Rosscarbery mullet catch sets a new Irish record

ROSSCARBERY figures prominently in a new official report, which logs the largest fish of various species which have been caught all over Ireland.

According to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee Report 2017, which has just been published, Rosscarbery was the location where Dublin angler Ian Mulligan broke the Golden Grey Mullet record, which was established as recently as 2014. Mulligan’s record-breaking mullet weighed 1.29 kg and was caught in Rosscarbery on July 4th last. The Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC) recently ratified this new Irish record fish.

A hugely popular angling destination for many visitors, from home and abroad, Rosscarbery was also the location where Amy O’Brien from Cork caught a 0.94 kg Golden Grey Mullet on September 1st, which resulted in her winning the Dr AEJ Went Award for ‘Young Specimen Angler of the Year.’ Dr Arthur Went, a noted fisheries biologist and one of the two founder members of the ISFC, nominated this award which is for the best specimen of the year (based on the highest percentage of the specimen weight) taken by an angler aged 13 years or younger.

Such notable catches are sure to bring Rosscarbery, and the wider West Cork region, to the attention of anglers all over Ireland, and beyond, as they plan their 2018 calendars, with notable catches in Clonakilty, Union Hall and Kinsale also featuring prominently in the new report. In recent years, Rosscarbery, in particular, has featured regularly for catches of large mullet.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee, which is supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, is an independent all-Ireland voluntary body which verifies and records the capture of large fish caught on rod by anglers in freshwater and marine waters.

As well as the new record, detailed information on 422 specimen fish (large fish) taken by anglers from venues throughout Ireland in 2017, comprising many different species, is featured in the report. The main species were smaller shark species like smooth hound and spurdog and, in freshwater, carp dominated. 

All fish were caught, weighed, measured and released.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee report is available on the ISFC website www.irish-trophy-fish.com or from the Inland Fisheries Ireland website http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/. Hard copies of the report are available from Inland Fisheries Ireland offices nationally.

Meanwhile, the ISFC Awards Day, when anglers will be presented with their awards and certificates, will be held on February 17th in Dublin, in conjunction with Irish Angling Show weekend.