The Best Fishing Spots in Ulster
Ulster offers varied recreational fishing across rivers, loughs and the coastline; its rivers are known for runs of Atlantic salmon, sea trout and resident brown trout, while large loughs and canals produce good sport for pike, perch, roach and bream (Lough Neagh is a classic coarse and eel water). Around the coast and estuaries expect productive shore and boat trips for sea bass, mackerel, pollack, cod and various flatfish; many anglers enjoy fly fishing for trout and salmon or using lures and bait for pike and sea species, making Ulster a compact region with varied opportunities for recreational angling.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Ardara
(0 km to coast)
Ballyshannon
(3 km to coast)
Buncrana
(1 km to coast)
Bundoran
(1 km to coast)
Carndonagh
(5 km to coast)
Convoy
(18 km to coast)
Derrybeg
(3 km to coast)
Donegal
(2 km to coast)
Dungloe
(1 km to coast)
Fahan
(1 km to coast)
Falcarragh
(4 km to coast)
Glenties
(8 km to coast)
Greencastle
(1 km to coast)
Gweedore
(8 km to coast)
Kildrum
(14 km to coast)
Killybegs
(1 km to coast)
Kilmacrenan
(16 km to coast)
Letterkenny
(6 km to coast)
Manorcunningham
(4 km to coast)
Millford
(2 km to coast)
Moville
(1 km to coast)
Muff
(2 km to coast)
Newtown Cunningham
(5 km to coast)
Ramelton
(2 km to coast)
Raphoe
(18 km to coast)
St Johnston
(18 km to coast)
Lake Fishing
Upper Lough Erne
Other
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Lough Swilly
Sheltered Donegal fjord-like waters famous for summer tope, plus pollack, coalies, and mackerel off reefs near Dunaff Head and Fanad ; drifting sandeels over rough ground and ledgering crab for rays in deeper channels are proven approaches.
Mulroy Bay
A maze of channels between Fanad and Rosguill peninsulas known for pollack, wrasse, summer mackerel, and inlets holding flounder; small boats drift current lines while shore anglers hop rock marks and piers on the flood.
Donegal Bay
A vast bay with surf beaches and reefed headlands around Bundoran and Killybegs , producing summer mackerel, pollack, wrasse, and shore turbot, with boat potential for tope and occasional blue shark offshore on settled weather.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lough Melvin
Straddling Fermanagh and Leitrim, Melvin is renowned for unique trout strains—gillaroo and sonaghan—alongside big ferox and summer sea trout; traditional lough-style drifting with wets and dapping, or trolling deeper margins, are mainstays from Garrison .
River Bann
From its lough outflow to the north coast, the Bann offers excellent salmon and sea trout opportunities in season along with strong bream, roach, and pike fishing; popular access points are around Coleraine , Portglenone , and Toomebridge .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
River Foyle
Flowing through Derry , the Foyle system is renowned for summer runs of salmon and sea trout, with fly and spinner work effective on spates, while the tidal stretches also give sport with flounder and school pollack for light-tackle anglers.