Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland
In a fantastic finale the boat from Rosie’s Sea Angling Club in Cork won the competition with 27 different species of fish, beating 25 other boats from Britain and Ireland. ‘Screaming Reels’ is a force to be reckoned with in the small boat fishing scene in Ireland and Britain, having now won the competition five out of the last six years.
Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Failte Ireland, DAIWA Sports UK and Sea Angler magazine the event, now in its 28th year, attracted more than 70 anglers from the UK and Ireland. The weather conditions proved to be challenging for the competition with blustery conditions making boat fishing difficult. However, as the week wore on conditions improved and the organisers went out of their way to facilitate boats getting the full four day’s fishing in by organising early morning launches, which proved to be a big hit with competitors.
The overall results saw first place going to ‘Screaming Reels’ (Martyn Rayner, Seirt Shults and Neville Murphy from Rosie’s Sea Angling Club in Cork) with 27 species for 22.86kg. They were followed closely by ‘Jay Jay’ (Andrew Jones, David Jones and Steve Jones from Newport in Wales) with 26 species for 18kg. In third place was ‘Shy Torque’ (Kevin Martland, Kenny Carr and Gavin Parker from Liverpool) with 25 species for 21.24 kilos.
A great variety of fish were recorded during the week with 37 species including: coalfish, dogfish, dab, flounder, pollack, bull huss and some unusual species such as black goby, shanny, black bream and painted ray. A specimen garfish, close to the Irish record weighing 0.92kg, was caught by Steve Jones and a shore rockling of 0.66kg caught by Mark Rogan of ‘Rogie’s Girl’ from Liverpool was a specimen.
The heaviest round fish was a conger of 7.46kg caught by Ian Jenkins of ‘Sandstorm’ from Wales and he was also awarded a perpetual trophy sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland for the biggest fish caught of the week. The heaviest flat fish was a flounder of 0.58kg caught by Richie Stead from ‘Nirvana’.
This year there were two juniors in the competition: Lewis Radcliffe aged 16 from Wigan aboard the boat ‘Cod n Bass’ who had 18 species for 15.08kg and James Cherry, also 16, from Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath aboard the Irish boat ‘Fin Chaser’, a newcomer to the competition, who had 17 species for 13.88kg
Prizes were presented by Fergus O’Dowd, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and Orla Woods, Angling Manager, Failte Ireland.
Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd, said:
“I am delighted to be at this fantastic fishing festival and to see so many here from all over Britain and Ireland. I know that many of you are very loyal visitors to Ireland, coming here to fish year after year. The festival is very important not only to promote the great sea fishing we have on the east coast, but also the variety of species available and the investment it brings to the local businesses in the area each year.
I would like to congratulate all competitors for their participation in this competition and encourage you to spread the word to your friends about fishing in Ireland.”
Next year’s event will take place from 06 to 13 September 2014 and Inland Fisheries Ireland invite all small boat anglers to take part. Further information is available from Ms. Josie Mahon on 01 278 7022 or via email at: josie.mahon@fisheriesireland.ie
