« Back to Boat Charters list

Sea Star

Skipper: Daryl Ewing

Location: The Harry Ewing Pier, Rosses Point, Co Sligo, (10 mins from Sligo City) Ireland.

Boat:

Sea Star is a Mitchell 31 foot purpose-built charter boat, powered by a 120hp 6 cyclinder Ford engine.

She holds a "P5" Dept. Marine passenger licence and is fully equipped with all the latest in navigation and fishfinding electronics. She is also equipped with all the latest safety equipment including liferaft, EPIRBs, VHF DSC radios and lifejackets.

Onboard is also a sea toilet, seating/changing area and speaker system which allows you to plug in your laptop, CDs or iPod for easy listening on deck. There is also a ladder on the stern for divers and swimmers.

Angling:

Services available include eco tourism and sightseeing trips, general deep sea, reef and sand angling with blue shark fishing commencing from August until October

Sligo Bay provides good varied ground for about 30+ species being caught including mackerel, pollack, coalfish, red, grey and tub gournard, ballan and cuckoo wrasse, dogfish, cod, pouting, ray, skate, ling, tope and blue shark

Trips can either visit the local reefs and fishing marks, drift for game or anchor on some of the local sandbanks to try for something different like tope or flatties!!

Features include:
* Group and individual rates for full day, half day and evening trips.
* Large parties can be accommodated by splitting groups between local boats.
* Reduced rates for children.
* The various tackles, lures and equipment required for each species are available for hire on board (Shark rods and reels at extra cost).

New for 2010!! Have your freshly caught fish professionally prepared with side orders at a local restaurant within 5 minutes walk of the pier (And take the remainder home!). Discounted rates bar bites menu also available to customers of the charter service.

Group and individual rates for full day, half day and evening trips

Larger parties can be accomodated by splitting groups between local boats

Reduced rates for children

Rods and tackle are available for hire on board

Fishing lessons available free of charge for beginners and novices

Sightseeing

Sightseeing cruises can also be arranged to the many historic sights in Sligo Bay including the Metal Man, Oyster and Blackrock lighthouse, the 17th Century Beach Bar and the 6th century monastic settlement on Inishmurray Island.

The sightseeing cruises from Sligo city pontoon go past many features such as Old Sligo City Port, Sligo Harbour Shipping Channel, The Donegal Wreck, Rosses Point, Oyster and Coney Island, the Old Pilot House, Sligo Yacht Club, the “Metal Man” and Blackrock and Oyster Island lighthouses.

The Metal Man is a solid cast iron, 14 foot tall statue of a man with his arm outstretched which was erected in 1821. The side his arm points to signals the safe side of navigation, and when his light is lined up with the light on Oyster Island lighthouse this is called the “leading lights” or safe deepwater channel leading into Sligo Harbour from Sligo Bay for shipping.

Blackrock beacon was converted to a lighthouse in the early 1800s, as many attempts at placing a beacon here were simply washed away. The tower has been added to and improved by Irish lights since, and now stands at 25 metres high.

The Beach Bar

Sea Star can also arrange charters to view the 17th century bar, “The Beach Bar” which is situated by the Aughris Head cliff top walk, and the local beach. Built over 300 years ago, the Beach Bar is one of Sligos most charachteristic thatched pubs.

There are local facilities for swimmers and surfers, and many people love to bring a barbeque to light in the scenic surroundings whilst enjoying a drink from the pub. The Beach bar also serves food all day from 1pm to 8pm, and a menu is available on board the Sea Star, so clients can order their meal on board and have it waiting for them on arrival to Aughris Head.

Eco-Tourism

The coastline of Sligo contains a wealth of naturally stunning geological features and abundant wild life. Our specially designed eco-tour captures this in one breath taking trip.

Coney Island

For the naturalists, campers, hillwalkers, bird watchers, cyclists and secluded beach goers, Coney Island is the place to be. The island is approximately 400 acres and is so named because of the vast quantity of rabbits which can be spotted on the island at any time.  There are also stories of faeries, mermaids and spirits here, and visitors can try to find the elusive “St Patricks wishing chair, St Patricks well, the remains of a washed up whale and some forts in this very relaxing retreat.

Inishmurray Island

Inishmurray Island is a unique 6th century settlement off the Sligo coast which was inhabited by just over 100 people in the 1880s, but was abandoned in 1948. It is approximately 228 acres and holds the remains of an early Irish monastic settlement. St Molaise founded a monastery here in the 6th Century which was attacked by Vikings in 807. Remains of the 4.6 metres high by up to 3 metres thick wall can be seen enclosing the settlement which still contains some of the ecclesiastical buildings such as a stone-roofed oratory, two churches, a clochan, a bee-hive hut and other engraved slabs of stone such as what are rumoured to be “cursing stones”. 15 buildings and a school also remain visible on the island. Inishmurray remains one of Sligo’s must-see destinations.

Birds

Many birds visit Sligo Bay, and visitors can pick up one of the on-board guides and try to spot some of the local birds such as the common tern, guillemots, cormorants, black-backed gulls, herring gulls, black-headed gulls, razorbills, Brent geese, herons, gannets, puffins, corncrakes and artic skuas.

There are also occasional sightings of dolphins, porpoises, sunfish, basking shark, bluefin tuna, seals and whales whilst on board one of the charter vessels. Trips can also be arranged to see the seal colonies at the Seal Rocks, Culleenamore or the Bowmore Rocks off Inishmurray.

Day Out Ideas

Aboard Ewing’s Sea Angling and Boat Charters, we offer a multitude of day out ideas to cater for everyone from kids to grandparents! See if some of the sample boat trips we run below appeal to your senses.

• Angling; Sligo Bay holds good varied grounds from reefs to rocks and sandbanks for offshore and game angling. Shark fishing is available from mid-August until the end of September and evening mackerel trips depart daily by appointment. Other half day and full day fishing trips are available to try catch some of Sligo Bays 30+ species!


• Catch n’ cook; Have your day’s catch cooked professionally at a local restaurant, and take the rest home! (If you are a fan of fish, nothing beats it this fresh!)


• Smoke ‘em; Smoke your own catch in a local pub. It only takes about 20 minutes and is free of charge to our customers!


• Coney Island Taxis; hop onboard the M.V. Sea Star or M.V. Dalemoor for a short water taxi ride to Coney Island. Here people generally like to walk the island, visit the fairy forts, famine structures and the pub or go swimming on the secluded beach to the island’s rear. A lot of groups bring a BBQ or a picnic to make the day extra special. Some groups go on the quest to find “St. Patricks Wishing Chair”, or the remains of a washed up whale on the north side of the island.


• Inishmurray Island; this historic island was founded in the 6th Century but abandoned in 1948, and contains a variety of sights in its’ monastic settlement ranging from bee-hive huts to cursing stones. Other ecclesiastical buildings which remain visible within its boundaries include a stone roofed oratory, two churches, a clochan and an old schoolhouse. This island is one of Sligo’s top historic destinations, and another great place for a bbq or a swim on the shore!


• Sightseeing/ Eco-tourism tours; this option is popular with families and other sightseeing groups. The tours depart Sligo’s new pontoon or Rosses Point Pier, and give an introduction to Sligo Bay in either a two or three hour trip. The type of trip can be arranged to suit the bird, lighthouse, wreck or seal watcher alike! Dolphins have also even been known to make an appearance on this trip.


• Seal Watch; Hop on board Sea Star for a short cruise to check out a nearby seal colony.


• The Beach Bar; a short walk from Aughris Pier, The Beach Bar is Sligo’s most charismatic thatched pub. It is situated beside a scenic cliff-top walk and close to many local facilities for surfers and swimmers. A menu for the bar-food is available on board Sea Star, so clients can order a meal en route to the bar, and have it ready for them on arrival in Aughris. The steak is highly recommended! (Times dependant on tides)


• Stag and Hen Parties; Ewing’s Sea Angling and Boat charters offers a special six hour party trip rate for these occasions, which can include a few hours fishing or seal watching, followed by a meal at the Beach Bar or a drink/bbq on Coney Island (times dependant on tides).


• Kids Parties; for those extra special kid’s parties or family excursions we can offer charters where you can catch your first fish with your child, explore Coney or Inishmurray Island, visit the local seal colonies or just go for a short sightseeing cruise from Sligo town’s new pontoon. A kid’s party meal can even be arranged on a trip to the Beach Bar in Aughris, that is, if you decide not to bring your bar-be-que to one of the islands!

Any of these tours can be combined and tailored together to find the trip that best suits you.

Directions:

We are located in the picturesque seaside village of Rosses Point in the North West of Ireland. The village marks the entrance to Sligo Harbour and hosts the famous West of Ireland Golf Championship and Sligo Yacht Club's most ancient Irish sailing trophy, the "Ladies Cup". Rosses Point is often referenced to by the poet W.B. Yeats for its beautiful scenery and the M.V. Sea Star is easily found in its heart at the Harry Ewing Pier, beside the Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station.

From Sligo City: 10 Mins on local bus route. (Road named R291 to Rosses Point, take road with sign on left for Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station when you enter the village, towards the end of the promenade)

From Belfast: 3 Hours approx.

From Dublin: 3 Hours approx.

From Knock Airport: 45 Mins approx.

or Fly Dublin to Sligo (Flights depart twice daily, see http://www.aerarann.ie)

Accommodation:

 Car Hire:

Hotels:

Radisson SAS Hotel & Spa, Sligo

Ballincar,
Rosses Point
Sligo
Ireland
Tel: +353 71 91 40008
Fax: +353 71 91 40005
info.sligo@radissonsas.com

Self Catering Apartments in city: www.gatewayrentals.ie 

A wider range of hotels and hostels is available in the city, and B & B Accomodation can be arranged locally, please contact the skipper for more information

Booking:

For bookings, contact the skipper as early as possible to avoid disappointment

A 25% deposit is required to confirm booking, which is entirely refundable should the skipper decide the weather is too poor on the day or the party cancels the trip over two weeks before the booking date

Other:

Sea Star on Youtube;

Stags, Hens, Weekend Retreats, Corporate and Team-Building Parties!

Licence Registration:

Sea Star

Skipper: Daryl Ewing

Licence No: 1276

Expires: May 2012

Operational area: Sligo Bay

Notes: NWCSA member. Reef, shark and general inshore angling

Address: Mol an Scadan, Rosses Point, Co Sligo, Ireland

Prices:

Charter Rates;
Full Day Charter (7 hours): €380
Half Day Charter (4 hours): €250
Evening Charter (3 hours): €220

Party Special!! A six hour charter including fishing with all rod and tackle hire or seal watching and a visit to the Beach Bar pub and restaurant or Coney Island: €300

Individual Rates: (Minimum 5 anglers required to make trip, juniors €5 off)
Full Day (7 hours): €40
Half Day (4 hours): €30
Evening (3 hours): €25
2 hour sightseeing trips from Sligo City pontoon: €20
3 hour sightseeing/seal watch only €25!

Rod and tackle hire:
Full Day: €10 per person
Half Day: €5 per person
Evening: €5 per person

Further tailored charter rates, for those special parties, are available on request

Contact Details:

« Back to Boat Charters list