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With so many lakes, sea inlets and rivers, County Galway is an angler's paradise. Fishing in Galway is a wonderful experience; peaceful surroundings, majestic mountain ranges and stunning seascapes...what more could you ask for? The choice for the keen angler includes lake fishing on Lough Corrib, sea fishing in Galway Bay, salmon fishing at the weir on the River Corrib or fresh water fishing in the many rivers and mountain streams of Connemara. Interested?
Here are some of the most popular fishing spots in County Galway:
Sea fishing in Galway
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is located in an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, stretching westwards from Galway city. It's bordered to the north by County Galway and to the south by the Burren Region of County Clare.
There's no shortage of fishing hot spots along the bay including Salthill, Kinvara, Cleggan and Oranmore. You could also arrange a boat trip around Galway Bay. Catches include whiting, cod, mackerel, shark, ling, pollock, ray and many other types of fish!
For deep-sea fishing you can charter a boat from the Galway Bay Fishing Group, or take a boat trip with an experienced skipper and fish from the boat.
Connemara coast and inshore fishing
There's no end of sea fishing opportunities so you can test your angling prowess! And with plentiful fish stocks it's no wonder anglers flock here all year round. Popular spots such as Omey Island and Streamstown Bay allow you to catch several types of fish including pollack and mackerel.
The coastline between Coolacloy and Clifden is quite rugged so be very careful! However in and around the rocks at Slopers Cliff and Belleek are marvellous spots for fishing. Pollack and mackerel can be caught using spinners, or if you're into float fishing you can catch wrasse. Alternatively you can hire a charter boat from Clifden Quay.
Other popular areas in the Connemara Region for anglers include the harbour at Erislannan Point, the sheltered bay at Candoolin, and Mannin Bay. Mannin Bay in particular has good innings for the small boat angler. Plaice is the most popular catch in this area while nearby Ballyconneely Bay has great potential for catching tope, ray, dogfish and Pollack.
Kylemore Abbey, Killary Harbour and Leenane are other angling hot spots. Salmon fishing is most popular in the area of Lough Inagh. The fishery at Lough Inagh is composed of two lakes, Lough Inagh and Derryclare, as well as a river which is located at Ballynahinch.
The beautiful valley between the Twelve Bens and Maamturk Mountains is famous for its sea trout. You may not know this, but a popular fishing location in Connemara is at the point where a river enters a lake. This is called a "Butt" and the Derryclare Butt is well advised for a fisherman to test his skill!
Lake fishing in Galway
Lough Corrib Fishing
Lough Corrib is perhaps one of the best game fisheries in the world. The lake covers over 40,000 acres and stretches for about 35 miles or so from Galway city to Maam Bridge in Connemara. The most popular catches on Lough Corrib are brown trout and pike. Trout fishing is most popular from February to the end of September while pike fishing is best from mid July to the end of December.
Coarse fish include bream, perch and eels. It's also a good spot for Roach fishing, especially from April to December. Salmon fishing is also popular on Lough Corrib. The lake flows into the sea at Galway city and here the wild Atlantic salmon are quite plentiful. See if you can spot them at the famous salmon Weir Bridge beside Galway City Cathedral.
Lough Mask
Lough Mask covers an area of 24,000 acres. The most popular catches on Lough Mask are salmon, brown trout, and although it's specifically a game fishery, it also holds pike, preach and char.
Lough Derg - Portumna
The pretty town of Portumna, in East Galway is located on the north western shores of Lough Derg. Lough Derg, the third largest lake in Ireland, is the largest lake on the Shannon, stretching for 22 miles from Portumna in the north to Killaloe in the south. It's a great mixed fishery, with salmon, trout, and coarse fish.
River fishing in Galway
Some of the most popular rivers for fishing in Galway include:
The River Suck
The River Suck is approximately 80km in length, and flows along the border between counties Galway and Roscommon. Trout, pike, bream, roach, rudd, tench and perch are in plentiful supply here.
The Clare River
The Clare River flows through the town of Tuam in County Galway and then continues into Lough Corrib, to the east near Headford. Brown trout is the main catch.
Owenriff River
The Owenriff River rises in the Connemara Mountains, flows through Oughterard and on the outskirts of he town, flows into Lough Corrib. Brown trout is the main catch here as well.
Dunkellin River
The Dunkellin River rises near Loughrea and flows through East Galway, entering Galway Bay at Kilcolgan. Sea trout is a popular catch here.
Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com
Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Ireland, like what to see and where to go. You can also view B&Bs, guesthouses, self catering and hotels all over Ireland as well as Galway hotels.
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