The Western Fisheries Region stretches from Pidgeon point in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo, in the North to Hags Head, Co. Clare, in the South.

The mainland and numerous offshore islands which are washed by the warming North Atlantic Drift(an offshoot of the Gulf Stream) encompass virtually every conceivable shore type. As a result, a wide and very varied range of marine fishes inhabit the region. The Connemara coastline is very complex with innumerable bays, backwaters, estuaries and lagoons. In the main, these are boulder strewn, weedy and usually brackish containing sea trout, mullet, flounder and coalfish, but to date, have proven very difficult to fish. The results, however, can be excellent for the angler with perseverance. Unique shore fishing for tope is available at the head of Galway Bay where several fish to over the specimen size of 40lbs have taken in recent years.

The offshore islands offer some of the greatest angling challenges for the modern sea angler and due to their proximity to the great depths of the Continental Shelf, any fish known to exist in the North Atlantic can be expected. Indeed, when a bait is lowered to the sea bed here, anything from a pouting to a porbeagle is possible.

There are a number of well established sea angling centres in the region including world famous names like Westport and Clifden for boat angling and Fanore in North Clare for shore angling. As famous as these centres may be, they are but just small pieces of this remarkable coastline.

The charter boat fleet has improved dramatically both in quality and quantity in the last few years. Now fully equipped, purpose built, safe vessels can be chartered from a growing number of specialist centres. Several of these are beginning to venture out into the deeper waters of the region and it is anybody's guess what will turn up in the next few years. It is off this coast that Japanese and Spanish fishing vessels have been taking tuna and albacore in recent years and it is felt that some of these "big game" fish will be taken by anglers soon.

The Western Regional Fisheries Board have also embarked on a signposting programme designed to direct anglers to the top shore angling locations along the coast. Here the angler will find fishing to suit all tastes with numerous beach, pier, estuary and rock marks to choose from, all producing remarkable angling.

To date, an amazing 49 species have been recorded by sea anglers in the region and this total will certainly be added to in the years to come.