet expectations we are introducing trend- setting advances that will modernise the approach to organising angling festivals,” says Dick Caplice, chairman of Irish Angling Development Alliance.

* angling@irishtimes.com