Angling Notes: Despite new legislation introduced by the Minister for the Marine, Dermot Ahern in January, to tighten safety standards for boat anglers, the number of accidental drownings was higher than last year, according to the chief executive of the Irish Water Safety Association, Lieut Comdr John Leech.
The message to anglers is clear: wear a life jacket, or risk drowning.
Six anglers lost their lives so far this year, three at sea and three on rivers and lakes, compared with five in one incident off Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford last year.
Angling is a year-round pastime and it is imperative to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid on each and every outing.
Most accidents are preventable, if the necessary safety precautions are adhered to, according to Leech.
This advice applies to all anglers, whether wading in rivers for salmon or trout fishing from lake boats.
Three lives were lost this year to this form of angling. At sea, three more deaths occurred from angling boats and rock fishing.
Personal flotation devices are available in sailing, fishing and adventure shops nationwide.
The new slimline lifejacket, which retails at about €100, is less cumbersome than previous models and comfortable to wear all day fishing.
Throughout the year, a selection of boat owners found it difficult to adjust to the new safety requirements.
The spin-off from this scenario resulted in the cancellation of some major competitions.
Take, for example, the world cup wetfly championships scheduled for Lough Mask, Co Mayo over the August bank holiday. In this, its golden anniversary year, the competition was expected to attract more than 700 competitors from across the world.
The new regulations required owners to declare their boat as lake worthy if reward for services was intended. Verification necessitated the signing of a declaration form to confirm adequate safety standards. As this confirmation was not forthcoming, lack of boats forced organisers to cancel the championships.
Still in Co Mayo, the All-Ireland Master Boat Championships at Belmullet also suffered due to lack of approved boats. Again, the new regulations required sea-angling boats carrying passengers for reward to hold a passenger boat licence under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties Act), 2000.
On a brighter note and as a new dawn in boat angling emerges, the sunny south-east appears to be setting the pace.
At Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford, a fleet of eight charter boats are now available for hire to tourist and home-based anglers.
In effect, this means almost 100 anglers can be accommodated each day on fully registered boats at this popular angling resort. And the fishing is good, too. Pollack, whiting, codling, wrasse, ling and pouting are popular species and this year saw the arrival of blue shark.
Further to last week's inquiry from Norah Owens about angling tuition for senior citizens, the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association holds regular tuition classes for new members and numerous fishing outings throughout the year. The association was set up in 1990 to promote fly-fishing among women and to organise fishing and social events. For further information, write to Ann Kerrin, Hon. Secretary, Drumsroohill, Florencecourt, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh or phone Ann at 048-66348430.
Today is the closing date for submission of outstanding specimen claim forms for inclusion in this year's Irish Specimen Fish Committee report.
Contact Dr William Roche today at Central Fisheries Board, tel: 01-8842600, fax: 01-8360060, website: www.cfb.ie.
Results of Annamoe Trout Fisheries Airflo Winter League (Heat 4): 1, R. Phillpot (Wexford), five fish, 250 pts; 2, R. Games (Wexford), four fish, 178 pts; 3, R. Geraghty (Dublin), three fish, 125 pts.
Proprietor Brian Nally says expert fly-casting tuition is available at Annamoe on a one-to-one basis to all age groups.
E-mail: annamoefishery@eircom.net or 0404-45470 for further details.