In recent years, Galway Bay has re-emerged as one of the top sea angling locations on the west coast. After several years of inactivity, interest has been rekindled both onshore and on the nearby Aran Islands.

Porbeagle shark are a big attraction during the late summer over the inshore reefs, but consistently good catches of blue shark from deep water have given a much needed boost to the area.

Galway City sits astride the famous salmon angling waters of the Corrib system which flows via the Corrib River into the north eastern corner of the bay. Numerous channels cut through the inner or eastern end of the bay, which is mainly shallow and muddy. Mullet to specimen size are common there in summer. As one travels west, the bay widens and the seabed becomes sandy, interspersed with several large areas of reef - rich feeding grounds for a wide range of fish species.

The northern shore runs through the holiday villages and towns of Salthill, Barna and Spiddal before turning north into Cashla Bay.

Across the mouth of Galway Bay lies the Aran Islands. (Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer) which attract thousands of tourists every year, particularly those interested in learning the Irish language which is spoken by virtually every inhabitant.

As a general rule, fishing begins for both boat and shore anglers around mid May and lasts until the end of September.