The Best Fishing Spots in Munster
In Munster, Ireland offers a rich mix of recreational fishing across rivers, loughs, estuaries and open coast: key targets inland include Atlantic salmon, brown trout, pike and perch, while coastal and shore anglers commonly catch bass, pollack, mackerel, whiting, cod and flatfish like plaice and dab. Anglers fish from shore and piers, on boats or in estuaries, using fly fishing, spinning, lure and bait techniques, with coastal trips out of counties such as Cork, Kerry and Waterford offering both light-tackle sport and deeper-water groundfish opportunities.
Top Cities For Fishing
Lake Fishing
Sea Fishing
Ardnacrusha
(17 km to coast)
Ballincollig
(17 km to coast)
Ballybunnion
(1 km to coast)
Bandon
(18 km to coast)
Bantry
(1 km to coast)
Blarney
(18 km to coast)
Carrigaline
(7 km to coast)
Carrigtwohill
(3 km to coast)
Clonakilty
(5 km to coast)
Cloyne
(6 km to coast)
Cobh
(4 km to coast)
Cork
(5 km to coast)
Crosshaven
(1 km to coast)
Dingle
(1 km to coast)
Douglas
(2 km to coast)
Dungarvan
(0 km to coast)
Dunmore East
(0 km to coast)
Ennis
(13 km to coast)
Glanmire
(4 km to coast)
Kenmare
(1 km to coast)
Killorglin
(4 km to coast)
Kilrush
(1 km to coast)
Kinsale
(0 km to coast)
Limerick
(14 km to coast)
Listowel
(17 km to coast)
Midleton
(4 km to coast)
Moyross
(13 km to coast)
Newmarket on Fergus
(6 km to coast)
Passage West
(1 km to coast)
Rathkeale
(19 km to coast)
Shannon
(2 km to coast)
Sixmilebridge
(11 km to coast)
Skibbereen
(7 km to coast)
Tralee
(6 km to coast)
Trá Mhór
(1 km to coast)
Waterford
(13 km to coast)
Youghal
(0 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Youghal Bay
A bass hotspot with prolific summer mackerel, flounder, and winter codling, Youghal Bay fishes well from beaches and the harbour wall, while small boats work the inshore rough ground and the mouth of the Blackwater on flooding tides for mixed species.
Waterford Harbour
Where the Suir and Barrow meet the sea, this expansive harbour offers bass, flounder, mullet and summer mackerel, with boat drifts over sandbanks and channels productive, and shore action from Dunmore East piers and beaches peaking on spring tides.
Tralee Bay
A broad, productive bay known for bass, flounder, ray and summer mackerel, with rough ground for pollack and wrasse; shore anglers score from Fenit and Banna , while small boats drift sandbanks and channels for ray and dabs on spring and neap tides alike.
Roaringwater Bay
Island-dotted waters off West Cork produce pollack, wrasse, conger and summer tope, with mackerel shoals drawing predators tight to Sherkin Island and Heir Island ; shore fishing from piers and rock ledges complements boat drifts over reefs and kelp beds May–September.
Liscannor Bay
Between Lahinch and Cliffs of Moher , Liscannor Bay offers reliable summer pollack, wrasse and mackerel from rock marks, with bass and flounder on sandy patches; boats launch from Liscannor to drift reefs and kelp edges for mixed species from late spring to autumn.
Kilkee Bay
Well-known rock platforms and sheltered waters around Kilkee deliver excellent pollack, wrasse and conger, with summer mackerel and occasional tope; small boats and kayaks work gullies and reefs, while shore anglers pick pockets along the limestone ledges on a flooding tide.
Dingle Bay
Deep Atlantic water meets rich inshore grounds for pollack, ling, conger, ray and summer blue shark, while shore anglers find bass, flounder and wrasse from rock marks near Dingle and beaches like Inch ; peak action runs May–October with mackerel shoals drawing predators tight to the coast.
Cork Harbour
One of Europe’s largest natural harbours, Cork Harbour offers prolific bass, summer mackerel, pollack, wrasse and conger, with winter codling and whiting; drifting or anchoring by boat around Haulbowline and Roches Point is reliable, while shore marks from Cobh and Monkstown produce flounder and bass on tides.
Bantry Bay
Deep glacial waters and island-studded inshore grounds yield pollack, ling, conger, ray and huss, with summer mackerel abundant; charter boats from Bantry and Glengarriff drift reefs, while piers and rough ground marks offer wrasse and pollack on lures and crab baits.
Kenmare Bay
Sheltered fjord-like waters hold ray, pollack, wrasse, conger and summer tope, with mackerel plentiful and occasional spurdog; boats from Kenmare and Sneem work reefs and channels, while shore marks and piers give reliable sport on flooding tides May–September.
Inch Beach
This long sandy spit into Dingle Bay is a proven venue for bass, flounder and occasional ray, with surf conditions dictating tactics; evening flood tides in summer and autumn often bring fish tight to the first breakers for bait and lure anglers alike.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
River Lee
Rising in the Shehy Mountains and flowing through Cork , the Lee provides excellent brown trout and occasional salmon fishing, with productive reservoirs upstream; spinning and fly tactics work along runs and pools, while boat fishing on the impoundments produces trout and perch in spring and early summer.
Lough Leane
The largest of the Killarney Lakes, Lough Leane offers classic wild brown trout drift fishing with wet flies, early-season salmon runs, and summer sedge action; boat fishing from Killarney or Ross Castle targets reefs and islands, while select shoreline points produce on a southwesterly breeze.
Lough Derg
A vast Shannon lake famed for specimen pike, plentiful perch and quality bream and roach, with trolling and lure fishing along the drop-offs and island points productive, and shore feeder fishing consistent near Garrykennedy , Killaloe and Mountshannon from spring through late autumn.
Lough Currane
Near Waterville , this famed lake is celebrated for spring sea trout and early salmon, with classic lough-style drift fishing from boats and productive shoreline points on a good wave; spring into early summer typically provides the most consistent sport.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
River Suir
Flowing through Clonmel and into Waterford , the Suir offers quality brown trout dry-fly sport, spring salmon, and a tidal reach where flounder and bass feature; wading and boat access allow precise presentation to riffles, glides and estuarine bends from April to October.
River Shannon
Ireland’s longest river delivers superb pike, bream, roach and hybrids along its middle reaches, with salmon and brown trout in tributaries, and a tidal stretch that yields flounder and bass; popular bases include Limerick , Killaloe and Foynes , with boat trolling, feeder tactics and lure fishing all effective through spring to autumn.
River Blackwater
The Munster Blackwater is a renowned salmon river with additional brown trout opportunities, and a tidal stretch near Cappoquin and Youghal that holds bass and flounder; spinning, fly and shrimp tactics excel from spring grilse runs through autumn, with boat access on certain beats.