Angling in the Cork and Kerry region is a special experience. It is an area of spectacular beauty with 1000 kilometres of coastline ranging from rugged inlets to sweeping bays, over a hundred fishable Loughs and miles upon miles of superb salmon, sea trout and brown trout rivers. The environment is fresh, clean and virtually unspoiled and the gentle warmth of the Gulf Stream laps the coast ensuring a comfortable climate for year round angling.

The south west is rich in game, course and sea angling and many of its fisheries are World famous such as Lough Currane, regarded by many as one of the truly great sea trout fisheries.. Angling in the south west is pleasurable and stress free with easy access to angling sites, friendly locals and game fishing tariffs that wont break the bank. A days game fishing for instance on most rivers and Loughs can be had for as little as 12 to 15. Indeed many areas are free such as Lough Currane and the Killarney Lakes, although don't forget to purchase a State Rod Licence which is required for game fishing in the region.

Almost every river and stream gets a run of salmon. Splendid Spring salmon fishing is available on a number of renowned rivers and Lough's from as early as mid January and a Summer spate is nearly always likely to induce a run of grilse up the rivers and into the Lough's. In general the salmon season runs from the beginning of February to the end of September although check first as open and close dates vary between areas. The numbers of salmon and sea trout caught in the regions rivers each year compare favourably with those caught in Scotland, Iceland and farther afield. For instance the river Bandon in county Cork produced well over a thousand sea trout in 1995.

Brown Trout are everywhere; they may not be the biggest in the country but certainly the South West fisheries hold some of the most prolific stocks. These fisheries present the angler with a variety of exciting challenges ranging from wet fly fishing on a mountain Lough to casting a dry fly to trout feeding rapaciously on Blue Winged Olives in the balmy dusk of a Killarney summers evening

Sea angling in the south west is a unique experience and with its 1000 km coastline the adventurous angler can try his hand at beach, rock and charter boat fishing. Stocks of fish are excellent and as a result of the warmer waters there is also a terrific variety of species. It is also not uncommon for visiting anglers not to see another angler for their whole trip as many of the areas are remote although readily accessible.

Coarse angling in the south west is confined to the Cork region nevertheless it offers probably the best bream and rudd fishing to be found in Ireland on Inniscarra Lake. Indeed South Yorkshireman Terry Smith caught 350 lb. of Bream in just five hours in 1995 and to put this in perspective this is a heavier catch than the World five hour match record. It is not uncommon for the average angler to catch over 100 lb. of bream in a day. There is also good pike, carp and Tench fishing.

The South Western Regional Fisheries Board would be happy to supply you with more information and you can contact them at 1 Nevilles Terrace, Masseytown, Macroom, Co. Cork.

Telephone (026) 41221, Fax (026) 41223.