Three large fish specimens feature in a newly published report showcasing some of the biggest fish of their kind caught in Ireland in 2025.
Among them is a 5.2kg thick-lipped mullet that was caught in Cork Harbour, surpassing a record that had stood since 1993 by more than a kilogram.
A new size record for shore rockling (41.5cm long) was also set by a Cork angler fishing near Ballycotton, while a 26.5cm corkwing wrasse caught at Slea Head, Co Kerry established a new length record for the species.
An outline of such catches is found in the 2025 Irish Specimen Fish report, which documents over 500 exceptionally large fish specimens landed by anglers in Irish waters last year.
Dr William Roche of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and secretary of the Irish Specimen Fish Committee said: “The 2025 report shows the range of fish species, in marine and freshwater, available to anglers in Ireland, and details of where and when they can be found.
“The 2025 results were very encouraging, as the number of specimen catches reported was relatively high.
“By providing a wealth of information about the abundance of large fish in Irish waters in the past 12 months, the report should give anglers a head start for planning their fishing in 2026.”
All fish featured in the publication were caught, measured, weighed and released.
Smaller shark species like spurdog and tope featured strongly in 2025, as did large skate, thick-lipped mullet and several species of wrasse. In freshwater channels, tench and river pike dominated.
The Irish Specimen Fish Committee, which is mainly supported by IFI, is an independent all-Ireland voluntary body which verifies and records the capture of large fish caught with a rod by anglers in freshwater and marine waters.
Hard copies of the report can be requested free of charge from IFI’s head office in Citywest, Dublin.
