Cork Small Boats Festival 2012

This year's Cork Small Boats Festival once again attracted some of the top match anglers from Ireland and the UK. Twenty three teams completed in all, which is on a par with the entry for the last few years and was in line with the organisers' expectation. Competition, as you would expect, was intense. 

The relatively good weather meant that all boats were able to fish outside the harbour for significant stretches and this was reflected in the quality of fishing. Over 36 different species of fish were caught with the winners 'Screaming Reels' chalking up an impressive tally of 31 species. Well done to Martyn Rayner and Seirt Shultz of team Screaming Reels who have come very close to claiming the top spot on a number of occasions in the past. However, this was their first win in 16 attempts. This now adds to their previous wins in the Rosslare Small Boats Festival. Previous winners, team Skua, ran Screeming Reels very close with a score of 30 species to give them the runners up spot.

There were some notable catches during the week including a fine specimen red gurnard. However, the most unusual specimen was a fine specimen mackeral of 1.08kg caught by well known Cork Harbour angler and journalist, Jim Clohessy. Jim was trying to pick up a garfish at the time when the mackeral scoffed the bait and took off like a steam train. Jim knew he hadn't a garfish and had wondered had he hooked a bass as he was close to the shore. However, Jim was well pleased when he landed this brute. Specimen mackeral are actually few and far between and don't feature often in the Irish Specimen Fish Reports. This one will, though! Well done Jim!!!

Team Skua also did well when targeting bass. On the first day they had a beauty, pictured above, thanks to Jim's expertise in soft plastic lure fishing.

Detailed results of the weeks fishing can be found on Cork Small Boat's Results.

The dates for 2013 are already set: 20th - 27th September, get 'em in your diaries!!!