#ANGLING - The first wild Atlantic spring salmon of 2012 was caught Sunday on the River Liffey in exceptional circumstances, The Irish Times reports.

Though the river is closed for salmon fishing as stocks are currently below sustainable levels, Inland Fisheries Ireland sanctioned a special catch-and-release club event for survey reasons at Islandbridge in the capital.

Declan Briggs – a 47-year veteran of the Dublin and District Salmon Anglers' Association - landed the 8.5lb beauty using a wooden Devon lure at 9.50am.

“This is my first time to catch the first fish. I’m absolutely delighted," he said.

Elsewhere in Ireland, Briggs' catch was mirrored by Tyrone man Ian Martin, who caught the northern region's first salmon on the year on the River Drownes near Bundoran.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

A private inland waterways jetty on the Liffey has caused unrest among local anglers, the Circuit Civil Court heard on Thursday.

According to The Irish Times, the Dublin and District Salmon Anglers' Association is seeking a court order against entrepreneur David Wright - of the noted Howth family of fish suppliers - who they claim is 'disturbing the calm of the river'.

The group also accused him of trespassing on a stretch of river leased to them by Dublin City Council for exclusive fishing rights, and were obliged by their lease to protect the fishery.

It is alleged that Wright built a double jetty with retractable pontoons at the rear of two houses he owns on the riverbank in Chapelizod. 

His barrister Edward Farrelly told the court he would challenge Dublin City Council's right to lease the river.