| Browse by Categories |
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Sea Fishing
~
Sport |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
Fishing the sea around
Galway City
and county can be magnificent, with large varieties of fish to be found
all year round.
From the south western point of Omey Island, pollack can be
taken while spinning and wrasse and conger while bottom
fishing. The 'island' is joined to the mainland by a sandbar
which is covered by high tide.
At low tide the southern side of the bar is an excellent
bait gathering area. Lugworm, sandeel, occasional clam and
white ragworm can be found there. Spring tide strips, which
expose a greater area of beach are particularly productive.
From the rocks on the northern shore of Streamstown Bay
in Connemara, conger eel can be taken at slack water, as also can pollack
and mackerel. At the western point of the southern shore at
Coolacloy spinning produces mackerel and pollack in summer,
while float fishing with lugworm or peeler crab may take
wrasse.
The coastline between Coolacloy and Clifden is very rugged
and precipitous in places, however, if care is taken, the
rocks at Slopers Cliff and Belleek offer excellent
possibilities for ray fishing. Ray to over 4.5 kilos have
been recorded while dabs and dogfish are available if fished
on the bottom. Spinning will take pollack and mackerel,
while float-fished baits near kelp margins will take wrasse.
About 1.5 Km west of Clifden is a small sheltered beach
which provides lugworm and sandeel. On low spring tides
razor fish can be collected.
Several charter boats operate from Clifden Quay on a regular
basis. Ray, dogfish, bullhuss, pollack, dabs and mackerel
can be taken while boat fishing in Clifden Bay.
Outside the bay, off Cruagh and High Island, many different
species can be caught over the reefs and sand banks.
Specimen cod and pollack have been recorded here. Charter
skippers specialise in shark fishing during the months of
July, August and September. Blue shark to over 45 kilos are
the main quarry but occasional porbeagle are also
encountered.
On the south western shore of Clifden Bay are two excellent
rock angling marks at Hawks Nest and White Lady. The main
interest here is in the superb ray fishing which is
available, especially during the Autumn.
Filets or strips of mackerel or herring are the most
successful baits and the fish run from 1.4 kilos to 6.4
kilos in weight. Dogfish and dabs can also be plentiful at
times while bottom fishing. Pollack and mackerel can be
taken by spinning. Conger and wrasse can be caught close to
the rocks using fish and worm baits. Low tide and the first
two hours of a tide flood give best results. Tides at
Clifden are plus 5 hours and 33 minutes on Dublin times.
In the small harbour inside Erislannan Point wrasse are
plentiful when float fishing. Conger are also available but
are difficult to prise away from the rough bottom.
To the south east of Erislannan Point at Ballinaga wrasse
can be caught close to the rock. Distance casting will
enable anglers put baits over sand where ray, dogfish and
dabs congregate. This area is best fished on a flooding
tide. Flounder, plaice, small turbot, dabs, dogfish and
occasional ray can be expected over sand in the sheltered
bay at Candoolin. Distance casting with fish or worm
provides the best chance of success.
Mannin Bay holds good possibilities for the inshore small
boat angler. Boats can be launched from the beach north of
Ballyconneely and expected species include ray, bullhuss,
dogfish, dabs, plaice and occasional turbot and tope.
Shore fishing from the south western corner of Mannin Bay,
just inside Knock Point can be very productive for ray,
dogfish and flatfish. On the western side of Knock Point, at
False Bay and Dooloughan, shore fishing is mainly for
flounder, plaice, dabs and small turbot. Lugworm and
mackerel strip are the most commonly used baits.
The coastline around Slyne Head is very broken and offers
little scope for the shore angler, but anglers using small
boats in Ballyconneely Bay can expect tope, ray, dogfish,
pollack to 4.5 Kilos as well as big plaice. There is a
slipway at Bunabhan.
At Roundstone a charter boat is available for fishing the
sheltered waters of Bertraghboy Bay where tope, ray and
dogfish are the main quarry. Outside the bay, there is good
reef fishing for pollack, codling and conger. Lugworm can be
dug among the rocks and on the strand at Roundstone Bay.
About a mile west of Glinsk,on the southern shore of
Bertraghboy Bay, dogfish and ray are caught. South of
Bertraghboy Bay small boats can be launched beside Moyrus
Pier.
The sandy ground between Mace Head and Croaghnakeela Island
holds a fair stock of plaice. The most effective way of
taking these fish is by using a "flasher" spoon on a running
leger, baited with ragworm. Dogfish and ray are also common
in this area. South of Moyrus pier lugworm and occasional
white ragworm can be collected by digging in the firm sand.
On the south eastern corner of Mace Head there is rock
fishing for wrasse and pollack.[ Ray may also be possible to
distance casters fishing over sand (150 Metres approx )
although retrieving fish over the weedy bottom near the
rocks may cause problems.
Lugworm are plentiful and the occasional white ragworm can
be found in the sand to the south of the road which runs
from Carna to Mweenish Island while crab are quite common
around the rock outcrops in the middle of the beach. On the
south eastern point of Mweenish dogfish, wrasse and pollack
can be caught in the sandy channel to the north of the
point. Plaice, dabs, bull huss and flounder have also been
recorded. Boats can be launched at Kilkieran for fishing on
Kilkieran Bay and also at Ardmore Pier. Ray and dogfish are
particularly common and occasionally monkfish are caught.
Off Ardmore point , there is a good mark in 10 metres of
water for plaice and dabs, while tope have been taken east
of Birmore Island. Mackerel are caught with spinners and
feathers in Autumn.
Immediately to the north of Kilkieran lies a small inlet
where lugworm are plentiful in the mud. The upper reaches of
Kilkieran and Camus Bay are, for the most part, shallow and
weedy and afford little prospect for shore or boat angling.
However, shoals of pollack come to the bay in early spring
and can be caught over clear patches. Some bass are also
found in the bay.
There are several good shore angling locations situated
along the southern shores of Lettermullen and Gorumna
Island. The shoreline between Golam Head and Dog Island
offers possibilities for dogfish, bull huss, wrasse, pollack
and mackerel.
Near the abbey on Kiggaul Bay, plaice, dabs and flounders
are caught over sand. Lugworm can be found in the mud in the
inner bay at Kiggaul.
On the south-eastern corner of Gorumna Island on Greatman’s
Bay there is a small quay at Trawbaun, and bottom fishing is
best in the harbour at high water when flounder and plaice
can be expected. Spinning also produces pollack to 1.5 Kg.
From the Old Pier at Glenmore dogfish, bull huss, flounders
and occasional ray can be caught while bottom fishing.
Mackerel baits are usually most productive. From the pier at
the fishing port of Rossaveal conger can be taken at night.
Specimens to over 18 kgs have been recorded. Mullet to
specimen size and flounder are also available in the
harbour. |
|
|
|
|
