The Northern Fisheries Region stretches from Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland, in Co. Donegal southwards to Dunlevy’s point in Co. Sligo. To the east it extends deep into the northern midlands taking in parts of Leitrim, Cavan and Monghan. The Northern Regional Fisheries Board headquarters is located at Station Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Tel: 072 - 51435 Many rivers drain the moors, bogland and mountain of Donegal. In the main, these are acidic and generally hold stocks of small brown trout. The fishing for sea trout, grilse and spring salmon on these rivers is, however, amongst the best in Ireland. Quality wild brown trout fishing can be found on the Upper Erne and its tributaries. There are numerous lakes and loughs in the region ranging from tiny mountain tarns which contain small brown trout to large areas of water such as Lough Beagh, Glen Lough and Lough Melvin which offer top class brown trout, sea trout and salmon fishing.

The eastern part of Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan are equally well endowed with rivers and loughs and these offer some of the best coarse fishing in Ireland. This is drumlin country and the big attraction is the wide range of species available including pike, perch, tench, rudd, bream, roach, hybrids and eels. The complex Erne System has excellent fishing depths to 20 feet with the rivers generally possessing a slow to moderate flow. Many of the rivers and lakes in the area are popular match fishing venues and during the summer months, hardly a week passes without a major tournament being staged there.

Over the past ten years, sea angling has developed very swiftly with several specialist Centres now catering for the ever increasing numbers of tourist anglers. Mullaghmore, Rosses Point, Killybegs, Teelin, Burtonport, Port na Blagh, Downings, Rathmullan and Culdaff are but a few of the coastal towns and villages that have established good reputations for the high quality fishing and wide range of species on offer. It is still possible, however, to "get lost" on the rugged rocky headlands, awesome storm beaches and quaint backwaters and estuaries where the sight of another angler is an exception rather than the rule. The Northern Region has much to offer the angler, no matter what his particular preference and with access improving annually, many more angling venues will be opened up in the years to come.