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*This
guide was produced by Monaghan Tourism with the assistance
of the Northern
and Eastern Regional
Fisheries
Boards.
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Pike
Angling
If you are going pike fishing on many of the waters mentioned
in the areas below, a boat is a distinct advantage.
Pike are Ireland’s most efficient freshwater
predators and can grow to great sizes. The Irish lake record
of 41lbs was taken in Lough Ross on the Fane system. Pike
will readily attack and eat any other freshwater species
including other pike. They have long streamlined torpedo
shaped bodies with mottled olive yellow and cream flanks
with a white underbelly. The pike’s mouth is filled
with row upon row of razor sharp teeth and it can easily
be seen why they are such successful predators. Any prey
trapped in those powerful jaws would have no chance of escape.
They possess excellent stereoscopic vision (both eyes looking
forward) with which they can observe the movements of their
intended prey whilst lying in wait in the marginal weed.
Pike are now recognised as a great sporting fish and Co.
Monaghan pike are renowned for their fighting abilities.
As with most Irish lakes, the lakes in Co. Monaghan are quite
shallow and provide an excellent habitat for pike. It is
a veritable pike anglers paradise with hundreds of lakes
and very little angling pressure. Pike anglers will find
that the Monaghan Lakes are suited to a number of angling
methods including dead baiting, sink and draw, legering,
trolling, lure fishing, jerk baiting and fly fishing. There
are a number of pike angling bye laws with which anglers
should be familiar.
Under Bye-law number 667: The taking and killing by any person
of any pike exceeding 6.6lbs or 3 kilos in weight, is prohibited.
The taking and killing by any person of more than one pike
on any day, is prohibited.
It is prohibited for any person
having in his possession more than one dead whole pike or
alternatively, more than 3.3lbs or 1.5 kilos weight of pike
flesh or parts.
The above-mentioned prohibitions do not apply
to specimen pike
(as defined by the bye-law) provided only one such pike is
taken and killed by any person on any one day and that only
one such pike, in whole and ungutted form is in the possession
of any person.
A specimen pike in a river is 20lbs and over
and in a lake is 30lbs and over. |
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