Tarpon off Welsh Coast !!

Has anyone read this months Sea Angler magazine. There is a 3-4 page write up on Tarpon breeding off the welsh coast. Very well written article by Dave Lewis.

Edited post ! For those who have yet to read article.

insane you should mention this right cause outa the blue a mate of mine texted me sayin he'd just read an arctical about a tarpon caught in 1981 in river Lee(you'd prob remember this I was only a twinkle). Ruairi Mac formarly of tralee bay sac bout 5-6years ago,marine biologist in galway. he just seen it today doing some research or other. I'm going to get on to him to post on the arctical and i'l add to the thread soon as......

Heard a few have shown at kilroot power station near carrickfergus harbour will have to target them some day :lol: :roll:

There was reports of one caught at the warm water outlet of one of the power stations in the shannon estuary. One of the lads I know that works there said a few have turned up in the water intake filters these powerstations have.

They seem to be everywhere !!

Who knows whats out there under the sea....we only hear about it when someone either sights or catches something that we're told shouldnt be there.....yeah right! :lol:

Heres an old link with a similar report

http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200s ... _page.html

Tom.

bring on the striped bass!!

It was April's edition after all :roll:

http://www.myfishcasting.com/casting_fo ... ght=#55687

There has been stripped bass in the estuary for years also. I think the Tarpon must be feeding on them.

So I heard anyway!!!

as promised heres the info....as such! best i could get anyways.

this is what i heard about it and some copied links of the net.

28-10-1981. from warm water outfall oposit the Lower Road in town, apparently some fien called william quilligan caught it. 160cm, 33kg. couldn't find out weather rod and line or not but(some of you may understand) any quilligans I know wouldn't waste their time waiting for the take if ya know what I mean. according to the legend like it was feeding on mullet and had been spotted in the previous 3 weeks. and lads don't shoot the messenger, i'm only reporting what I heard.... :wink:

A new record for the tarpon, Tarpon atlanticus Valenciennes (Osteichthyes-Elopiformes-Elopidae), in …
E Twomey, P Byrne - Journal of Fish Biology, 1985 - Blackwell Synergy
An adult tarpon, Tarpon atlunticus Valenciennes, 1846 (Fig. 1) was captured by a
fisherman on 28 October 1981 in the River Lee, Co. Cork, Ireland approximately
14 miles from Cork Harbour in the upper tidal reaches of the estuary



http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=9242017




Titre du document / Document title
A new record for the tarpon, Tarpon atlanticus Valenciennes (Osteichthyes-Elopiformes-Elopidae), in the eastern North Atlantic
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
TWOMEY E. (1) ; BYRNE P. ;
Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)
(1) Univ., coll. Cork, Cork, IRLANDE
Revue / Journal Title
Journal of fish biology ISSN 0022-1112 CODEN JFIBA9
Source / Source
1985, vol. 26, no3, pp. 359-362 (6 ref.)
Langue / Language
Anglais
Editeur / Publisher
Blackwell, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI (1969) (Revue)
Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords
Pisces ; Geographic distribution ; North Atlantic ; Vertebrata ;
Mots-clés français / French Keywords
Pisces ; Répartition géographique ; Océan Atlantique Nord ; Vertebrata ;
Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords
Distribucion geografica ;
Location
INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 14279

William Quilligan !! There are alot of Quilligans from around where I live as you well know Hugh. All great anglers.

Nice bit of research there Hugh, and to think people taught we were taking the piss!!

I did a search under "Tarpon River Lee" and the first result that came up was the one below:- From the journal of fish Biology. The only problem is that you have to pay to see it.

A new record for the tarpon, Tarpon atlanticus Valenciennes ...Tarpon. atlunticus Valenciennes, 1846 (Fig. 1) was captured by a. fisherman on 28 October 1981 in the River Lee, Co. Cork, Ireland approximately ...

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... .tb04274.x -

marine biology section of the library in UCG has an arctical on it with photo's and the whole lot. i'l find out exact reference if anyone looking for it.

I worked with a guy some years back who knew (relatives I think) the lads who caught a tarpon in the Lee and it would fit the timeframe.

The story I heard was that they hooked it but could not get it into the boat. The fish took off with one of the lads holding it thru' the gill. They eventually managed to tire it out and get it in. If I remember correctly, it's stuffed and mounted somewhere.

I remember that. Great anglers with and without a net. They would have a wealth of knowledge for Cork harbour, and could smell a salmon from Graaan.... a mile from the river for those not from Cork.
The fish was mounted and on display in a TV shop on Parnell sq, below the bus station.

Would love to see that stuffed fish...anyone know if its still there?
Here's a picture I found of it.
On the back of the photo it says...total length 1.64m and 71lbs !!!

If there is a breeding stock off Wales .... given time we are probably going to see more of them. :D

On the other hand ....

Sea Angler mag quotes the whole thing starts on April 1st.

I understand Dave said when asked: I had a lot of fun writing it

So that holiday to Florida is still going to offer something special!

I reckon more chance of them being a Tampon than a Tarpon...