The festival, south west Ireland's oldest angling competition, is noted for good fishing, good company and a spirit of friendly rivalry. It is open to all and usually attracts around 60 anglers from Ireland and abroad. A separate one-day shark fishing contest is followed by a three-day bottom fishing competition for fish like conger, ling, pollack, cod, common skate, etc. Trophies and prizes are presented at a prizegiving dinner on the last night. However, anglers can enter for as many or as few days as they wish, and compete for the daily cash prizes presented after fishing each day. The festival is a conservation event with results determined on a points basis so fish can be returned alive to the sea. The boats employed are all licensed and fully equipped charter boats with qualified skippers.