• Adventures in Ireland
It has been argued that only nine species of freshwater fish are truly native to Ireland - five char species, pollan, eel, brown trout and Atlantic salmon - as Ireland's fresh water was entirely frozen during the last glacial period, only diadromous fish could repopulate Irish waters after the Ice Age. All other freshwater species were introduced, mostly from the Middle Ages onwards.[2]
European river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis
European brook lamprey, Lampetra planeri
Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus
European eel, Anguilla anguilla
Allis shad, Alosa alosa
Twaite shad, Alosa falax fallax
Common dace, Leuciscus leuciscus
Common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus
Gudgeon, Gobio gobio
Common roach, Rutilus rutilus
Common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus
European chub, Squalius cephalus
Common bream, Abramis brama
Stone loach, Nemacheilus barbatulus
Tench, Tinca tinca
Northern pike, Esox lucius
European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus
Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus alpinus
Cole's char, Salvelinus colii
Coomsaharn char, Salvelinus fimbriatus
Gray's char, Salvelinus grayi
Blunt-snouted Irish char, Salvelinus obtusus
Brown trout, Salmo trutta
Irish pollan, Coregonus autumnalis
Three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
Nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius
European bullhead, Cottus gobio
Norway bullhead,
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
This blue backed, silver cousin of the American striped bass is one of Ireland’s most sought after sport fish. It is equally at home in the turmoil of an Atlantic surf beach or in the quietness of an estuarine backwater. Most common below a line drawn from Galway to Dublin, but localised populations exist in the northern region. A protected species by law, with a bag limit of 2 fish per angler in any 24 hour period and minimum size of 40 cms. Grows to about 20 lbs. Specimen weight 10 lbs. Find out more about bass fishing here.
Flounder (Platichthys flesus)
Eyes and colour normally on the right side, but “reversed” examples are more common amongst flounders than among other flatfishes. Conspicuous enlarged, rough, hard scales on head ridge, anterior part of lateral line and along bases of dorsal and anal fins on the eyed side. Dark brown to greenish-grey, sometimes with vague orange spots; blind side uniform opaque white. Grows to about 5 lbs. Often occurs in fresh water well above the limits of the tide. Specimen weight: 1.36kg. (3 lbs).
Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Turbot are large flatfish and are regarded as one of the major prizes of Irish sea angling and they are also highly regarded for the table. The upper side is a mottled brown with numerous bony lumps or tubercules. The body is diamond shaped. Turbot can grow to over 40lbs.
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)
Very popular sport fish. Can be taken from both boat and shore on the northern coast. Common over areas of rough ground, reefs and sunken wrecks. Easily identified from its near relation, the coalfish, by the protruding lower jaw and by the shape of the lateral line which is bent over the pectoral fin. Tail not forked. Usually brown or bronze on back and flanks. Grows to over 20 lbs. Specimen Weight, 12 lbs.
Cod (Gadus morhua)
Common on most coasts and unlikely to be mistaken for any other species, even though the colour of adults varies. Caught over a wide range of seabed from reefs and wrecks to areas of shingle and sand and in many of the larger estuaries. Cod are available throughout the year, but generally “peak” fishing times are May and June (boat angling) and December and January (shore fishing). Grows to over 50 lbs. Specimen Weight, 20 lbs.
Ling (Molva molva)
Long, eel-like, member of the cod family which has a large barbel under the chin and a mouth of sharp teeth. Olive or red-brown in colour, sometimes mottled. A very popular sport fish, particularly with wreck and reef anglers. Almost exclusively a boat caught fish. Grows to about 50 lbs. Specimen Weight; 11.34 kgs (25 lbs).
Wrasse (Lubrus)
Large family of deep bodied, hard scaled fish. Two species are of interest to Irish anglers: the Ballan Wrasse (Labrus bergylta) which grows to about 10 lbs (specimen weight, 4.75 lbs) and the colourful Cuckoo Wrasse (Labrus mixtus) (which grows to around 2 lbs (specimen weight, 1.25 lbs). Both are very common in Irish waters particularly where there are rocky areas of weed covered reef.
Gurnard (Triglidae)
There are three species of Gurnard which anglers can expect from waters in the northern region. Grey Gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) which grows to about 3.5lbs; Red Gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus) which grows to about 4lbs and Tub Gurnard (Trigla lucerna) which grows to over 12lbs.
Conger Eel (Conger conger)
Dorsal, caudal and anal fins continuous; no pelvic fins. Dorsal begins about level with tip of pectoral. Body rather stout and muscular. #salmon #fishing #angler #angling
8 ноя 2021
