THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

the next thing to happen, which of course was the landing net, and that they most definitely didn't like.
We had with us a huge purpose built landing net made up for the winter jumbo cod we were taking
throughout the 1980's along Lancashire's Fylde coast. That unfortunately didn't see the Irish trip out.
One particular fish broke its way out through the bottom ending up back in the water being played
through the hole in the mesh, which we later repaired, only to have the frame wrecked a day or so later.
When you got them into the boat it was even worse. They turned from docile almost willing participant
into a good impression of crazed crocodile. Very powerful fish too. Difficult to settle down, retrieve the
hook from, then get back over the side, for which reason we didn't take too many photographs thinking
that their availability would never end and that we could always get some pictures another time.
Obviously, that wasn't the case. The following year we returned and caught virtually nothing. We heard
that some 'live for today' commercial fisherman had also decided to pay the spot a visit, and in common
with the UK just over the way, that as they say was the end of that.
Tralee Bay does in fact still have the Irish Monkfish record, but unfortunately it dates way back. More
recently however, the whole bay has been voluntarily closed to commercial fishing, though not to
angling, in the hope that monkfish and undulate ray populations might start to re-establish themselves
now that the pair have been given both ICES red list as well as Europe-wide legal protection. Fingers
crossed. Only time will tell.
Associated audio interview numbers: 44.
FLAPPER SKATE Dipturus intermedia & BLUE SKATE Dipturus flossada
Formerly the Common Skate
Bucket List status – result (D. intermedia)
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