Skerries, Balbriggan etc

Heya guys

I recently moved to Skerries and its a really nice area to live but more importantly I've heard nothing but bad reports on the fishing. I admit i haven't been out myself there at all since i moved two months ago. I have been mainly pike fishing through the winter in Monghan.

My question is what is it thats wrong with this area and why is the fishing so poor? It just screams fish, boulder beaches, reefs, gullies, bait fish, marine worms, sand and rock spits, surf, it literally has it all.

I'm just curious if anyone has some insight into why its so poor there yet it improves from laytown and further north and portrane and further south, but not in the middle right at my door step.

Yes it looks very fishy but its never fished very well.

That said years ago I had a small boat and we launched out of Balbriggan to hit a small reef halfway across to Lambay and it was always stuffed full of fish - mackerel, Pollack, coalies, conger, gurnards, and even plump red cod, albeit all of this was in the summer.

I am told there is excellent sea trout fishing around Malahide and know personally that Rogerstown and other estuaries harbour really good but difficult bass. It may be that not enough pioneering work has been done and that there's excellent fishing on your doorstep...

tight lines

I'd say the shallow water and the amount off razor dredging that goes on year round might have a bit to do with it!

Never heard d anything good about skerries. From gormanstown heading north there is bass during the summer thought.

The fact that the surrounding countryside is one of the most, if not THE most; intensively cultivated areas of land in Europe could also be a factor. Fungicides, pesticides and nutrient runoff from farm land can be devastating to aquatic eco systems. There is also the long standing issue relating to the amount of poorly treated sewage that enters the sea right along this stretch of coastline. Add these two factors to the over fishing of these waters in past times and the picture begins to paint itself.

The fact that the surrounding countryside is one of the most, if not THE most; intensively cultivated areas of land in Europe could also be a factor. Fungicides, pesticides and nutrient runoff from farm land can be devastating to aquatic eco systems. There is also the long standing issue relating to the amount of poorly treated sewage that enters the sea right along this stretch of coastline. Add these two factors to the over fishing of these waters in past times and the picture begins to paint itself.

some amount of seals all along skerries ,have to be feeding on some sort of fish

The fact that the surrounding countryside is one of the most, if not THE most; intensively cultivated areas of land in Europe could also be a factor. Fungicides, pesticides and nutrient runoff from farm land can be devastating to aquatic eco systems. There is also the long standing issue relating to the amount of poorly treated sewage that enters the sea right along this stretch of coastline. Add these two factors to the over fishing of these waters in past times and the picture begins to paint itself.

some amount of seals all along skerries ,have to be feeding on some sort of fish

A number of the seals you mentioned have been released by the seal sanctuary and frequent the local harbours feeding on the leavings from the local fishing boats and by raiding set lobster and crab pots.
The only fish they could be feeding on are the ubiquitous population of seed whiting that carpets the shores of the East coast or the occasional gathering of sea trout or salmon awaiting a decent tide to head upstream into the rivers.

The whole areas crap even the minis like wrasse and blennys etc have disappeared ,I blame the razor boats stirring up the bottom raising all that black sand

The area has always been poor from the shore but has a wealth of fish to be caught from a boat!

Also, two points I'd like to clarify:

1. The majority of the land surrounding skerries is pasture! I believe you're thinking of Rush Monkey Wrasse.
2. The seals have always been there, dozens of them, maybe hundreds, and I have never heard of them pilfering lobster pots, and I've fished them myself and know life long lobster fishermen!

The area has always been poor from the shore but has a wealth of fish to be caught from a boat!

Also, two points I'd like to clarify:

1. The majority of the land surrounding skerries is pasture! I believe you're thinking of Rush Monkey Wrasse.
2. The seals have always been there, dozens of them, maybe hundreds, and I have never heard of them pilfering lobster pots, and I've fished them myself and know life long lobster fishermen!

Thanks lads for the info. The opinions are interesting. I never thought the surrounding farm land would have such an impact. I fish more from a kayak these days so maybe I might have more joy this way. Would I need to paddle out far Chris?

I used go there to collect shrimp for the Salmon fishing and always thought it looked excellent for Bass but i never tried it, pity to hear the area isn't great for coastal fishing

Wexford harbour barren - due to the mussel dredging and all the runnoff from farming and greywater on the slaney - same in most places

Wexford harbour barren - due to the mussel dredging and all the runnoff from farming and greywater on the slaney - same in most places

Hope your keeping well mate. We will have to catch up soon enough.

I honestly didn't realise that farming had such an effect on fishing. I'm well aware of the damage that mussll dredging does, but is that still being practised here in Ireland or was the damage already done in the past?

Cheers

John

still being practiced. put down seed mussel and drag it all up again later