SEA-ANGLING-IRELAND.ORG
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SEA-ANGLING-IRELAND.ORG everything you need to know, all on one site... |
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Galway, for all
the population in the city and its popularity as a tourism centre, is
largely unexplored in terms of shore fishing. We have split it into
(a) West around Clifden, (b) the Connemara section, and (c)
East
around Galway City. Again I would recopmmend that visitors
contact the Galway City SAC on the bulletin boards here. A red
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Introduction: From the famous Slyne Head at Ballyconneelly Bay, down to Rossaveal you are viewing the Connemara Gaeltacht or native Irish speaking area. Fear not for they all speak English too! This is a wild and rugged coastline fully exposed to and eroded by winter Atlantic storms and little is known of the shore fishing in the region... Blue dotted lines indicate the road bridges from the mainland to the islands. This is a coastline well worth exploring. Some recent reports have offered confirmation of exceptional ray fishing in these shallow bays and inlets, with three species being reports so far - Thornbacks, Painted and even one rare Undulate Ray. Most of the fishing was done around low water rather than high water with prawn, shellfish and good old mackerel strip successful. I think Casla Bay (on which Rossaveal sits) is definitely worth exploring in regard to summer ray fishing although where you would start... |
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1 - Roundstone
Just south of the pictureque village of Roundtsone, Gorteen Bay offers some
decent shore fishing. Species
& Techniques:
Pollack, Wrasse and Dogfish have been reported from the mouth of the
Bay, whilst an ancient CFB handbook also talking about an occassional
Ray!
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2 - Mace Head
Fishing off this headland into the depths of the Atlantic is not for
the faint hearted. Always bring wet weather gear - you will be
amazed how fast the weather changes. Species
& Techniques:
Wrasse, Pollack and Coalfish are available off the rocks. Float fishing is the preferred
option given the foul bottom. Distance casting directly out over
the rock margin will reach sandy patches that holds Ray and Dogfish.
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3 - Trawbaun Harbour
On the south eastern coast of Gorumna Island (you can drive there from
the mainland) there is a small harbour tucked in beside a creek...
Fishing off the short pier here can produce decent catches. Species
& Techniques:
Flounder again dominate the Flatfish catch but Dabs and Plaice are
possible. Coalfish,
Wrasse and small Pollack are taken on spinning gear, mostly from the
rocky outcrops alongside the harbour. It has the advantage of
being sheltered from any west or northerly winds.
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4 - Rossaveal
Rossaveal is probably famous as being one of the harbours from which
ferries service the Aran Islands. Species
& Techniques: Fishing
from the pier itself on legered rigs (rottom bottoms required) will
produce large Conger, whilst Flatfish are available over the mud and
sandy bottom. Mullet are common in the harbour between May and
early October.
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Postscript:
Akin to the region around Clifden, this is an area that is largely unexplored by shore anglers. Undoubtedly access is an issue, as it the shallow nature of most of the bays - large mudflats and sand banks are common features, but it could be a flatfish heaven! I find it hard to believe that the whole of Mweelish Island outside Carna (good worm digging area in the channel) or Gorumna Island with Golam Head do not hold excellent fishing. Da mbeach duine eigin ina conai anseo, is maith lion caint leat ar son an iascaracht. My Irish is not the best and I apologise in advance for all the mistakes, but if there is anyone resident in the Gaeltacht then I would like to have a chat about the fishing - go raibh maith agat! Is mise le meas, Ciaran O'hAnnrachain, Co. Mhaigh Eo.
indicates a known shore mark with recent information available,
whereas a yellow spot