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Down Antrim LondonDerry Shore Index

I suppose Down is best known for Strangford Lough and the massive whirlpools and Tope found there.  That said it has a huge and varied coastline and we're looking forward to building up a good picture of the best marks.  A red spot indicates a known mark with recent reports, whilst a yellow spot indicates a suspected mark without recent reports... so a pioneering spirit is needed!


Introduction:

Any help appreciated - it must be an excellent place to fish, both inside and outside the Lough.


1 - Bangor Pier   My thanks to Ronald Surgenor for this information. Bangor Pier is a good place to start given the access and ease of fishing.  Species & Techniques: Around the pier expect to find Conger to 35lb, decent Wrasse in the summer ideally to ragworm on the float, with Pollack falling to spinners, Coalfish all year and some good Rockling on the bottom.  The pier can also be fished from out-side at low water but you must excercise caution because fast ferrys operate in the lough and can cause huge wake to run along length of back of pier.  This can happen up to twenty minutess after they have passed!

2 - Orlock Head My thanks to K2 Extreme off the forum for this information. Between Bangor and Donaghadee there's Orlock Head. A national park area, it is managed by the National Trust.  Species & Techniques: "Fish the rocks anywhere from the top of the steps onwards for Mackerel, Pollack, Coalfish and Wrasse. Feathers and Spinners are the order of the day. Winter sport is patchy, I've never heard of anything interesting."
3 - Donaghadee Pier My thanks to K2 Extreme off the forum for this information Sadly you have to beware the mackerel bashers in the summer.  Species & Techniques: "Do not fish too far to the right or you'll lose ludicrous amounts of tackle. Summer produces Pollack, Coalfish, Wrasse, Codling and Mackeral, Winter produces Whiting, Pouting, Coaly, Dabs, Rockling and some small Codling. Feathers and lures work in Summer, but you will need to use baits "nailed" to the bottom in the winter.
4 - Ballyhalbert Pier My thanks to K2 Extreme off the forum for this information. A small village (one main street) of the A2, this offers reasonably good fishing off the pier.  Species & Techniques: Float fish for Pollack and Coalfish round the Island during Summer. In winter, the pier produces Whiting and the odd Rockling.
5 - Portavogie My thanks to K2 Extreme off the forum for this information. The better mark is the outer breakwater, accessed from the land behind the fish market. Species & Techniques: Pollack, Codling, Rockling, and Coalfish are available in the winter.  "Reel in like stink when you get a hookup becasue you can rest assured a seal wont be too far away..."
6 - Portaferry My thanks to K2 Extreme off the forum for this information. The site of an excellent asquarium, this is truly an undiscovered Mecca for fishing, looking at an Admiralty chart shows remarkable variations in the seabed here...Its possible to fish into 12 metres (40 feet) of water from the shore. Popular spots include the Ferry Slip and the Small Pier at the end of the town. Species & Techniques:  "Dogfish, Codling, Mackerel, Pollack, Coalfish, Flatfish, in fact, you name it will run up and down 'The Narrows", as it is the only Channel into Strangford Lough..."  We need hardly point out that Strangford Lough produces more 25 kg (60 lb) + Tope per annum than probably all the other marks in Ireland put together, albeit from boats, but there is no doubt that it could be done from off the shore... if you wanted.

Postscript:

We are keen to improve the shore mark listings for Northern Ireland so please feel free to email us here.  Many thanks.