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Lahinch Beach, Co. Clare Beloved of surfers, especially in the winter when the beach is quiet and the surf is monumental, Lahinch's bass population is slowly on the rise again.  Good news.  Not such good news about a certain trawlerman's activities in relation to the flatfish population but some of the local charter fleet are trying hard to educate the local commercial fishermen into the importance of nursery grounds. 

Lahinch is a nice tourist resort, plenty of accommodation outside of the high season, two excellent golf courses, loads of shops, restaurants and pubs... and good fishing too.

There are effective three marks on the beach, the first extending from the top of the promenade down to the curve.   This is storm beach fishing, surf casting for bass and flatfish.  Near the rocks, although you run risks with your rigs you will on occasion take wrasse and pollack, mainly on the stormier days, like the one above!

Directly out in front of the town at low tide only, there is a section of rounded boulders and rocks uncovered from year to year by storms.  This is an excellent bass hunting ground if it is exposed, especially at dusk on an incoming tide.  Dogfish are taken here, and there is the possibility of thornback rays in warmer weather.

The final location is the Inagh river estuary at the end of the beach, past the championship golf course.  Access is either down the beach or from the bridge.  The river channel is deep and dangerous with quicksand and severe currents responsible for several lives lost over the years.  Never wade into the channel.  You can walk on the golf links side out to a spit that marks the river channel's meeting with the sea - this is prime flatfish country.  Some bass evident too.  The odd salmon and sea trout still run the river although these are more likely to be found closer to the bridge.  The river is full of Mullet most summers, and they will often cruise from the Liscannor side of the Bridge all the way up to the grounds of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon.

A sign on the road to Liscannor Harbour (charters available) points to flatfish and bass fishing but I was never successful from there.  Further up on that strand close to the harbour you can dig some lugworm and the odd ragworm.  Crabs are collectable from here and the rocks on the far side of Lahinch town...  Moy Strand, a kilometre south towards Kilkee is a shingle beach that offers primarily flatfish but the odd bass too.  Most people will recommend lugworm, which can be dug locally or peeler crabs, but frozen sandeels and other baits may well be worthwhile, not forgetting fresh mackerel.  Finally, no wading barefoot due to weeverfish.

 

Probabilities: Flounder, Plaice, Bass, Weeverfish

Possibilities: Wrasse & Pollack (town end); Dogfish, Mackerel, Launce, Garfish

Rare Exceptions: Thornback Ray, Tope; Salmon, Mullet & Sea-Trout (Estuary)