Excellent Thread with some very good point on both sides, sorry I have not been able to chime in until now.
From my own point of view, I don't think Anglers here should be posting pictures of only big fish, expecially if the purpose of such excercise is to show our angling friends accross the globe that there is good fishing in Ireland. We would simply be
Lying to the world and as a result we are doing an injustice to ourselves and angling in Ireland.
It's is apt that such a thread should hit SAI at a time when Ireland is starting to look at boosting Tourisim again.
For years Ireland has had many, many anglers from all over Europe and beyond visit her shores for some excellent fishing. Many, Many European anglers would time their annual family holidays around fishing trips to Ireland and generate excellent revenue to the Irish economy. This revenue was taken for granted during the Celtic Tiger years....... This revenue is there no More
In General Angling in Ireland is but a shadow of what it was in previous years. FACT.
I used to fish Loughs Corrib and Mask a few times a year.. I have noticed over the last 5 years that the number of touring anglers is way down. Sure the few guides are kept busy enough, but the numbers visiting to the area are WAY down. I myself stoped going last year. I have a friend that lives in the aea and the fishing did not improve at all last year. You can see why with the many viral water outbreaks in the drinking water. This is the stuff that was hitting the taps
.... One can only imagine what the actual lake water is like.
Similar can be said for the many other fresh water lakes and rivers. FN's and others have decimitated fish stocks right accros the country... Now previous visiting anglers simply go else where for their fishing. Many Irish anglers are following and now plan trips abroad to get some good fishing. This revenue alone must be worth somthing, but from the massive in-action by all concerned, It doesn't look like it.
When is comes to the SEA Angling in Ireland, I think this has sufferest the most in the previous 5 - 8 years or so. I think the decline in the quality of Sea fishing in the past 3 years alone is frighting, and anyone thinking of visiting here for good Sea Angling should think twice.
Where are all the wreck Pollock and Coalfish gone
There was a decent number of these fish on wrecks just 3 years ago. Now they have nearly been netted out. There is the odd decent trip reported, but as you can see from reports on SAI, the fish just are not there any more. Pollock were fetching €100 a box in Kerry early in 2009. As a direct result I noticed a dramitic decline in size and numbers of Pollock when I was there in July 2009. If this happes again this year and next, will there be any pollock on the Kerry Reefs come summer time
Where are all the double figure Ling gone
There was a time when lads would move because Ling would be too quick to their Cod Baits.... I can't remember a complait like this in a long time. Now all that's left are those that escape the tangle nets... typically much smaller fish.
This brings us to our beloved Cod. There has not been a Cod run of note is 3 years......!!! There current reports on SAI confirm the dire situation in the South. East coast anglers have come accustomed to the lack of Cod, will our Southern Anglers have to do the same
Unless there is some serious protection for this species they could be wiped out. This is not my opinion, this is scientific fact and is published in many places. The fact that Cod are targeted most heavily when they shoal to spawn says it all really. There should be a 5 year closed season for Cod for all.
Sure there are a few decent fish to be caught if you have some very specific information, as Ashley has shown above. This is only because there is not much commecicial interest in Smooth Hounds, Tope or Mullet, although this is changing. Bass are protected although this protection is not enforced to any degree that I have ever seen. Many anglers frequently come accross nets set for Bass.
Unless there is a RADICAL change is fisheries management and protection policies, I for one would be telling
any angler thinking of visiting Ireland, to spend a few quid more and visit somewhere with some consistent and often excellent fishing. Let this goverment and it's Tourisim and Fishery protection bodies know that they will not be getting your tourist Euro, Dollar or Yen, until they Actually Do something to start protecting angling in Ireland. They don't need to re-invent the wheel, there is already much published information and papers on fisheries protection in the EU and USA available for a start............. but please,
stop doing nothing
as a match angler my aspirations are different and as much as i hate to admit it involve catching small fish and plenty of them. but the average angler always lives in the hope of something bigger.
