INTRODUCTION:

The South Western Fisheries Region covers most of the Counties Cork and Kerry. The coastal boundary extends from Ballycotton in the east to Kerry Head in the south west just south of the Shannon Estuary. It is a varied coastline with bays, estuaries and harbours and five huge headlands jutting out into the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Many well - established angling centres with purpose built angling boats are scattered along this seaboard. It also offers excellent shore fishing with some of the finest surf fishing in Europe for a variety of species.

The following is a brief outline of the main angling centres giving some of the more important attractions and fishing hot spots.

BALLYCOTTON:

Ballycotton is a picturesque fishing village only forty minutes drive from Cork City. The bay stretches seven miles across to Knockadoon Head offering high quality boat and shore fishing.

Travelling time by charter boat from the harbour to the fishing grounds is usually under one hour. Species expected are blue shark, conger, pollack, ling, gurnard, pouting, whiting, cod, garfish, wrasse and dogfish. The two most prodominant species are conger and pollack.

Some of the better shore fishing marks are Ballycotton Pier for conger, wrasse, flatfish and mullet; Garryvoe Strand for painted and thornback ray, plaice, dabs, dogfish, flounder, conger and bass. Cod and coalfish are taken during the winter months. Ballycotton holds seven Irish Records, three of them from the shore. Lugworm can be dug at Ballymona Strand and the nearest tackle shop is T.H. Sports in Midleton. This area is signposted for shore angling.

CORK HARBOUR:

Cork Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Inside the twin fortifications of Fort Carlisle and Camden, only a mile apart, the lower reaches of the River Lee expanding into a large land-locked harbour offering sheltered fishing.

There are eight independent charter boat operators comprising eleven boats in several centres around the harbour. Types of fishing available are wreck and reef fishing as well as shark and general angling extending to a wide range of species. Some specialise in wreck fishing and ling to 44 lbs have been caught in recent years. Cork Harbour holds five Irish Records.

The shore fishing hotspots are the deep water quays at Cobh for codling, whiting, coalfish, dabs and dogfish and White Bay for flatfish and bass. The marks at Roches Point and Power Head are the local hotspots for mackerel, pollack, wrasse, conger and dogfish and flatfish and bass are caught on Inch Strand.

Lugworn can be dug at East Ferry and Lower Aghada. There are tackle shops in Midleton and Cork City.

KINSALE:

Kinsale is 17 miles from Cork City and only 12 miles from Cork Airport. The town is situated on a bend of the Bandon Estuary which flows between the twin fortifications of Charles Fort and James Fort. Deep sea charter boats have been operating here since the late fifties and was one of the first established deep sea angling centres in the country.

The wreck of the Lusitania lies 12 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale while the Ling Rocks lie 7 miles due east of the Old Head. Blue shark, reef, general and wreck fishing are all catered for. A wide range of species is taken in the vicinity of the Ling Rocks. Kinsale holds six Irish records.

The hot spots for shore anglers are the Old Head for pollack, mackerel, wrasse and some conger. Sandycove for flatfish and dogfish and the Road Bridge for codling, pollack, coalfish, flounder and dogfish.

Lugworn can be dug at Sandycove and crab can be collected at Castlepark.

COUTMACSHERRY:

Courtmacsherry lies to the west of the Old Head of Kinsale and is 25 miles from Cork City.

The deep sea fishing has been exceptionally good with excellent catches recorded over the last three years. Blue shark, wreck, reef and general fishing are all catered for. The Seven Heads and the wreck of the Lusitania offer good general fishing for specimen ling, pollack, coalfish, conger and thornback ray. Several common skate are taken each year and all are tagged and returned alive.

Many specimen bass and flounder have been recorded by shore anglers in the estuary. The nearby headlands of Woodpoint and the Seven Heads provide catches of Pollack, wrasse, dogfish, conger and mackerel. Lugworn can be dug at Flaxfort Strand and Kilbrittain and crab can be collected at Burren pier.

WEST CORK:

The West Cork area is picturesque, full in inlets, creeks and rocky promontories. On the rugged Mizen Peninsula are the towns of Ballydehob, Schull and Croolhaven. The Mizen Lighthouse perched on the cliffs at the very tip of the 20 miles finger of land is the most southerly point of the Irish mainland. The area is very scenic and unspoilt with panoramic views out of the famous Fastnet Light.

One of the main centres for boat angling is the village of Baltimore which is only 8 miles from Skibbereen. Angling boats are also at Union Hall and Schull. Deep sea angling offers a choice of blue shark, general fishing and wrecking. There are several wrecks within easy reach and these produce large pollack, ling, coalfish and conger. Several large common skate and occasional six gilled shark have been recorded in recent years.

Shore fishing offers a selection of venues such as beaches, piers, estuaries and rocky headlands. Ray, bull huss are two of the species taken here as well as bass, flounder and mullet.

Lugworn can be dug at Rosscarbery, Altar Church and Crookhaven. There are tackle shops in Clonakilty, Rosscarbery and Skibbereen.

BANTRY AND BEARA PENNINSULA:

Bantry Bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in Europe with depths exceeding 30 fathoms at the entrance between Sheep's Head and Bear Island. Only a limited amount of boat angling has taken place in recent years, so a complete picture is not readily available.

However, shore fishing is popular especially along the Dunmanus Peninsula and is noted for its good fishing for wrasse and pollack. The Beara Penninsula also has some good fishing marks such as Fair Head, Dursey and Ballydonegan and consists mainly of rock fishing for conger, wrasse, pollack and dogfish.

Lugworns can be dug at Cobh Strand and Ardgroom.

RING OF KERRY:

The Waterville /Caherciveen area stretches from Sneem on the south - east of the Ring of Kerry to Glenbeigh on the north-west. It offers deep sea shore and some inshore angling. Deep sea angling is carried out in deep water (30 to 50 fathoms) and offers a tremendous variety of species including blue shark. There are several angling boats based at various centres from Sneem to Valentia.

Shore fishing is comprised of estuary, beach, rock and pier marks. The main feature is the excellent rock hotspots providing some good angling for wrasse, pollack and conger. This area also has some fine surf beaches and flatfish and bass are the main quarry.

Top shore marks are Hogs Head for Pollack, wrasse, conger and rockling, Waterville beach and Rossbeigh for flatfish and bass. Lugworn can be dug at Rossmore, Derrynane and Rossbeigh. Tackle can be purchased at Landers in Tralee.

THE DINGLE PENINSULA:

The Dingle Peninsula is the most northerly of the five fingers of land jutting out into the Atlantic from the south west corner of Ireland. It is 35 miles in length and varies from 8 to 15 in width. The scenery here is superb with magnificent beaches interspersed with rocky headlands and cliffs.

The boat marks in Dingle Bay offer tope on the Kells side andspecimen sized pollack around the Blaskets. The offshore marks produce a wide variety of species including blue shark. Thornback ray, dogfish and conger are caught at Ventry and Dingle Harbour. The marks off Ballydavid have produced some quality fishing in the last two years including blue shark, pollack, conger, spurdog etc. Brandon Bay is the venue for blonde ray and tub gurnard up to ten pounds as well as many other species.

Dingle has some of the finest surf beaches in Ireland and Inch and Brandon are just two worth trying for bass and flatfish. The rock at Slea Head, Clogher Head, Ballyferriter and Ballydavid are famous for pollack, mackerel and ballan wrasse to over 16 lbs. The beaches at Castlegregory offer ray, flatfish and dogfish.

Lugworn can be dug at Milltown (Dingle), Cloghane Estuary and Kilshannig at Castlegregory. Tackle and bait can be purchased at Landers in Tralee.

FEINT:

The village of Fenit lies 8 miles from Tralee on the northern shore of Tralee Bay. Fenit has for many years been a very popular angling centre. One of the main features is the long pier giving anglers access to a wide variety of species normally taken while boat fishing.

Tralee Bay has six species of ray including undulate and sting as well as monkfish, common skate, huss, spurdog and dogfish. The marks outside the bay off Castlegregory and Kerry Head produce blue shark as well as a host of other species.

Shore angling hotspots are Fenit Pier for ray, flatfish, bass, pollack, huss, dogfish, conger, whiting and even monkfish and common skate have been caught here. Barrow Harbour offers bass, flatfish and occasional tope. The rock marks at Kerry Head produce wrasse, pollack, huss, conger and dogfish and special care must be taken in wet or rough weather conditions.

Lugworm can be dug at Barrow Harbour and tackle and bait can be purchased at Landers in Tralee.