Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Press Release 25th September 2006
Minister of State for the Marine, Mr John Browne, TD, attended the prize
giving ceremony for the well renowned Rosslare Small Boats Festival last Friday
evening in Crosbie’s Cedar Hotel, Rosslare, Strand, Co. Wexford.
Based in the Minister’s constituency, this four day event, now in its 21st
year, attracts more than 90 UK anglers and provides the perfect opportunity
to highlight the excellent sea fishing available on Ireland’s southeast coast.
The festival ran from the 16th September to the 22nd September. Unfortunately,
weather conditions were the worst that this competition has encountered in
its 21 year history. In effect, 3 days fishing was lost which meant that the
normal 4 day species competition was reduced to 2 days. However, the weather
did not dampen the competitive spirit and all tactics were used by the 34
boats to in an effort to win the competition.
Minister John Browne was given a warm welcome by the competitors and he
was very supportive of the event. ‘I was delighted to attend the prize giving
for the Rosslare Small Boats Festival. Each year, it grows in popularity and
I have no doubt this is as a result of the great sea fishing and hospitality
on offer in Rosslare as well as the dedication and hard work by the organising
committee. I would like to thank the organisers of the event including John
Meaney, Phil Hallsworth, the Central and Eastern Regional Fisheries Boards
and all the UK and local sponsors’.
There was an array of prizes on offer including fishing equipment products
as well as substantial monetary prizes and engraved plaques. Sponsors for
the competition in the UK include Plastimo (Navman Electronics), Shimano,
Shakespeare, Svenson Sports, Johnson’s Angling in Liverpool, Stena Line, Sea
Angler and Ralph Barkely. In Ireland local sponsors include Failte Ireland,
Rosslare Service Station, Londis, Morgan’s Café, The Central Fisheries Board,
the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Self Catering Ireland and Crosbie’s
Cedar Hotel.
The main prize was presented to the team that caught the most species of fish over the duration of the competition and it was second year running for Steve Mills (Gosport and District Sea Angling Club) and Dave Timms from Portsmouth who won with 20 species recorded giving a total weight of 10.54 kgs. In second place, were Richie Stead and Keith Pemberton from the Wirral Boat Angling Club who had 19 species with a weight of 17.22kgs. In third place, were Mike Woods, Alan Johnson and Colin Cooke from Southport and Sefton Boat Angling Clubs who had 19 species with a weight of 15.06kgs.
Sea fishing off Rosslare harbour allows for an angler to catch a wide variety of species including; coalfish, cod, conger eel, dogfish, flounder, gurnards, ling, plaice, Pollack, pouting, ray, smoothhound, tope, whiting and wrasse. For information on all the best fishing on Ireland’s East Coast, please visit the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board website: www.fishingireland.net
Next year’s event will take place from the 8-14th September. The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board would like to invite all small boat anglers to take part. Further information is available from Ms. Josie Mahon, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, 01-2787022 or josie.mahon@erfb.ie
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For further press information, please contact Marketing Angling Co-ordinator, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, 01-2787022/087 2746127