Irish Extra October 2022
And just like that the season is upon us. Even if you don’t make an appearance on the 1st it is pleasant knowing that its back to the winter routine which I found myself almost unknowingly slipping back into the last couple of weeks. I didn’t bother going out on the 1st day or even first week, save for taking a scout round some Deer permissions in the hope of some activity & instead got a few odd jobs tidied up and things ticked off the list as there is nothing worse than missing a day’s sport because a job needs done. I heard from a few friends and saw a few things online but it wasn’t until last Tuesday evening I went out myself and took my young pup “Cleo” out of my German bitch “Cider” and sired by my German dog “Remy” out for a walk along the river. I took the 410 with me, with the intention of firing a shot or two and confirm what I had been thinking, that gun fire wouldn’t be a problem for her as she had spent quite a busy afternoon a couple of weeks before busting Balloons in the kitchen from my son’s birthday celebrations, so a Lyalvale Magnasonic wasn’t going to cause her any trouble.
We were well along the river when I spotted some ducks moving up ahead. “Cleo” who is barely 4 months old, stuck to my leg as we crept up on them, as I approached the bank and stood up among some cat tails, half a dozen or more Mallard broke the water and one came back down with a splash. I almost forgot about the pup and looked round to see her watching the duck intently, but of course a retrieve was out of the question! I managed to fetch it off the water myself and gave it to her so she could see what all the fuss was about, she sniffed it, give it a lick and then attempted to carry it up the bank but it was bigger than her! A pleasing result that she is not gun shy and we got an opener for the season. Things changed a little however, when heading home as the style I used to cross the fence had rotted unknown to me and down went the Teckel, the duck and Long Netter who caught his leg on the wire and subsequently needed it stitched followed by a tetanus injection. With a little daylight up until around 8.00pm gives a little time for an evening rake about or a shot until it gradually fades away little by little and the clocks change, then its back to dark mornings and evenings for a while. I can’t say I mind it, although I do much more in winter, I tend to have more time, especially in the evening as there is a little less to keep up with.
I was concerned recently by a statement from Irish Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan, who oversees the National Parks and Wildlife Service & is a member of the Green Party in Ireland. After taking the position within the NPWS in 2021, the NARGC called on the Taoiseach to remove him as Noonan was by his own admission, a “Vegan and animal rights activist” and was saw by the NARGC and many others as having a conflict of interest.
In this recent statement the minister said that “Considerable work has been undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Services [NPWS] to set out a range of options available for future open season orders”. A wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders and interest groups in relation to future orders will be undertaken over the coming months.” Minister Noonan said that this will be a challenging process, but that he is “keen to listen to the views of all interested parties”.
I feel this will be as Mr Noonan said, “a challenging process” but more challenging for the country sports community than himself and I would be keen to know the thinking behind the consultation and possible amendments to open season orders especially when I read the paragraph that stated “However, based on information available, the number of species under conservation threat, and Ireland’s legal obligations, changes are “very likely” in the order for next year”. I don’t feel that the NPWS nor Mr Noonan have any love for shooting where birds are concerned and this will be totally detrimental to how the future open season orders are amended, however on the plus side I do feel the NARGC will be firm on the matter as they have been with Minister Noonan previously and will strive to continue the future of hunting, shooting and conservation.
Small Boat Festival Returns
The Liverpool-based boat, ‘Nirvana,’ has won the top prize at the 35th Rosslare Small Boats Festival in Wexford, competing head-to-head with 30 other boats to catch the greatest number of fish species last week.
Fishing from Kilmore Quay harbour on September 3rd and 8th, ‘Shamrock’ and ‘Katie B’, both representing Howth Sea Angling Club in Dublin, took second and third places respectively.
Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, DAIWA, Navionics and supported by Saltwater Boat magazine, the festival couldn’t go ahead in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year however, it attracted more than 90 anglers from Wales, Scotland, Isle of Wight, Ireland, Manchester, Liverpool and Portsmouth. This top-class competition combined with a quality angling product, continues to attract the best boat anglers in Great Britain and Ireland in one of the most prestigious small boat fishing competitions in Europe, according to organisers.
Although weather conditions were very challenging, with strong south easterly winds, the crew on board ‘Nirvana’ still managed to catch 26 different species of fish over two days, with a combined weight of 8.84kgs. Team members, Richie Stead, Keith Pemberton and Mark Phillips, are from the Wirral Boat Club outside Liverpool and 2022 is the fifth year that ‘Nirvana’ has clinched top spot.
In second place was ‘Shamrock’ (Martin Kennedy, Dave Godwin, Arthur Beechey and Dan Lynch) from Howth Sea Angling Club in Dublin with 25 species for a combined weight of 13.17 kilos.
In third place was ‘Katie B’ (Siert Shultz, Thomas Markey and Joe McPeake) from Howth Sea Angling Club with 23 species for a combined weight of 8.20 kilos.
Overall, more than 40 different fish species were recorded during the competition, including smoothound, conger, dab, gurnards, mackerel, mullet, pouting, gilthead bream, red mullet and many mini species such as dragonet and gobies. This year a Saury fish was recorded by the Irish boat ‘Shamrock’ which is a species normally found in the Pacific Ocean and was added to the species list for the festival. A butterfly blenny was also identified, these new species, adding to the excitement of the competition.
The awards ceremony took place in the Coast Rosslare Strand Hotel and the €30,000 prize-fund included fishing equipment, cash prizes and engraved trophies.