The Southern Region has a relatively short coastline - only 140 km between Ballyteigue Bay in Co.Wexford and Ballycotton in Co. Cork. However, the region contains four of the country’s largest rivers - the Blackwater in the west which flows into Youghal harbour and in the east - the Rivers Suir, Nore and Barrow, locally called the "Three Sisters" ,which together enter the sea at Waterford Harbour. The Region has very few stillwater fisheries - and with the exception of several reservoirs and small lakes, practically all the freshwater fishing in the region is riverine angling. Traditionally the areas freshwater reputation was based on its excellent game fishing for salmon, sea trout and brown trout but its coarse fishing for pike, bream, tench, rudd, etc., is also of an exceptionally high standard. The River Blackwater is internationally recognised for its quality salmon fishing which is available all along its length from Lismore in the east to Rathmore in the west. Salmon are also available in the Lower reaches of each of the Three Sisters but upstream, both the Suir and the Nore have excellent wild brown trout fishing. Some sections of the Barrow provide good brown trout fishing also, as does the Blackwater, though in the latter, the average size of trout may be smaller than the others. Sea trout can provide good sport when they run the lower reaches of the Corock, Tay, Colligan and North Bride during June and July.

Top quality coarse fishing is available on the Barrow. Bream, rudd, tench and pike are available and there is as always an exciting fishery in May when the Twaite Shad run up the river to St. Mullins. There is also good fishing for roach and dace in a number of sections of the Blackwater.

Ireland’s international reputation for quality sea angling was founded in the early part of the century when the "Dreadnought" Sea Angling Club of Great Britain took huge hauls of pollack, cod, large skate and shark in the Ballycotton area. Since then, sea angling has developed apace and numbers of charter boats, some specialising in wreck fishing, operate out of Dunmore East, Youghal, Dungarvan and Ballycotton. Shore angling is also well developed for bass, ray, pollack, wrasse, etc., from numerous beaches and rocky outcrops which are well signposted. Angling tourism is vitally important to the area and as a result, there is a good infrastructure available which includes a professionally run angling school on the Suir to cater for the needs of all anglers.