The 60th Westport Sea Angling Festival took place on Clew Bay form June 22 to June 26 2016. Almost 60 anglers took part with 6 boats going to sea each Day. Fishing was good and varieties included Dogfish, Bull Huss, Ray, Conger, Tub Gurnard and Blonde Ray. 1516 fish recorded and returned alive.
Weather conditions were poor with plenty of rain, drizzle, mist and wind. Saturday was the best of the 3 days.
This year’s Shore Competition took place on Inish Gort, Clew Bay with 6 anglers participating; 37 fish were recorded, which is a good catch form the Shoreline.
We are delighted also this year with an increase in our overseas visitors from England and Wales as well as an increase in the number of Junior Anglers who participated.
Westport Sea Angling Club would sincerely like to thank: Harry & Deirdre Hughes for their continued support, Jack Dylan Jewellers, The Harbour Mill Apartments, Hannah and staff at The Quay’s Pub and Hotel Westport.
We also take the opportunity to congratulate the new Chairperson of West Mayo Municipal Council cllr. Brendan Mulray, and thank him sincerely for his attendance at the Prize Presentation in Hotel westport and also for his continuous support over the past number of years.
To mark a marvellous achievement, Reg Roynane, skipper of The Lady Helen was presented with a special award to commemorate 40 years of service to fishing on Clew Bay. The Lady Helen arrived in 1976, skippered by Reg Roynane Snr R.I.P.
The results of the 60th competition are:
| Shore Competition | 1st - Tommy Dunn, England 2nd - Paul Ruddy, Westport 3rd - Sean Keane, Newport |
| Overall Champion (over 3 days) | 1st - Darragh Conolly, Westport 2nd - Kevin Mortimer, Westport 3rd - Andy Pamley, England |
| Overseas Champion (over 3 days) | 1st - Gay Jones, Wales 2nd -Tony Clissett, England 3rd - Steve Quinn, England |
| Ladies Champion | 1st - Margaret Sweeney, Achill 2nd - Irene Walsh, Westport |
| Junior Champion (over 3 days) | 1st - Oisín Gannon, Westport 2nd - Brian Gannon, Westport 3rd - David Loftus 4th - Rhys O'Toole, Westport |
| Team of Four Champions | 1st - England: Andy Pamley, Ian Moore, Tommy Dunn, Steve Quinn 2nd - Wales: Richard Lowe, Wynne Parry, Gwenie Andrews, Gay Jones 3rd - Ireland - Paul Ruddy, Darragh Connolly, Damien Gannon, Courtney Tarney |
| Team of Two (after elimination) | 1st - Dave Fearson, Westport & Allan Suddick, England 2nd - Steve, Scotland & Thomas Moran, Westport 3rd - Liam Williams, Wales & Tony Sykes, England |
| Daily Prizes: Friday | 1st - Courtney Tarney, Westport 2nd - Wynne Parry, Wales 3rd - Padraig Ketterick, Westport |
| Daily Prizes: Saturday | 1st - Kevin Mortimer, Westport 2nd - Andy Pamley, England 3rd - Oisin Gannon, Westport |
| Daily Prizes: Sunday | 1st - Gary Jones, Wales 2nd - Tom McDermott, Mullingar 3rd - Paul Ruddy, Westport |
| Individual Fish Awards: | Ray - Owie, Wales Congor - Ray Huss - Pieter Rietveld Jr, Netherlands & Tommy McDermott, Mullingar Tub Gurnard - Tommy Dunn, England Blonde Ray - Conor Tiernan, Louisburgh Heaviest Bull Huss - John (Congor) Flynn, Cork |
| John Foy Memorial Award | Species Prize - Gerry Boiling, Westport |
| Champion Boatman | Neil O'Boyle, Inishshoo |