Defence Forces Master Angler

The Defence Forces Sea Angling Club recently held their Master Angler competition out of Cobh. This was a three day event and the lads were blessed with fine weather. In all 32 anglers were competing and fished onboard four of the hub's charter angling boats; the John Boy, the Osprey II, the Lagosta II, and Wreckhunter.

The fishing was excellent with over 18 species recorded including cod, pollack, ling, coalfish, pouting, poorcod, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse, dogfish, whiting, haddock, red gurnard, grey gurnard, tub gurnard, garfish, megrim, scad, and conger. Indeed the winner, Mick Barry, had 148 fish over the three days. That's some fishing!!! Second was Phil Barry with 102 fish, and third was Micky Moore with 80 fish. The team event was won by the Dubs, but the Cork lads gave them a good run for their money.

Best fish was a 94cm ling. Mick Barry reports that the best rigs he found were the shop bought variety from Shamrock Tackle and plain simple homemade traces. For some of these lads it was their second Defence Force competition out of Cobh in less than a month. The last time round the fishing was excellent again (http://corkharbouranglinghub.blogspot.com/2010/05/army-master-angler-championships.html). Hopefully, it won't be too long before all the lads are back down once more!

If you would like to book a trip out with Donie Geary in the John Boy have a look here http://www.sea-fishing-ireland.com/. If you'd fancy going out on the Osprey II you can contact Pat Condon through his website here http://www.atlantic-charters.net/. Joe Lynch, skipper of Wreckhunter, can be contacted here http://www.wreckhunter.ie/ and Alan Kennedy of Lagosta II can be contacted through his email address at alank167@gmail.com.