One wonders what benefits will derive from the recent seminar on sea angling and inshore fisheries. While the concept to share the resource in a sustainable way was evident from all 250 delegates, guidance as to the way forward will ultimately reside with the pooled information gained from the seminar.
here is no doubt the resource is in crisis. Inshore fishermen are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a living, Bord Failte statistics reveal a decline in tourist anglers to sea angling and charter boat operators confirm a dramatic drop in sport fish stocks.
One of the biggest opportunities to correct the situation, from an angling perspective, has already slipped through the net. I am speaking, of course, about the Tourism Angling Measure (TAM) (1995-1999).
At the conference, I asked the question: As sea angling accounts for 25 per cent (or £18 million) of the total angling revenue of £70 million to the Irish exchequer, is there an explanation why only £50,000 was allocated to sea angling from TAM out of a total of £18 million?
Sadly, there was no satisfactory answer to my question.
Skipper of the Year, Brian Byrne, stressed the need to address the serious issue of conservation of inshore stocks. Commercial fishing boats regularly trawl in shallow estuarine waters, on banks and in narrow channels that should be designated as conservation areas, he said.
Shore anglers report some trawlers so close to land they can cast into them. There must be an urgent move to create nursery areas where no fish are killed. I am certain in the fullness of time the results will be dramatic and beneficial to all, Mr Byrne said.
A group of 20 anglers from The Irish Times fished the North Beach, Wicklow, last weekend and caught and returned over 100 fish. All were tiny. Interestingly though, eight different species were recorded.
My question here is: Where are these fish disappearing to on reaching maturity?
It remains to be seen what initiatives emerge from the seminar which, in my view, was a great success. Perhaps the angler and inshore fisherman saw, for the first time, each other's perspective and together can move forward to rejuvenate this wonderful resource back to its former status.
Reports of huge pike are coming in from all quarters. On Blessington Lake, Co Wicklow, Pat McLoughlin landed a 28lb 7oz fish using ledgered herring, while at the same venue William Quigley caught a specimen of over 32lb. In Co Carlow on the Barrow, Ken Garry from Dublin landed a pike of 22lb 3oz, again on ledgered dead bait.
A group of UK anglers from Stoke-on-Trent described their holiday in the Shannon region as "smashing". On the Suck, their heaviest pike out of nine, fell to D. Powell at 24lb 8oz. Hollygrove Lake produced two good fish of 18lb 8oz and 17lb 4oz and a third to local angler Jason Ryan at 16lb.
Overall, this area is fishing very well at present and worth a visit over the coming weeks.
Tomorrow Howth SAC holds a Christmas Fair in Howth Angling Centre starting at noon. All proceeds go towards new boat fund. Special feature will be sale of fresh orchids at very competitive prices.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: (679) 1881. Email: angling@irish-times.ie