The Irish coastline, over 3000 miles long, is washed by some of the cleanest and clearest seas in Europe. It is also one of the most varied, with dramatic cliffs such as those in Donegal, Mayo and Clare; many miles of wide strands with their arresting contrast of blue sea, white surf and pale sands; and stretches of rugged rocky coastline and quiet estuaries.

This variety offers unlimited opportunities to the sea angler, who can find somewhere to fish almost all the year round.

Ireland's climate may give mixed summer weather of sun and rain, but because its seas, especially on the south and western margins, benefit from the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift they can be fished from spring to late autumn for species found elsewhere only in the summer months. For this reason unusual warm-water species often turn up in catches here, fish such as trigger fish, red mullet, red bream, sunfish and amberjack. But Ireland's shores are near the divide between cooler north Atlantic waters and the southern influence and they accommodate many cold water species also.

Ireland's climate may give mixed summer weather of sun and rain, but because its seas, especially on the south and western margins, benefit from the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift they can be fished from spring to late autumn for species found elsewhere only in the summer months. For this reason unusual warm-water species often turn up in catches here, fish such as trigger fish, red mullet, red bream, sunfish and amberjack. But Ireland's shores are near the divide between cIn all, over 80 species can be caught from Ireland's seas. And this fishing is as easily accessible to the angler who seeks solitude and peace in one of the least populated countries of Europe as it is to the fisherman who wants to enjoy sport in the company of other anglers.
There is no close season for sea fishing in Ireland so it may be practised all the year round. Those fish which feed throughout the year, such as flounder, cod and coalfish can be fished for in every month. Species such as wrasse, pollack and dogfish, which are most active in the warmer months, have a natural season extending from April to about October. The influence of the Irish climate, as well as the habits of the fish, has to be taken into account.

Inshore Boat Angling
Inshore fishing from small boats, especially during the months from May to September, is a growing trend. There is no better means of appreciating the intimate connection between the life of Irish coastal communities and the sea, than to fish from a small boat equivalent in size to the craft that almost all Irish fishermen used until recent times. Many visiting anglers rent purpose-built 14-18 foot boats from a growing number of centres where guidance on where to go, and on safety issues are available. This is the best way of exploiting the places which are unexplored by bigger craft or inaccessible to the shore angler. All species are available. Great sport can be enjoyed on warm days of late summer when using light spinning tackle for mackerel or pollack. The adventurous angler can try fly fishing. Or one may bottom fish for ray or bigger species - perhaps for tope in places such as the Shannon Estuary, using a mackerel caught earlier in the day as bait. Fishing from a small boat driven by a powerful outboard engine requires a careful assessment of weather conditions, but if the angler follows local regulations and advice, and keeps a weather eye open a safe, enjoyable trip is assured.

Wreck Fishing
Wreck fishing in deep water marks can be very productive. There are many charted wrecks off the Irish coast, some lying in water over 50 fathoms deep. Many more wait to be discovered and the angler who is in a boat fishing such a wreck for the first time can experience unforgettable sport. It may take an hour to reach these marks, but the time is worth it because of the size of the conger, ling, pollack and coalfish which are boated from them. Other species such as turbot and megrim can also be caught. Anglers who specialise in this fishing use rods in the 20/30lb class and reel lines of 30lbs test, and such gear may be hired from charter skippers.

Deep Sea Angling
Irish deep-sea fishing is associated with charter boats and is a very sociable form of angling. Traditionally, these craft headed to deep water marks from centres which became famous and still provide superb fishing Westport, Fenit and Kinsale. Nowadays, charter boats can be hired from a greater number of centres and they fish for such species as blue shark off the south and west coast, for big conger, ling and cod from sunken wrecks, and for tope and flatfish over sandy ground.

Charter boat fishing is lively and interesting even before a line is cast; the skipper will assemble a group of anglers who may or may not know each other at the beginning of the day, but who will surely be well acquainted by the end of it, especially if they have had sport with a big shark or skate. Usually tackle may be hired, so all the angler needs is a good set of waterproofs and a sense of adventure. The skippers have well equipped speedy craft and modern navigational aids but for most, who have come from several generations of fishermen, their knowledge of the sea is as instinctive as breathing. A lot of local lore is passed on during the day and even more in the evening when the boat is tied up and the catch distributed and the scene shifts to a waterfront pub.

Shore Angling
Irish shore angling is among the best in Europe. Almost every type of shore fishing may be done, for a very wide range of species, throughout the year.

Storm Beaches
One of the great experiences of Irish sea-angling is to fish a west coast storm beach when a big surf is running. From a distance these strands seem to have tables of water in ascending height to seaward, each edged with foam. Close-to they are roaring tiers of surf, swelling and then pounding ashore, leaving a waste of suds in their backwash. The careful angler can wade among the breakers because the strands are for the most part shallow and safe, and enjoy there incomparable angling, equal to salmon fishing or indeed any other form of fishing. It will be necessary to get local advice on safety before fishing these beaches.

The stocks of bass, which was once the primary species sought here are now in recovery, but ray, flounder and dogfish are plentiful. A fat Kerry flounder, big enough to fill a pan, is good eating. Tope may be caught on some of these beaches, and also off strands along the Clare, Galway and Mayo coasts. They offer magnificent sport and for that reason are now invariably returned alive. The beaches of north Wexford offer super smoothound and ray fishing in spring, while the shingle beaclies of Wicklow, and the Cork coastline produce codling in winter.

Rocky Shores
There are many miles of rocky shoreline. Two of the rock fisherman's favourite species, pollack and wrasse are common. There is great fishing for these species from the craggy shorelines of the lovely Beara, Iveragh and Dingle peninsulas in the southwest, but they may also be caught in similar locations in the north west and south west coasts. There is also very good rock fishing off the islands, such as Valentia in the south-west, and along the Clare coast.

Blue fin tuna fishing in Ireland
The Realisation of a Dream - Big Game Fishing in Ireland
For a long time, Ireland has been recognised for its marine sport fishing. The vast variety and quality of our angling has given the country a reputation of which we are justly proud. Sea fish captures range from the humble Dab through to Blue shark and the mighty Common Skate. However the large ocean going big game fish remained strangely absent from anglers' catches despite almost annual stories of lines being torn from reels and terminal tackle being smashed by unseen giants of the deep.
By the mid 1980s, super trawlers working out of the port of Killybegs, Co. Donegal, were mid-water trawling the local inshore waters when blue fin tuna began to show up in catches of mackerel and scad. Again giants of more than 1,000 lb. were caught. Obviously the tuna were feeding amongst the shoal fish and the very real possibility of catching big game fish in Ireland began to materialise.

In the mean time the quality and number of purpose built angling charter boats increased all around the Irish coast. Fishing took place in deeper and deeper waters and soon numerous reports filtered through of surface sightings of "fast moving fish". It was thought that many of these sightings were of Albacore, (Thunnus alalunga). Charter boat skippers were not the only people to make sightings. Increasingly shoals of blue fin tuna were reported by fishery patrol vessels from the Northern Regional Fisheries Board, particularly in the vicinity of Rathlin O'Beirne Island on the north-western corner of Donegal Bay. Furthermore some of these sightings were made in mid-summer dispelling the theory that blue-fin tuna were a seasonal visitor only to be seen in the autumn months of September and October. Indeed some fish sighted were observed less than 500 m from the shore!

Subsequently after honing their techniques , Irish angling boats have started to successfully target , these hard fighting sea predators and many fish have been landed , the smallest around 350lbs and the biggest shown here very nearly 100lbs. Sightings of fish in excess of 1500lbs , give anglings the hope that an IGFA record may well be achievable in Irish waters.

World Sport Fishing can offer a wide array of packages , all of which can include a selection of any of the fishing options shown above. Our expertise in all areas of organising fishing trips will help to ensure you a truly memorable trip.