Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Salmon fishing: CATCH AND RELEASE only for 2009
The River Boyne rises near Newberry Hall in Co. Kildare and meanders its way in a north easterly direction for seventy miles through counties Offaly, Meath and Louth before entering the Irish Sea below the historic town of Drogheda, between the townlands of Mornington and Baltray. The Boyne has extensive stocks of wild brown trout and also has a good run of salmon and sea trout in summer and autumn. The majority of salmon fishing in this are is controlled by Angling Associations with some being maintained by private fishery owners.
The main salmon and sea trout fisheries are located on the lower reaches of the river between Navan and Drogheda.
Salmon fishing early in the season ( March to May ) is concetrated around the Navan area. The Ramparts and Sophies Island are popular locations but the run of fish is small and only a very small number of salmon are taken annually. The average weight of fish at this time of the year is around 10lbs. Fish can also be taken in this area later in the year when water conditions are suitable, generally with a flood or rise in water level. Spining and shrimp fishing produce many of the fish in this area although the fly has produced a number of fish over the last number of seasons.
PERFECT WATER CONDITIONS AT BLACKCASTLE WEIR, NAVAN, CO. MEATH
In summer the best of the salmon fishing is located downstream of Navan,
between Slane and Oldbridge. Good numbers of salmon are taken annually during
the months of July, August and September on the fisheries downstream of Slane
Village with the most popular locations being, the Scabby Arch, Johnstons,
Crewbawn, Staleen and Oldbridge. The average weight of salmon in summer is
7lbs. to 8lbs. but numbers of larger fish to 17lbs can also be taken. Sea
trout fishing is mainly concentrated around the Oldbridge area but they can
be caught on occasion as far upstream as Slane and Navan. The Boyne gets a
small run of large sea trout at the end of May and into June but the best
of the fishing is from the end of June to the end of September. The average
weight of sea trout is 1.5lbs with larger sea trout to 5lbs being caught on
occasion.
When fishing for salmon and sea trout anglers must have a State licence and
the necessary permission before fishing. Fishing must be consistent with the
current rules and regulations of the local Angling Association. Anglers must
also note that the law now requires all captured salmon and sea trout over
40cms in length to be tagged.
There is excellent wild brown trout fishing on the river Boyne and the average
weight of trout is three quarters of a pound however a number of fish to 5lbs
or 6lbs are taken annually.
THE EVENING RISE CAN PRODUCE SOME NICE TROUT TO THE DRY FLY
The Boyne has all the fly hatches associated with a limestone river. The most prolific hatches include olives and sedges and there can also be good hatches of the mayfly Ephemera danica. There are a number of popular fishing locations in the Navan area and these are located at Kilcarn, Blackcastle and Dunmoe. There is also good trout fishing in the Stackallen area and downstream of Slane at the Scabby Arch, Crewbawn, Johnsons, Rossnaree and Staleen. Fishing can be good all year round depending on weather and water conditions but the best of the fishing is from mid May to mid September. Some of these areas can weed up in summer but there is still a lot of accessible water. Anglers wishing to fish for wild brown trout on the river Boyne must have the necessary permission and permit from the local Angling Association.
Bye-law No. 824, 2007 prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the Rivers Boyne (the main channel) and Kells Blackwater (downstream of the Nine Eyed Bridge).
Angling Clubs: The following angling clubs hold waters on the River Boyne:
Drogheda & District Anglers Club: Secretary, John Murphy
39 Anville Cresent, Drogheda Co. Louth. Tel: (Europe) 00 353 41 9834078 (U.S.A.)
011 353 41 9834078
Rossin, Slane & District Anglers Club: Secretary, Brian Herithy – 041 9842472.
Broadbridge Angling Club: Permits are available from
Hayes Post Office, Navan, Co. Meath. Tel: (Europe) 00 353 46 9024187 (U.S.A.)
011 353 46 9024187
Hayestown Angling Club: Secretary, Sean Monaghan, Kentstown,
Navan, Co. Meath.
Tel: (Europe) 00 353 46 9025179 (U.S.A.) 011 353 46 9925179
Navan & District Anglers Association: Secretary,
Mr. Pat Kearns, 59 Oakleigh, Old Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath, Tel: mobile
+353 85 1105743 email: pmkplanthire@eircom.net
Fishing Tip: Use a small nymph under the dry fly when brown trout fishing, if the trout are rising short.
Permits: Permits for the above angling association waters
are available from:
The Secretaries of the above named Angling Associations and local tackle dealers.
Guide Services:
Pat Kearns, 59 Oakleigh, Old Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath, Tel: mobile +353 85 1105743 email: pmkplanthire@eircom.net
Seamus Lenihan, Clonardon, Garlow Cross, Navan, Co. Meath. Tel: (Europe) 00 353 46 90 25787 (U.S.A.) 011 353 46 9025787
Accommodation:
Hotel:
The Boyne Valley Hotel, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Tel: (Europe) 00 353 41 9837737 (U.S.A.) 011 353 41 983773
The Newgrange Hotel, Bridge Street, Navan, Co. Meath.
Tel: (Europe) 00 353 46 9074100 (U.S.A.) 011 353 46 9074100 email: info@newgrangehotel.ie
The Neptune Beach Hotel, Bettystown, Co. Meath.
Tel: (Europe) 00 353 41 9827107 (U.S.A.) 011 353 41 9827107 email: info@neptunebeach.ie
Bed and Breakfast:
Roughgrange Farm B&B, Staleen, Donore, Co. Meath.
Tel: (Europe) 00 353 41 9823147. (U.S.A.) 011 353 41 9823147
Rossnaree House B&B, Rossnaree, Slane, Co. Meath Ireland
Tel: Europe 00 353 41 9820975. U.S.A. 011 353 41 9820975 email: rossnaree@eircom.net
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a definitive guide to salmon, trout, coarse and sea fishing in Monaghan, Meath, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford.