Shore Fishing in Connemara

There is no better way to relax and get away from it all than to take a fishing rod for a stroll along a beach and spend a few hours in search of a fish or two, and there are few places better to do this than the coast of Connemara.
From long sandy surf beaches to small rocky coves the variety is endless, and there are a number of quiet quays and harbours to fish in. In Connemara it is easily possible to believe that you are the first to discover a spot, as there is so much fishing that you are lucky to see someone else, let alone feel crowded.

Almost all of the beaches in this area can be fished successfully, and there are some good sources of information available, some of which are included in this post. During the early spring and summer species such as plaice, turbot, dogfish and ray can be caught. As the summer progresses Pollack and mackerel turn up, and on big spring tides in August it is possible to catch large numbers of mackerel as they come right in to beaches such as Cleggan Beach chasing small sprat (whitebait) in to the shore.
Sometimes the whitebait gets stranded in its efforts to flee the mackerel and can be gathered up for a delicious feed when floured and deep fried.

Rocky Shorelines such as the Aghrus Peninsula from Aughrus Pier around to the Anchor beach produce Pollack, Fishing in ConnemaraCoalfish and Mackerel to a lure or spinner on a heavy spinning rod or light beachcaster.

If you need to buy fishing tackle, lures or other bits and pieces there are three great sources in the area, Stanley’s Shop in Clifden has a big stock and you will get anything that you need here, along with help and advice on the places to fish. They also sell permits for Clifden Anglers salmon and trout fishing.
Cleggan Marine, opposite Olivers Bar in Cleggan also has a great stock of tackle and is a good source of advice. In Letterfrack Village  Letterfrack Hardware also stocks a range of fishing tackle, lures and flies.

Bait is easily available as you can dig lugworm on most beaches at low tide, razor clams and cockles can be found on Cleggan beach and and Omey strand if there is a big spring tide. The south side of Rossadilisk Beach is also a good spot for lugworm.

There is a very useful source of information on exactly where to fish and how to get there  in the Fisheries Ireland   guide to sea fishing in the area,  http://bit.ly/shorefishing  and also on the “All Things Connemara” website https://allthingsconnemara.ie/freshwater-fishing-angling/

Our own map shows where the huge number of beaches in Connemara are Located http://bit.ly/connemarabeaches

All images courtesy of and Copyright master angler Cormac Burke 2019.