Earlier this month I had the pleasure to attend an event to test an innovative idea aimed at expanding the charter boat angling season.
Kilmore Quay, in the south-east corner of Ireland, and now regarded as a leading "Centre of Excellence Angling Centre", was chosen as the pivotal location for this groundbreaking experiment.
With funding from Fáilte Ireland NDP Infrastructure Programme and organised by the fisheries board, the five-day project entailed "testing the water" in February to determine if fish normally associated with the southeast coast were actually present at this time of year. With eight charter boats operating from Kilmore Quay, this would be a major breakthrough if successful as the angling season normally extends from May to September.
The new marina is a wonderful addition to the harbour and provides a step-on/step-off facility, so important for the modern day boat angler. "If the marina was twice its size, there would still be a waiting list for spaces," according to skipper Dick Hayes. Last month Kilmore Quay received funding of €63,750 towards further development of angling facilities.
In ideal weather, I ventured out on Monday and Tuesday in the company of Josie Coleman, Hazel Dobbyn and Des Chew from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) and angling officer Norman Dunlop from the Central Fisheries Board. Mike Thrussel and his son Michael (jnr), contributors to Total Sea Fishing based in North Wales, were also in attendance.
Our first day with skipper Dick Hayes aboard Enterprise, an Off-Shore 105 vessel, brought us west of Kilmore towards Ballyteigue Bay, the Keeragh Islands and Baginbun Head. While the morning session was slow we did encounter a selection of codling, whiting, dab and wrasse. As the day progressed we observed a concentration of feeding gulls, cormorants and porpoises close by. Inevitably this brought more fish to the boat and a wider selection of species. I actually caught a mackerel. Mackerel in February, unbelievable!
Day two proved more productive, with skipper John Devereaux as we explored territory east of the Saltee Islands, rarely visited even in summer conditions. The Chaplin Rocks, Connenbeg, the Brandies and Bores all produced plenty of coalfish, pollack, codling, wrasse and whiting. However, wind and tide made it difficult to test intended nearby wrecks.
Reports from Wednesday and Thursday also confirmed that, given favourable weather, charter boat angling from Kilmore Quay in February can produce up to 12 species, including a near specimen cuckoo wrasse and, of course, mackerel. Due to bad weather, angling on Friday was cancelled.
My thanks to ERFB for the invitation to participate in the angling survey and to the charter skippers for their help and assistance, and I look forward with interest to the second part of the survey later this year.
After several years of attempting to form an association for charter skippers, the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) may have finally got the ball rolling towards this much-needed goal. At a meeting in CFB headquarters last Saturday week, attended by 28 charter skippers, representing the seven regions, the mood was very much upbeat and the concept of a combined unit greeted with a "breath of fresh air".
Under the chairmanship of David Byrne, CFB director of promotion and marketing, and ably assisted by angling officer Norman Dunlop, the meeting explored the possibility of forming an association, with the working title of National Charters Skippers Association. It was agreed to set up a steering committee with two representatives from the regions to formulate terms of agreement and to seek guidance towards the formation of a constitution.
It is long overdue for such an organisation, with issues such as marine safety, construction of reefs, conservation areas and marine development just some of the problems facing charter skippers that need to be tackled at local, regional, national and international level. Interestingly, there are approximately 100 charter vessels around the coastline, and in 2006 these accommodated an estimated 50,000 rods that realised about €13 million to the economy.
The steering committee consists of: Eastern region: Oliver Finnegan, Eamon Hayes; Southern: Walter Foley, John O'Connor. Southwest: Joe Lynch, Butch Roberts. Shannon: Luke Aston. Western: John Brittain. Northwest: Mary Gavin Hughes, Donal Kennedy.
Northern: John McLoughlin, Smith Campbell. Next meeting is scheduled for March 1st at 10.30am in CFB headquarters.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of my friend Paul Lynam who died suddenly last weekend. Paul was a keen angler and founder of the former Shark Angling Club of Ireland.