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If you have ever dreamt about a sea angling trip to Ireland and wondered how to make it a reality, then the answer is at your fingertips!
We are a long established and successfull charter boat fishing company based in Northern Ireland, we will happily arrange local accomodation to make your fishing trip into a short break angling holiday.
use us as an invaluable reference during your stay for local information, you'll never be stuck for details on traditional irish pub music sessions, local festivals and non angling things to do and see during your stay in the area.
Flounder (Platichthys flesus)
Eyes and colour normally on the right side, but “reversed” examples are more common amongst flounders than among other flatfishes. Conspicuous enlarged, rough, hard scales on head ridge, anterior part of lateral line and along bases of dorsal and anal fins on the eyed side. Dark brown to greenish-grey, sometimes with vague orange spots; blind side uniform opaque white. Grows to about 5 lbs. Often occurs in fresh water well above the limits of the tide. Specimen weight: 1.36kg. (3 lbs).
Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Turbot are large flatfish and are regarded as one of the major prizes of Irish sea angling and they are also highly regarded for the table. The upper side is a mottled brown with numerous bony lumps or tubercules. The body is diamond shaped. Turbot can grow to over 40lbs.
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)
Very popular sport fish. Can be taken from both boat and shore on the northern coast. Common over areas of rough ground, reefs and sunken wrecks. Easily identified from its near relation, the coalfish, by the protruding lower jaw and by the shape of the lateral line which is bent over the pectoral fin. Tail not forked. Usually brown or bronze on back and flanks. Grows to over 20 lbs. Specimen Weight, 12 lbs.
Cod (Gadus morhua)
Common on most coasts and unlikely to be mistaken for any other species, even though the colour of adults varies. Caught over a wide range of seabed from reefs and wrecks to areas of shingle and sand and in many of the larger estuaries. Cod are available throughout the year, but generally “peak” fishing times are May and June (boat angling) and December and January (shore fishing). Grows to over 50 lbs. Specimen Weight, 20 lbs.
Ling (Molva molva)
Long, eel-like, member of the cod family which has a large barbel under the chin and a mouth of sharp teeth. Olive or red-brown in colour, sometimes mottled. A very popular sport fish, particularly with wreck and reef anglers. Almost exclusively a boat caught fish. Grows to about 50 lbs. Specimen Weight; 11.34 kgs (25 lbs).
Wrasse (Lubrus)
Large family of deep bodied, hard scaled fish. Two species are of interest to Irish anglers: the Ballan Wrasse (Labrus bergylta) which grows to about 10 lbs (specimen weight, 4.75 lbs) and the colourful Cuckoo Wrasse (Labrus mixtus) (which grows to around 2 lbs (specimen weight, 1.25 lbs). Both are very common in Irish waters particularly where there are rocky areas of weed covered reef.
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
This blue backed, silver cousin of the American striped bass is one of Ireland’s most sought after sport fish. It is equally at home in the turmoil of an Atlantic surf beach or in the quietness of an estuarine backwater. Most common below a line drawn from Galway to Dublin, but localised populations exist in the northern region. A protected species by law, with a bag limit of 2 fish per angler in any 24 hour period and minimum size of 40 cms. Grows to about 20 lbs. Specimen weight 10 lbs.
Gurnard (Triglidae)
There are three species of Gurnard which anglers can expect from waters in the northern region. Grey Gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) which grows to about 3.5lbs; Red Gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus) which grows to about 4lbs and Tub Gurnard (Trigla lucerna) which grows to over 12lbs. Gurnards are bottom living fish, normally found on sandy or muddy bottoms in depths of 50-150 feet.
Conger Eel (Conger conger)
Dorsal, caudal and anal fins continuous; no pelvic fins. Dorsal begins about level with tip of pectoral. Body rather stout and muscular. Mouth large; the upper jaw the larger. Grows to over 100 lbs. Offshore, inshore and in lower reaches of large estuaries. Specimen weight: 18.14kg. (40 lbs).
Skate (Raja)
Three species of skate have been recorded by anglers in Irish waters. They are:- White Skate (Raja alba) (specimen weight 120 lbs); Long Nose Skate (Raja oxyrinchus) (80 lbs); and Common Skate (Raja batis) (specimen weight suspended). In the interests of conservation, the Irish Specimen Fish Committee removed the Common Skate from its list of acceptable species in 1976. Since then, all Common Skate taken by anglers have been returned alive to the water. In recent years, fish to almost 200 lbs have again re-appeared in the northern region.
Ray (Raja)
Popular with boat and shore anglers and often confused with skate; but those with more rounded discs and short noses are generally termed ray. Normally a summer species they are available from May to October. Four species of ray are of interest to anglers in the northern region. They are Thornback Ray (Raja clavata) (specimen weight 20 lbs); Blonde Ray (Raja brachyura) (25 lbs); Cuckoo Ray (Raja naevus) (4.5 lbs); Homelyn Ray (Raja montagui) (5 lbs).
Shark
There are five species of shark which anglers may contact in Irish coastal waters. They are the Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), Thresher (Alopias vulpinus), Six Gilled (Hexanchus griseus), Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) and the Blue (Prionace glauca). Of these, only the latter two are caught with any degree of regularity in the northern region, the others being mainly accidental catches. Shark fishing is very popular during the summer months.
Tope (Galeorhinus galeus)
Medium sized shallow water shark, fairly common on the northern coast of Ireland during summer. Greyish in colour with short, triangular pectorals and deeply notched tail fin. Very popular sport fish, particularly with inshore boat anglers. Male fish to 30 lbs are often encountered in “packs” (Lough Swilly) but much larger females are either “loners” or are found in small groups. Grows to about 80 lbs. Specimen weight, 40 lbs
Ragworm
Red and king ragworm (Nereis pelagica and Nereis virens) are available from the local tackle shops and are a proven fish catcher and excellent bait for plaice, cod, turbot, whiting, pouting, codling and dogfish.
Squid
The common squid (Loligo forbesi) is superb baits for a wide range of species. Local tackle shops stock “calamari squid” which can be purchased, frozen, in cartons of ten. These are valuable bait for various species of ray as well as dogfish, bull huss, cod and conger.
Mackerel (Scomber, scombrus) can be used for almost every species of fish. It can be used in “strip” form for turbot, megrim, pollack, coalfish and gurnard. In “last” form (the tough tail section) for ray, bull huss, spurdog, and ling, while whole mackerel can be used for sharks, skates and conger. Mackerel can be bought in tackle shops, when in season a string of brightly coloured feathers or lures can also be employed while boat fishing to take mackerel in numbers.
The Lesser sand-eel (Ammodytes tobiannus) which grows to about 15 cms and the Greater sand-eel or launce (Ammodytes lanceolatus) which can grow to over 30 cms are very important bait fish. They are excellent bait for bass, pollack, and dogfish and are prime bait for turbot, ray, tope and cod.
The Boat Fishing Paternoster (below) can, in theory, have any number of hooks suspended from the main line on snoods or droppers, with a lead attached below the bottom hook. The rig allows baits and lures or a combination of both to be fished at all levels from just under the surface, through mid water and all the way down to the sea bed. Another advantage which the paternoster has is that a number of baits can be worked or “jigged” together in an enticing manner without tangling with each other. It is recommended that for ease of use this rig should have no more than three droppers attached.
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second type of boat fishing terminal tackle is the Running Leger (below) which can be fished tight to the sea bed for all the bottom living species from dabs to common skate. Again this can be a multi hook rig (three hooks, usually being the maximum). When fishing for larger species, such as tope or monkfish, one hook rigs are advisable to prevent two or more fish grabbing baits at the same time! Two large fish pulling against each other would put unnecessary strain on the terminal tackle and almost surely lead to a breakage. For some of these more “toothy” fish the trace should be made up from heavy duty nylon or multi-strand wire. The free running nature of this rig means that when a big fish picks up the bait, it can make off with it, without feeling any resistance. The angler should allow the fish to take line until it stops to turn the bait before swallowing. The strike should be delayed until the fish starts to move again.
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There are many specialist boat rigs based on either of the above but one of the most successful fish catchers in the area is the “Flying Collar” (below). This is basically a leger rig with a longer than usual, fixed dropper. At one time wire coat hangers were cut and shaped to create long booms, but today at least one major tackle manufacturer produces booms for this purpose. The rig which normally uses an artificial eel or shad is best employed while drifting over a deep water reef or wreck and should be lowered to the sea bed and reeled back slowly toward the boat. This process should be repeated until fish are contacted. Pollack and coalfish are the main target fish but many other species have fallen to this technique including conger, ling and cod.
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Image: the 'reel 'holiday experience!
The REEL holiday experience - When there's more to an angling holiday the just the fish!
So the Sea has been good to you and your catch of the day i now legendary, but what about when the rods are stowed away?
Fishing is for many a matter of no small importance, but if you're in Ireland for any length of time you will quickly learn that there is definitely more to a holiday here than just the fishing.
One of the truely great aspects of a holiday in Ireland is the local pub, generally located never too far from the Harbour. Local pubs are a terrific source of entertainment and information and who knows, it could even be where you pick up the most valuable local angling tips!
All prices are Sterling based and offer great value for money. Your own spending money goes further too as all packages are Northern Ireland pound sterling based.
I have long standing contacts with local accomodation providers, airport taxi transfers, restaurants and best bars to drink in.
contact Skipper Richard Connor
07712115751
or email surveyor.cm3@virgin.net
with your holiday ideas and i will put together a price.
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