Kilmore catch set a new Irish record
A BLACK sea bream caught off the Wexford coast was among new Irish records set by anglers last year.
The 1.45 kg specimen was landed by North Wales angler Gordon Thornes at Kilmore Quay on September 17.
It was one of four new Irish record fish caught by anglers last year, according to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee Report 2018.
A 1.42 kg black bream caught at Kilmore Quay on June 30 landed Paul Twomey from Cork the newly inaugurated Minister’s Award - a ‘fish of a lifetime’ award for the best specimen fish of the year (other than a new record), presented to the angler who catches a fish which represents the highest percentage of the existing record. Mr Twomey also caught specimens weighing 0.84 kg and 0.79 kg the same day.
Other anglers who caught specimen black bream off Kilmore and had claims ratified by the committee included Eddie Butler (two 1.06 kg fish, July 8) and Barry Murphy (0.88 kg and 0.82 kg, July 8).
Barry Murphy also caught a flounder 47 cm in length at Cullenstown on October 22.
Also among the top specimens landed off the Wexford coast was a bass measuring over 75 cm, caught by Philip O’Dwyer on July 7 at Ballymoney, a 171 cm tope by Joseph Brady at Kilmore Quay on August 6, a tope measuring 167 cm by Darren Ryan at Tinnaberna beach on June 5, a 2.29 kg ballan wrasse by Gary Blake at Kilmore Quay on September 2 and a 0.59 kg cuckoo wrasse by the same angler at Kilmore on November 4.