Tullaghabegley River An Falcarragh
Tullaghabegley River An Falcarragh
Tullaghabegley River An Falcarragh

Iascaireachta / Fishing

Falcarragh is located on the Atlantic coast and there are plenty of opportunities for sea angling and fishing in the rivers.
Fishing in Falcarragh:
  • Game Fishing
  • Angling Tullaghabegley River
  • Ray River
  • Lackagh River

  • Cloughaneely Angling Association

  • The Cloughaneely Anling Association was formed in the late 1940's to protect and develop angling on the waters in the parish. The members have been continuously active since then and have undertaken many projects over the years to try to improve angling facilities in the district.
  • The Association now run the angling in the two catchment areas of the Ray and Tullaghobegley rivers as partners with the Northern Regional Fisheries Board anf the IFI.
  • The river closures of recent years have been a big set-back to their efforts. The closures on the two local rivers, in common with many other rivers nationally, were brought about by a serious drop in salmon and sea-trout numbers returning to spawn. The drop was so pronounced that it was accepted that the numbers of fish returning to spawn was not high enough to maintain the already low stock of breeding fish in the river systems and that salmon were in danger of becoming extinct in these rivers.
  • While many reasons can be given for the decline in fish numbers in the recent past, the end result is that both the Ray and Tullaghobegley rivers have been closed to angling for the last three seasons. The net fishery on Ballyness Bay has also been closed.
  • Unfortunately, while the aim of the closures was praiseworthy, the necessary infrastruction and resources were not put in place to guarantee the success of the project. The absence of anglers on the rivers and the drastic reduction of Fishery protection staff numbers in the last two years has resulted in a big increase in poaching on all rivers in the county, not just in our area. Added to this is the increasing number of seals and cormorants in the estuaries. These are thriving on their diet of scarce salmon and sea-trout as they return to the rivers to spawn. There is a serious lack of joined-up thinking involved in this whole area. There seems little point in spending thousands in buying out netsmen along the coast and closing down angling on the rivers in the name of conservation and at the same time giving a free hand to poachers, seals and cormorants to drive the stocks that are supposed to be protected into extinction.
  • A valuable asset is quickly being lost. Apart from the social and recreational benefits locally, the revenue from angling tourism that was quite significant to the Falcarragh area in the past has disappeared. At government level nobody has yet woken up to the fact that substantial revenue could be gained annually from promoting angling tourism as a local and nationwide industry. It cannot be promoted with cut-backs.
  • The Cloughaneely Angling Association are hoping to get a program of bank clearance underway this Autumn in preparation of a possible re-opening of some of the fisheries next spring. The aim would be to provide stiles and footwalks along the river bank to give free access to anglers and walkers. This would be in the hope of getting some of the rivers open in some capacity for the 2011 season. It must be said however that this is an aspiration rather than a promise and is dependent on what figures are received from Department Staff for salmon returns in the autumn.
  • Angling clubs by the very nature want to have their members out enjoying the fishing on their waters. It has been a very frustrating few years for those interested in promoting their local rivers We would like to thank all our members who have given their support in the last few years when rivers were closed. We would hope that there are better day ahead.

  • If the rivers are to be re-opened in any capacity the Association will be glad to notify all interested parties when the time comes