Posts Tagged ‘Kayak fishing’
Monday, August 17th, 2015
The inaugural Irish Kayak Fishing Open was held in the beautiful, picturesque West Cork fishing village of Courtmacsherry last Saturday 15th August 2015. Sponsored by Progressive Distribution, Irelands premier distribution source for adventure sports equipment, to the tune of €1750.00 broken down into: (1st prize €1000.00 Wilderness Systems voucher, 2nd prize a voucher from Palm Equipment for €500.00, 3rd prize a €250.00 voucher for Adventure Technology Paddles) plus ancillary prizes from Cox & Rawle , an enthusiastic group of competitors assembled early on Broad Strand to ready for the 11.00 am paddle off.
As usual the Irish weather did not play ball with a forecast light north west breeze increasing to 20 knots making for a hard paddle back to shore. Undeterred the competitors fished away under the watchful eyes of appointed Safety Officer Jeff Cochrane, course director of the Outdoor Adventure Education programme at nearby Kinsale College, with the eventual winner being Waterville, Co. Kerry based Ian Burton who landed seven species to include thornback ray, pollack, whiting, pouting, dogfish, scad and mackerel.
One of many interested spectators, I can only give praise to all concerned as to how this exteremely safe but fun event was structured and ran, it really is a blueprint for the future. To MD Shane Cronin of main sponsor Progressive Distribution, Jeff Cochrane who provided much needed local safety advice on the venue, Courtmacsherry RNLI Coxwain Sean O’Farrell who again gave advice, support and a demonstration on the use of flares, Inland Fisheries Ireland staff and of course to all the competitors who took part, a huge thank you I really enjoyed your company over the weekend.
A special mention must go to Gary Robinson, who is passionate about kayak angling, the added dimension it brings both to the sport of angling and kayaking and of course the pursuits health benefits and ability to bring diverse people together. His passion to highlight the wonderful hobby of kayak fishing is the reason underpinning what will hopefully become an annual event.
Courtmacsherry is a cracking place to hold the competition, great pubs, local eateries and a beautiful rural hinterland. I stayed at Woodpoint B/B run by Patricia and Mark Gannon who also own the Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre. There are fantastic opportunities to shore and boat fish in the locality with bass, flounder, mullet, gilt head bream, pollack, ray, cod, ling, skate and offshore blue shark the main species to target. When you have a free moment get down there, you will have a ball and to the Irish Kayak Fishing Open organisers you can put my name down for next year……………
Tags: Angling, Courtmacsherry, Fishing, Ireland, Irish Kayak Fishing Open 2015, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Mackerel, Pollack, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, Thornback ray, West Cork
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Wednesday, August 5th, 2015
The Irish Kayak Fishing Open will take place on Saturday 15th August 2015 at Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, commencing at 11.00 am with fishing until 16.00 pm. Sponsored by industry leaders in the kayaking field, first placed on the day will receive a €1000.00 Wilderness Systems voucher, second placed a voucher from Palm Equipment for €500.00, with Adventure Technology Paddles donating a €250.00 voucher for third place.
The competition will be open to all anglers over 18 years of age, however every entrant must meet a number of criteria to ensure their own safety and the smooth running of the event. Check in on the day will commence at 09.00 am.
Based in a sheltered venue renowned for its sea angling, the scenic West Cork fishing village of Courtmacsherry enables kayak anglers access to a range of species to include bass, flounder, dab, ray, pollack, wrasse and conger.
Angling writer and event organiser Gary Robinson from the A Kayak Fisherman in Ireland website in advance thanks all those who offered advice and encouragement in helping him put together what promises to be a great day out in a beautiful and prolific sea fishing location.
All enquiries to Gary Robinson at: kayakfishermanireland@gmail.com
Event Details
Irish Kayak Fishing Open, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, Saturday, August 15th, Fishing 11.00 am – 16.00 pm.
The competition will be open to all anglers over 18 years of age, however every entrant must meet a number of criteria to ensure their own safety and the smooth running of the event:
- Every competitor must have their own seaworthy kayak, paddle, appropriate clothing, PFD, camera, signalling equipment of some description (VHF, flares, etc.)
- Must be confident in their own fitness levels, self-rescue and paddling skills and be well prepared for a day afloat
- Must register to participate in the competition by sending an email to kayakfishermanireland@gmail.com by the Monday before the competition date
- Must carry a measuring mat (to be provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland) and competitor’s card (distributed at check in on morning of event) as well as a camera.
- Should carry relevant protection from the weather. Ireland has a tendency to throw four seasons at us in one day. With this in mind it would be a good idea to carry at least a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as well as enough food and liquids for the day.
Competition Rules:
- This event is weather dependent. In the event of bad weather an alternative site will be considered but ultimately the event depends on relatively safe weather conditions. Judges will make the appropriate call on the day.
- This is an individual event. There are no team prizes or challenges.
- Entry fee will be small, probably in the region of €10. It is hoped that funds raised can be donated to the RNLI
- Fishing time from 11.00 am - 16.00 pm. Kayaks that do not make it back to the launch point by 16.00 will be disqualified. Check in from 09.00 where gear (kayak, PFD, etc.) will be checked.
- Paddles or pedals only. No motors. This is in the interests of fairness to all competitors. Other electronic equipment such as echo sounders, GPS units and chartplotters, etc may be used.
- No more than two rods may be fished at any one time. Static fishing rigs should have no more than three hooks. Jigging rigs for baitfish should have no more than six hooks.
- Bait or lures – angler’s choice
- The competition is based on the ethos of Catch, Photo, Release. Images, not dead fish, will win prizes. Competitors are free to keep fish as they see fit but for prizewinning purposes it will be the photos only that will be judged. Each competitor will be given a competitor’s token at check in. EACH image submitted for prize consideration must include this token. Photos submitted without the inclusion of this token will not be counted.
- Prizes for species count, 1st, 2nd and 3rd and longest fish categories for selected species.
- Judges decision is final.
Tags: A Kayak Fisherman in Ireland, Adventure Technology Paddles, Angling, Bass, Bass fishing, County Cork, Courtmacsherry, Fishing, Flounder, Gary Robinson, Ireland, Irish Kayak Fishing Open 2015, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Lure Fishing, Mackerel, Palm Equipment, Peeler crab, Pollack, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, West Cork, Wilderness Systems
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Friday, June 26th, 2015
Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork will host the inaugural Irish Kayak Fishing Open competition on Saturday 15th August 2015. A fun day of fishing, paddling and prizes is planned. The event is open to anybody who likes sea fishing and either owns or has access to a sea going kayak kitted out with basic safety gear. Mark the date and come along for a day of fun and fishing on the water with the chance of carrying home a nice prize from one of the sponsors.
Keep checking www.kayakfishermanireland.com for future and regular updates and register your interest by emailing kayakfishermanireland@gmail.com.
Event Details
The one day event will be held at Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork on Saturday, August 15th.
The competition will be open to all anglers aged 18 years or older. All entrants however must meet a number of certain criteria to ensure their own safety and the smooth running of the event:
- Every competitor must have their own seaworthy kayak, paddle, appropriate clothing, PFD, camera, signalling equipment of some description (VHF, flares, etc.)
- Must be confident in their own fitness levels, self-rescue and paddling skills and be well prepared for a day afloat
- Must register to participate in the competition by sending an email to kayakfishermanireland@gmail.com by the Monday before the competition date
- Must carry a measuring mat (to be provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland) and competitor’s card (distributed at check in on morning of event) as well as a camera.
- Should carry relevant protection from the weather. Ireland has a tendency to throw four seasons at us in one day. With this in mind it would be a good idea to carry at least a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as well as enough food and liquids for the day.
Rules for the competition will include:
- This event is weather dependent. In the event of bad weather an alternative site will be considered but ultimately the event depends on relatively safe weather conditions. Judges will make the appropriate call on the day.
- This is an individual event. There are no team prizes or challenges.
- Entry fee will be small, probably in the region of €10. It is hoped that funds raised can be donated to the RNLI
- Fishing time from 11.00 am – 16.00 pm. Kayaks that do not make it back to the launch point by 16.00 pm will be disqualified. Check in from 09.00 am where gear (kayak, PFD, etc.) will be checked.
- Paddles or pedals only. No motors. This is in the interests of fairness to all competitors. Other electronic equipment such as echo sounders, GPS units and chartplotters, etc may be used.
- No more than two rods may be fished at any one time. Static fishing rigs should have no more than three hooks. Jigging rigs for baitfish should have no more than six hooks.
- Bait or lures – angler’s choice
- The competition is based on the ethos of Catch, Photo, Release. Images, not dead fish, will win prizes. Competitors are free to keep fish as they see fit but for prizewinning purposes it will be the photos only that will be judged. Each competitor will be given a competitor’s token at check in. EACH image submitted for prize consideration must include this token. Photos submitted without the inclusion of this token will not be counted.
- Prizes for species count, 1st, 2nd and 3rd and longest fish categories for selected species.
- Judges decision is final.
Please register your interest or make general enquiries by emailing kayakfishermanireland@gmail.com
Tags: Angling, Courtmacsherry, Fishing, Ireland, Irish Kayak Fishing Open 2015, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, West Cork
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Monday, September 15th, 2014
In December 1942 “Operation Frankton” was undertaken by a team of highly trained British marine commandos, their mission to sink German ships within Bordeaux harbour with a view to disrupting the North Atlantic U-boat campaign. What was significant about their task was that the team employed two man canoes as their mode of transport, paddling seventy miles up the Gironde River under the noses of the Nazis. Twelve men started what was ultimately an arduous but successful mission out of which two personnel had to abandon the result of damage to their canoe, two drowned, two made it back to London via Gibralter, the remainder sadly were captured and shot.
The innovative mission made famous by the 1955 produced film “Cockleshell Heroes” starring Trevor Howard and Dora Bryan clearly showed how versatile canoes/kayaks are, being fit for purpose across a multitude of uses. Seventy years later intrepid anglers are now using them to reach and capture large fish on rod and line, one such bloke being Gary Robinson who likes targeting tope off Ireland’s east coast.
Walking onto the strand I was surprised to see Gary on the beach standing beside his well kitted out canoe untangling an anchor line. Currently studying marine biology in Galway, while up visiting his family Gary had decided to seize the opportunity take time out and see if a few tope were running. His day had been a success, a thirty pound tope making off with his fresh mackerel offering within ten minutes of commencing fishing. As far as I am aware Gary was the first sea angler to officially catch and release a kayak caught tope and is at the vanguard of this fascinating branch of the sport. Innovative and passionate about kayak fishing methodology and practice why not visit his site at http://kayakfishermanireland.com/.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Gary Robinson, Ireland, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Mackerel, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, tope
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Tuesday, August 20th, 2013
Gary Robinson is an all round angler with a deep interest in all things aquatic. Five years ago Gary purchased a sit on kayak purely to go paddling then had a eureka moment, with a bit of modification one could fish off this, the possibilities are endless. Studying for a marine biology degree in Galway has expanded Gary’s knowledge of the marine and enabled him to try new waters atop his trusty kayak. Interested now in highlighting Irish kayak angling Gary has created the A Kayak Fisherman in Ireland website, detailing his own personal experience of this increasingly popular hybrid of boat fishing.
To date having boated (kayaked maybe?) a range of sea fish from locations as diverse as the Beara Peninsula, Killary Harbour, and the exposed north Wicklow coastline where Gary targeted successfully a specimen forty pound plus tope, the intrepid kayaker has earmarked a twenty pound Lough Corrib pike as his autumn/winter project.
A Kayakfisherman in Ireland is a project that showcases kayak fishing and Irelands aquatic environment from an individual perspective. A seasoned writer with articles published in An Irish Anglers Digest, Sea Angler magazine, and Hook1, follow Gary’s unique journey of discovery incorporating both a sub and top surface approach, you’ll be hooked………
See also: Craic on a Yak.
Tags: A Kayakfisherman in Ireland, Angling, Boat fishing, Fishing, Gary Robinson, Ireland, Kayak fishing, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing
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Wednesday, November 21st, 2012
Studying marine biology and angling, what a fabulous combination, theory and practice all in one. Gary Robinson took time out last weekend, making good use of a break in the weather, to launch his kayak with a spot of ray fishing in mind. Choosing a sheltered location he paddled forth, and with his echo sounder showing a depth of 40 feet (roughly seven fathoms), proceeded to lower his sand eel baited flowing trace to the bottom.
Fishing over sandy ground it was not long before a lean on Gary’s rod signaled interest from down below. Heavy knocks ensued typical of ray. Giving the fish time (five or ten seconds) Gary tightened into the ray and began to lift and wind simultaneously. His boat rod took on a nice curve and after a couple of minutes pumping while reeling an opaque white disc appeared through the murk.
Shortly after a nice thornback ray knocking six or seven pound, hooked just inside the mouth, lay flapping on Gary’s lap. Using his disgorger with the minimum of fuss, Gary unhooked the fish and took a quick snap before releasing the ray to swim back whence she came. Wasting no time in rebaiting, Gary dropped his rig to the seabed again, knowing that ray swim in groups he was not going to miss an opportunity. Within minutes a double knock ensued, and so the day progressed.
Heading into his third season of sea kayak fishing, Gary Robinson through his own initiative has customised a standard sit on kayak to a very high level, and by applying a baby steps, common sense approach to developing experience and seamanship has opened up a whole new world of fishing opportunities for himself, culminating this season in a fish of a lifetime fifty pound plus tope. What’s next? If I know Gary it’s a twenty pound pike………
See also: I think I need a bigger boat?
See also: Craic on a Yak.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Gary Robinson, Ireland, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Sand eel, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, Thornback ray
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Sunday, July 29th, 2012
Gary Robinson is an angler who puts a lot of time, thought, and effort into his fishing. Set up now with a state of the art kayak rig Gary has spent the early summer putting her through its paces. The weather recently has been kind with light winds, calm seas, and blue skies, enabling a trip out off Dunlaoghaire which resulted in a nice codling.
Taking advantage of the settled conditions Gary paddled out a few days later after the big stuff off the north Wicklow coastline. His efforts produced a superb tope, which judging from the images Gary sent me is well over the specimen forty pound mark and could easily top fifty. Handling a fish like that in a boat is difficult enough, but from a kayak takes some skill. Well done Gary on a cracking fish caught and released.
For the record Gary’s tope was tempted by ledgered whole mackerel and played on an old faithful ABU 7000 reel.
See also: Kayak Fishing for Tope.
See also: Screaming Reels.
Tags: Angling, codling, Fishing, Ireland, Kayak fishing, Mackerel, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, tope, Wicklow
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012
West Cork has to be a kayak anglers paradise, what with all the bays, inlets, and little slip ways dotted around the place, sure you would be able to go fishing weather permitting whatever quarter the wind was blowing from. Also there are locations where rock hopping is completely out of the question due to sheer cliffs, so these marks would now become accessible. When one considers that depths can reach 100+ feet in places just yards from the shore, big deep water species like ling now become a real possibility.
Gary Robinson is a superb “thinking” angler who looked at the kayaks fishing capability about two years ago and subsequently has put together a formidable outfit kitted out with fish finder/echo sounder, anchor, rod holders, storage facilities, and all necessary safety features, an impressive piece of kit and no mistake. Our trip down to the south west offered Gary the first real opportunity to test his boat handling and angling skills over fishing grounds that are far from depleted. His first day on the water not only blew his mind but this seasoned anglers’ too.
That day I was fishing for wrasse far out on a headland and could observe Gary, about a mile further into the bay, paddling and fishing away. At days end we met up and you just knew by his face and of course the two large pollack, one of which weighed 9.lb plus, that his day had been a success. “Ridiculous” is how Gary described it, just fish after fish until his arms got sore. Initially using hokais searching for mackerel which were scarce, he did boat numerous big launce though, every time Gary hit bottom strings of three/four pound pollack would come up. Changing to a single 30 gram jig head he targeted larger stuff and boated pollack into double figures, all bar the two fish above being released. Gary said that he lost count of how many fish landed, now that is some day. Ground fishing at anchor with large fish fillets is the next logical step, I can’t wait to see the results of that exercise. Bugger it, I’m off to buy a kayak too…..
Read Gary Robinson’s account of the above trip in his excellent article titled; Pollack Perfection in South West Ireland.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Ireland, Kayak angling, Kayak fishing, Kill Devil Spider, Launce, lugworm, Lure Fishing, Mackerel, Pollack, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, Snow, West Cork
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Friday, September 16th, 2011
Gary Robinson is an all round angler and a good one at that. He is quite comfortable trotting a quill float on the Barrow for dace, fly fishing for wild brownies on Roundwood reservoir, or targeting twenty pound pike up in Cavan or Monaghan. His latest venture was to seek out and catch a tope from his trusty kayak fishing the inshore waters off north Co. Wicklow. Now having seen and caught some biggies myself in recent years, the idea of hooking, playing, and landing one of these fast running bruisers from a kayak is nothing short of madness in my opinion, especially if it turns out to be the size of Gerry Mitchell’s monster tope from a few weeks back.
That said, and allowing for youthful exhuberance, yesterday morning, Thursday 15th September 2011, Gary availed of a break in the windy weather to launch his kayak of a north Co. Wicklow strand. Here is his story;
I headed back down to a Wicklow beach this morning after a forecast break in the “hurricane” winds. I paddled out to my usual mark an dropped anchor for what will probably be my last roll of the dice for tope this year, from the kayak anyway, maybe one more day next week, we’ll see what the weather does. I had a couple of frozen macks with me and that is what I started with, putting a full one down on the tope rod. I put the tope rod in the rod holder and started jigging hokkais with the smaller rod just in case any fresh mackerel were passing through. They were and I managed to get a couple of fresh ones into the yak, backup for when I lost patience with the frozen. That took about an hour and with no runs by then i decided to change to a whole fresh mackerel bait. Whether it was coincidence or not I don’t know but the bait was on the bottom no longer than three minutes when the rachet started to scream.
I let it go for about ten seconds and then flipped the reel into gear. The rod buckled over…
….and the fish just kept on going and going down tide. After about a hundred yards or so I managed to turn her but then disaster, the bait was dropped. As I reeled it in, cursing away to myself the rod arched over again and I was back in business. I’m guessing the same fish was particularly hungry/aggressive and it held station, not wanting to come up off the bottom no matter what I did. This “Mexican stand off” ensued for a few minutes, as soon as I gained some line, the tope took some back. After what seemed an eternity the fish finally came into view…I got it up alongside the yak for a closer look and to size it up….
“No bother”, I thought and grabbed it by the tail to bring it up on board but this just made the fish very angry. With a couple of powerful flicks of the tail she was back on the bottom again and started to give me hell for another couple of minutes. Finally the tope accepted what was happening and I managed to haul it up onto the kayak and get to work on the hook. I managed a couple of shots when she was onboard but I figured out this morning that my next rigging project for the kayak is going to have to be a decent camera mount…..
Tired after the ordeal, it took a couple of minutes of holding the fish steady in the tide before I felt the muscles in it flex. Wouldn’t be long now and sure enough the tail started to kick and thrash and just after giving me a soaking which must have been way of revenge, she slowly swam across the tide for about 20 yards and then descended back to the deeps.. By this stage the wind had started to freshen and the sea was starting to roll a little bit so I decided to quit while I was ahead and make my way back to the shore. What a morning though!!!!
Tags: Angling, Boat fishing, Fishing, Greystones, Ireland, Kayak fishing, Kilcoole, Mackerel, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing, tope, Tope fishing, Wicklow
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