How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Antrim, United Kingdom ? Today is a good day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar bite times, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar bite times and the best moon phases.
- Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing in Antrim, Northern Ireland, centres on the rich waters of Lough Neagh, the River Bann system and a rugged North Antrim Coast that draws both coarse and sea anglers. From wild brown trout and powerful pike to surf-caught cod and pollack, County Antrim offers varied angling opportunities in rivers, loughs, harbours and open shoreline. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
-
Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
-
Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
-
Moonrise:
-
Moonset:
-
Moon over:
-
Moon under:
-
Visibility:92%
-
Waning Gibbous
-
Distance to earth:388,189 kmProximity:41.1 %
Moon Phases for Antrim
-
good Day
-
major Time:02:29 am - 04:29 am
-
minor Time:07:51 am - 09:51 am
-
major Time:02:33 pm - 04:33 pm
-
minor Time:09:15 pm - 11:15 pm
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
| Date | Major Bite Times | Minor Bite Times | Sun | Moon | Moonphase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 Full Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Gibbous |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Gibbous |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Gibbous |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 Third Quarter Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
Fishing Overview Antrim
County Antrim fishing is dominated by the huge inland waters of Lough Neagh, the lower Bann, and a dramatic stretch of North Atlantic coastline from Larne to Ballycastle and the Causeway coast. Anglers can switch in a day from boat or shore sessions on the lough for pike and coarse fish to surf and rock marks for pollack, cod and rays, making Antrim one of Northern Ireland’s most versatile angling bases.
On Lough Neagh and its feeder rivers, the headline species are pike, perch, bream, roach and the famed dollaghan trout. Spring sees pike become highly active in the warming margins and reed beds. Focus on bays, river mouths and any flooded rush beds, working lures like soft shads, spinnerbaits and medium-diving plugs along edges of weed or drop-offs. In summer, pike and perch often push onto shallow bars and reefs early and late in the day; during bright periods, switch to trolling deeper channels with larger crankbaits or deadbaits fished just off bottom.
Coarse anglers on the Bann system, Lough Neagh and associated canals target bream, hybrids, roach and perch. The most consistent approach is classic feeder fishing with groundbait and chopped worm or maggot. On big, open sections, use a cage or window feeder to punch through crosswinds and hold bottom in the tow. Start with regular, small feeder casts to build a bed, then lengthen the intervals once fish arrive. Roach and hybrids respond well to a dark, heavy mix with plenty of castors, while bream favour a cloudier groundbait with added sweet corn or mini pellets.
For trout and salmon, key waters include the River Bann, smaller spate rivers and the routes used by dollaghan, the migratory Lough Neagh brown trout. In spring and early summer, nymphs and spiders drifted through runs and glides take resident browns. As evenings lengthen, switch to small dries during olive or sedge hatches. From late summer into autumn, larger wets and streamer-style patterns fished in rising water can intercept running fish, particularly on dull, broken-water pools. Spinning with compact spoons and slim wobblers is effective when levels are high and colour is in the water.
Sea fishing in Antrim ranges from family-friendly pier sessions to serious rock and surf angling. Harbours and piers at places such as Larne, Carnlough, Cushendall and Ballycastle produce mackerel in summer, along with pollack, coalfish, wrasse and the odd conger. Float-fish strips of mackerel or sandeel down the pier walls for wrasse and pollack, or drop-shot small soft plastics around structure for non-stop action on smaller coalies. After dark, legered fish baits pick up dogfish, rays and occasional conger.
On open surf beaches and rock marks along the North Antrim Coast and Causeway areas, cod, whiting and flatties dominate winter catches, with pollack, mackerel, wrasse and occasional bass in the warmer months. Use 4–5 oz breakout leads and clipped-down rigs to hold in tide and reach distant sandbanks. In rougher, coloured seas, large lugworm or squid baits stand out and tempt cod and whiting; on calmer, clearer days, scale down hook size and bait for flounder, dab and plaice. Rock anglers should work metal jigs and slim soft plastics through kelp-filled gullies at dawn and dusk for hard-fighting pollack.
Boat anglers operating from Antrim’s harbours can access deeper reefs and sandbanks where pollack, ling, tope and rays are realistic targets. Over reefs and wrecks, vertically jigged pirks or large soft lures fished tight to structure are deadly for pollack and ling. On sand, long flowing traces with fresh mackerel or sandeel baits tempt tope, rays and gurnard. Steaming times are relatively short, so short-session charters are practical even for visiting anglers.
Across Antrim, success hinges on reading conditions: wind direction on the lough, levels and colour on the rivers, and swell and clarity on the coast. By matching tactics and tackle to each water type and season, anglers can reliably tap into the county’s diverse mix of coarse, game and sea fishing opportunities.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Antrim area
Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 4 beaches and bays in this area.
Antrim Bay - 4.08300762964km , Sandy Bay - 16.04780585818km , Drains Bay - 30.32730240469km , Helen's Bay - 31.0817434416km
Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 2 main harbours in this area.
Portmore Lough - 18.08849976658km, Larne Harbour - 29.3564319373km
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Antrim. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Antrim Bay - 4.08300762964km , Dunore Point - 4.55963525367km , Clady Water - 5.47122700264km , River Main - 5.73622601591km , Crumlin River - 12.00175992758km , Glenavy River - 13.76168123556km , Gartree Point - 13.87197028456km , Braid River - 15.46652121193km , Rams Island - 15.91833741436km , Sandy Bay - 16.04780585818km , Lough Neagh - 17.3805882213km , Tunny Point - 17.44433788963km , Lough Beg - 18.0201032835km , Portmore Lough - 18.08849976658km , Ballygomartin River - 19.35230869142km , Moyola River - 20.01999275531km , Stanierds Point - 20.09698707235km , Macedon Point - 21.03365048886km , Ballinderry River - 21.54128411779km , Arboe Point - 21.76453503544km , Tolans Point - 22.38079299575km , River Lagan - 22.95680630108km , Claudy River - 25.44628555939km , Lough Mourne - 25.65793915612km , Linford Water - 25.68145682993km , Ravernet River - 26.35165534384km , Clogh River - 26.45631660391km , Ardmore Point - 27.61873143832km , Kells Point - 28.44636347873km , Reedy Flat - 28.44804138489km , Larne River - 29.31802812839km , Larne Harbour - 29.3564319373km , Kilroot Point - 30.06102213405km , Lough Gullion - 30.29961275872km , Drains Bay - 30.32730240469km , Grey Point - 30.63918511016km , Belfast Lough - 30.79491931766km , Helen's Bay - 31.0817434416km , River Bann - 31.2455381419km , Coney Island - 31.29516733036km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
uploaded by: SzatanEK666
uploaded by: SzatanEK666
uploaded by: SzatanEK666
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
uploaded by: John Needham
Comments