A TEENAGER from Mulhuddart became a record breaker last month after landing a huge 12lb trout while on a fishing trip to Lough Ramor, Virginia, Co Cavan.
Eric Cahill (16) was with a group of 10 youngsters from Mulhuddart Foroige Fishing Club when he caused amazement and surprise after hooking the huge ferox trout.
Weighing in at just over 12lbs, it’s the biggest fish ever caught by a youngster out fishing with the Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI), who organised the trip for the Dublin 15 group.
On the day of the big catch, Des Chew from DAI instructed the group on how to set up rods, rigs, and bait before they set out. Some were fishing for roach and hybrids with others choosing to fish for pike.
Many of the group were catching and releasing lots of coarse fish while Eric patiently waited for a pike to take his deadbait. And his patience eventually paid off big time when he signalled for assistance after his rod tip indicated he was onto something big.
Under the guidance of Des Chew and Chris McGregor, also from DAI, Eric was instructed to knock his bale arm over so the cagey fish would feel no resistance.
Suddenly there was a short run and Eric struck. It was obvious he had a big fish on. When the fish drew close the golden spotted body revealed that Eric was now playing a fish of a lifetime, and maybe the first, specimen caught by a Dublin Angling Initiative youngster.
The fish was landed amidst great excitement from the youngsters, the youth workers and a crowd of local anglers who all looked on in amazement. It was clearly the fish of a lifetime for Eric.
The fish was weighed on certified scales, laid out and measured on an Inland Fisheries Ireland measuring mat. It reached a length of over 80cm and weighed in at over 12lbs.
There was jubilation among Eric and his peers as Des announced that the teenager had just caught the first specimen ever recorded from over 10,000 teenagers who have participated in Dublin Angling Initiative courses over the last 15 years.
If the catch is ratified by the Specimen Fish Committee it will also be the first specimen recorded from Lough Ramor. Josie Mahon photographed the fish with its proud captor Eric beside his mentor, Des Chew, before it was safely released back into the water.
Eric has been a member of Mulhuddart Foroige Fishing Club since he was just 10 years of age. During that time he has shown a unique ability to listen and learn angling skills from his DAI tutors.
He has attended numerous fishing courses in game, coarse and sea fishing run by the Dublin Angling Initiative with his Foroige youth officers, Bernie Moloney and Siobhan Hennessy.