These bulletin blogs represent news about Finavon and the South Esk, and my views as a riparian owner. They are not the views of any other organisation, nor are they designed to promote the interests of any individual or organisation other than Finavon Castle Water and factors affecting the fishery. Tony Andrews
On Friday I heard that another 8 salmon had been tagged, which brings the total number of fish radio-tagged since the start of the project in February to 102 salmon.
Two new fish have entered the North Esk and one has come into the South Esk, with another salmon dropping below the South Esk’s most downstream receiver at Bridge of Dun. The new fish were tagged in the period between 15 April and 4 May.
There has been very little movement of fish within the rivers, apart from the activity described above.
More receivers will be put into position on South Esk tributaries this week, including one on the Lemno Burn.
People reading these blogs may feel disappointed at the lack of new data coming from this project. I think it is important that we recognise that the lack of new data on fish that have been tagged is providing useful information on behaviour of salmon as they arrive off the Scottish coast at the end of their return migration. In other words ‘no new data is data’!
To summarise, the project has now tagged 102 salmon, of which 21 have been recorded by receivers on the 4 rivers being monitored (Dee, N Esk, S Esk & Tay).
14 salmon have entered the South Esk, and 5 of these fish have since dropped downstream below the radio receiver at Bridge of Dun, leaving just 9 in the South Esk. One fish has entered the River Tay and was picked up by the reciver at Almondmouth and 5 salmon have entered the North Esk, of which two are now upstream of Logie.
A point of interest regarding the 2012 spring run on the South Esk up to 7 May 2012. Cortachy (including KAC), Inshewan and Finavon have recorded a total of 31 salmon caught & returned. The Kinnaird beats show a total of 14 salmon so far and reports from Careston, Kintrockat and Brechin Castle indicate perhaps another 6 to 10 fish. I have no information on other beats such as Justinhaugh, Tannadice and Marcus. From all accounts it seems that the salmon rod catch up to 7 May for the whole river is therefore about 55-60 salmon.
TA