Irish Boat Team Fundraiser - The Results

What a great day; you couldn't have asked for a better day weather-wise! There wasn't a puff of wind and the sea was glassy calm. Just aswell, as some of the competitors had availed of Cobh's noted hospitality and had given it welly in some of the more well known watering holes the night before! To say that there were a few sick heads amongst the throng of anglers, who gathered at Kennedy Pier for the off, would have been a bit of an understatement.

The cobwebs were soon wiped away and the anglers got stuck into the competitive side of the outing. Over 60 anglers had signed up and this was

to be a fun competition. Prizes were to be won for best fish in all species categories and for most species. Members of the Irish Team busied themselves getting the anglers away as quick as they could and the boats of the Cork Harbour Angling Hub brought the anglers to the grounds outside the harbour. Some of the top boats were used, including the John Boy, Naomh Cartha, Wreckhunter, Lee Star, Castlemaiden, Deora De, etc.,...

Many thanks to the members of the Irish Boat Team 2012, Myles Howell, Mick Barry, Kit Dunne, Gordon Darker, Davy McCormick, and Dave Jolly, who organised a great day.

The boats were well scattered with some opting to fish the reefs off Power Head, others the Smiths straight off Roches Point, and still others the longer trek to the Ling Rocks. One of the boats that ventured to the Ling Rocks was Wreckhunter, skippered by Joe

Lynch. Mick Barry was aboard this boat and he reported that they were happy with their fishing. Fishing wasn't hectic but they still had enough action to warrant the trek out. In fact, the biggest fish of the whole competition, a fine ling weighing in at 9.3lbs, was landed by Mick Martin onboard Wreckhunter. They also had good pollack and whiting.

Lagosta II, skippered by Alan Kennedy, spent most of the day in at the Smiths. Fishing was slow at the start. Mind you within the first hour Cobh SAC angler, Pat O'Shea, was up to 4 species. A move by Alan, to a small wreck on the edge of the Smiths, at midday proved inspirational. The fishing suddenly took off and for an hour all anglers onboard had great fishing. Heiko Drier led the way with some fine pollack. However, there were also some sizeable pouting coming onboard, aswell as ballan wrasse, ling, & cuckoo wrasse. With some of the anglers recording upto 7 species at this

point, they were put off their stride when a

call to Danny Kane on Deora De revealed that Dan Lynch was by that point on 12 species. Not to be put off, Padraig Clear, post-Irish, persevered and notched up 2 more to register 9 species in total. Just aswell, as it later transpired that Danny was upto his old tricks and in fact Padraig had won the most species prize. Well done Padraig!!!

Danny Kane was fishing onboard Deora De, skippered by Jim Linehane. They fished mainly in the Daunt area; Pat Condon and Cormac Gannon had the most species with 7 each. Cormac had a fine red gurnard of 46cm which was just 2oz under specimen. Hard luck Cormac, but still a great fish!!! Dan Lynch was also onboard with his daughter Sarah who had a great day. Sarah, 8 years of age, had 6 species and won the juvenile and ladies section. Well done Sarah!!!

The final results were as follows:

Heaviest Fish - Ling 9.3lbs (Mick Martin)

Longest Fish - Conger 130cm (Ciaran Rice)

Total Species - 9 species (Padraig Clear)

Best Cod - 68cm (John Brady)

Best Conger - 130cm (Ciaran Rice)

Best Dab - 33cm (Aaron Darker)

Best Grey Gurnard - 37cm (Stephen O'Neill)

Best Red Gurnard - 43cm (Cormac Gannon)

Best Haddock - 46cm (Pat O'Shea)

Best Ling - 89cm (Mick Martin)

Best Lsd - 71cm (Pat Condon)

Best Pollack - 63cm (Padraig Clear)

Best Pouting - 39cm (Liam Kennedy)

Best Poor Cod - 26cm (Joe McInerney)

Best Whiting - 45cm (Sean McShane)

Best Thornback - 44cm (Sean Og McShane)

Best Ballan Wrasse - 40cm (Pat Condon)

Best Cuckoo - 37cm (John Dennehy)

Herring - 26cm (Dave Clancy)

Dragonet - 23cm (Pat Swan)

Many thanks to all the anglers who participated and helped raise funds for the Irish team. We wish the team the best of luck in France later this year and know they'll do us proud (especially if they beat the auld enemy)! Here are the lads pictured below.

The next competition of note within the Harbour is Cobh SAC's light line competition. This is on next Sunday week, 25th March. If you'd fancy fishing this then give Mary Geary a buzz on 021-4812167 or Danny Kane on 086 - 8161946 to book yourself in! Have a look here for the results of the last comp Feb Light Line Report & Results.