Limerick City / Shannon Estuary

Hi everyone, long time reader first time poster. So be gentle

I wonder does anyone know of any reasonably decent spots on the estuary from Limerick City downwards that are fishable for Flounder and the like (or anything really). I've recently caught the bug again after many years and having gotten bored catching dace on the Mulcair, I want to start sea fishing again. I've been using the OSI maps (http://www.osi.ie) to check out places like the Maigue estuary which is pretty close to the city, but I'm not sure if there is access to it - although if there is I am sure there are flounder to be caught as several people I have met have told me that the Maigue is known for producing large "flukes".

The reason I'm looking for somewhere close to the city is because of time constraints as I generally only get a couple of hours in the week to fish (for example I wouldn't get time to get to Foynes/Glin/Kilteery except very rarely) so if anyone has any information, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks a mil.

I can't help you much but I think any of the creeks will produce flounder. The creek the other side of the estuary that I've fished is best November/december but flounder numbers seem to have deminished greatly for some reason. At that mark mackerel was the best bait out fishing peeler but this could vary from creek to creek. The maigue does look very much like a likely spot. The piers at ballysteen and pallaskenry at high water produce flounder. Let me know how you get on.

Donagh

Donagh,

thanks for the info, hopefully I'll get to try it out this weekend.

Steve

Sorry I won't be of much help here. Cause Donagh summarized it clearly. I am also from Limerick City and like you been taking a few hours here and there every time there's a chance. Those spots are good and close enough to get a decent session. Let me know how you get on. You can PM me when you have plans. I may have the same open hours and would be glad to tag along.

Hi simplywabs,

I'll probably do a recon this weekend and check out some of the spots...one place I have my eye on is just at the back of the corcanree business park - there is a little river that flows into the estuary nearby an old lookout tower - not sure if there is even access but if there was then it would be dead handy!

I'll post back and let ye know how I get on.

I've caught dozens of flounder on earth worms in the Shannon behind the University over the years. That stretch is well up from the tidal reaches in the city. Usually got them right were the mulcair meets the shannon. I'm always amazed that they are so far up from the salt water. Always caught them close in to the bank as well for some reason;maybe keeping out of the main current.

As for fishing spots on the estuary, I've seen lads for float fishing for trout off the bridges in town using baby eels for bait and lads fishing for salmon at low tide but other than that I've never heard of any fishing above foynes. Then again what would I know!!!!

I've been up and down the shannon from Shannon bridge right down to the first island ( not sure of its name) many times and never seen anyone fishing. It does seem strange that a whole stretch of the shannon isn't fished. Surely there are fish of some sort in those 10-15 miles of river.

Let me know how you get on around pallas. Should be interesting.

good luck

Trouble.

Hi trouble,

actually the first evening I went out to fish the Mulcair, just below Anacotty, a couple of lads legering for trout had taken 2 small flounders! I know they go far upriver (I've seen them in Ennis) but I didn't think they would go that far!

I actually tried for them the next time I was there but every cast, even on the bottom, was picking up dace. That's why I figure it would be better to just go direct, as it were )

As regards no-one fishing the river; I did read a report from the fisheries board that there had been some degradation of the ecosystem in that stretch over the last few years so either it's just not worth fishing or nobody has bothered to try it yet. I do hope it's the latter!

The breakwater in Shannon Town is a great spot but your better off not fishing it on a spring tide as you could get cut off it is a long walk out but well worth it there has also been ray caught from it during a warm summer... when you get to the end of the break water there is a channel to the right hand side and you only have to cast around 10 to 20 yards to catch fish and Codling in the winter time, also the river in Bunratty is a good spot for flounders and there used to be huge eels there too well the river eels not congers.

The river which goes through Dromoland is a good spot too the tidal areas are good for catching flounders and around Clarecastle is a good spot in the winter time best of luck

Thanks for the info...do you know how would you access the outflow of the river at Bunratty?

I did go out to Ballysteen pier on Saturday for about 2 hours but it was late-ish when I got there and the tide was still a ways off full in (I left around 10:30 and it was just starting to lap off the slipway, so I reckon another hour to full in)

Caught about 10 crabs , mostly 2 every cast - one on the bait and one on the weight. I think I got a hit just before I left as I got what I assumed was just an over-enthusiastic crab bite, so I ignored it - but 2 minutes later when I reeled in to pack up, the hook was bare. None of the other crabs that night had taken the entire strip, they had just mangled it...so I don't know....being mostly a freshwater fisherman except for pollock/wrasse fishing from rocks, this estuary fishing is all new to me - never had to contend with crabs before. I have to lose the idea that if the rod tip moves, it's a fish.

It certainly does feel like it will produce fish so if the tides are right, going to do it again this weekend for sure. Certainly after the sun went down there were a lot of fish jumping just beyond the pier, sea trout I suppose.

And I did see some huge cruising mullet and a large sea trout at Pallaskenry pier a few days previously whilst walking the mutt.