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CHRIS TARRANT, the man
who asks the questions on British television's top-rated 'Who Wants
to be a Millionaire?' certainly has the answer to the
question "Where is the place with the greatest wealth of angling?"...
"My fishing trips to Northern Ireland have been fabulous: great
food, drink (of course) and company, in tremendous scenery, with
potentially some of the finest game fishing in Europe."
Correct. And it's not only the trout and salmon fishing that is
fabulous - there's also unsurpassed sport to be had on our scenic
sea-angling waters and on the beautiful coarse fisheries of green and
environmentally unspoilt Northern Ireland. Few countries in the world
can offer such a variety of game, coarse and marine fish species in
such easily accessible concentration.
Some, like the fighting gillaroo trout of Lough Melvin and the
salmon-like dollaghan of Lough Neagh, are unique to our waters. The
bream of the Lower Bann, which are as big as 'bin-lids', can be caught
all year as there is no coarse angling close season here. Our seas
also hold an assortment of good sport fish, with well-equipped boats
and shore-fishing facilities available.
From the salmon-rich Foyle System in the north-west to the Newry Canal
in the south-east, 64 waters have been developed for public
recreational use. Travelling distances between them are short. The
mandatory rod licence and any additional permits required are easily
obtainable locally, for a moderate fee. |
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QUOILE RIVER & BASIN
Location: Downpatrick, from old barrier at
Quoile bridge downstream to the new barrier at head of Strangford
Lough. Easy access from road. 100 acres. Fishing from south bank
except from Steamboat quay to Castle Island. Path and fishing stands.
No digging for bait. This is an important nature reserve so do not
leave bits of line around to harm the waterfowl. Variety of fish: eel,
perch, pike, roach, rudd.
Permit: Field & Tackle, 22 Dromore St, Ballynahinch
Sports Centre, 32 High St, Ballynahinch
H W Kelly, Market St, Downpatrick
A disabled anglers' car park is available at old flood gates.
Application for keys to:
Quoile Countryside Centre, 5 Quay Road, Downpatrick |
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Newry Canal
Location: 3-mile stretch from Newry to the Victoria lock gates
on Omeath road, south of town. In winter the Albert basin is a good
area for pike, and in summer the Omeath road stretch is highly
recommended for other species. Bankside fishing only.
Variety of fish: bream, perch, pike and roach.
Permit: not needed. Individuals need not book.
Group bookings to:
Recreation Department, Newry & Moume Distnct Council, Greenbank,
Warrenpoint Rd, Newry BT34 2QU |
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Other Fishing
Other Dept of Agriculture Fisheries Portavoe Reservoir, nr
Donaghadee and Bangor, 31 acres b and r trout, fly only, 20 rods per
day, 4 fish limit; Lough Money, 53 acre coarse fishery with pike,
perch, eels, nr Downpatrick. Downpatrick & Dist AA hold fishing rights
to Loughinisland Lake and Magheraleggan Lake; guests only when
accompanied by a member.
A new fishery for disabled anglers has been opened at Marybrook
Mill, nr Ballynahinch. Rainbow trout and coarse fish.
Lough Cowey, 2 miles north of Portaferry, natural 70 acres lough
with rainbow and brown trout mostly 2lbs plus, fly fishing. Dt and
boats on site; contact Manager, The Fishery, Lough Cowey Rd,
Portaferry
Tackle shops:
H W Kelly & Son, Market Street, Downpatrick
Dairy Fishery, 179 Belfast Rd, Ballynahinch |
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Kilkeel (Co Down)
Harbour fishing for coalfish and mackerel; West strand for
flatfish, dogfish. Black Rock, Ballymartin, produces mackerel and
codling; Carlingford Lough, flatfish, dogfish, thornback, a few bass.
Good points are Cranfield and Greencastle. Lugworm can be dug in
Newcastle harbour and Greencastle, rag and lug at Warrenpoint beach.
Boats are available at Newcastle Centre or
Harbourmaster, Boats are also for hire at Greencastle and
Warrenpoint
Tackle shops: J Graham, 47 Greencastle
St; McConnell & Hanna, 19 Newcastle St; Four Seasons, 47 Main St,
Newcastle. |
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Bangor (Co Down).
Bangor is on Belfast Lough, 12m from capital. Cod, plaice, turbot,
whiting. Lugworm can be dug on beaches at Bangor, ragworm at Kinnegar.
Smelt Mill Bay and Orlock point are good summer venues for wrasse,
codling, coalfish, dogfish, mackerel. Bangor and Donaghadee piers for
mackerel, coalfish, flatfish.
Boats from Tom Martin
Tackle Shop: Trap & Tackle, 6 Seacliff Rd |
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Donaghadee (Co Down).
Fishing from pier or rocks for pollack, codling and mackerel. Rigg
sandbar (3m off Donaghadee) for cod, whiting, gurnard, coalfish,
flatfish, mackerel, rays, dogfish, plaice, pollack. Back of Sandbar
for big huss.
Boats from Q Nelson, 146 Killaughey Rd, specialising in wreck and
reef drift fishing.Twice daily June-Sept, and weekends Sept-Nov,
around the Copeland Islands.All tackle provided for beginners.
Club: Donaghadee SAC.
Tackle shop: Kennedy's, 1 The Parade. |
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Strangford Lough
Good boat fishing in estuaries and inlets around the lough. Big
skate (Aug-Oct), spurdog, huss, thornback. Skate and tope are
protected species in lough, and must be returned to the water alive.
Codling, turbot, whiting, haddock, mackerel, spurdog and wrasse at
deep-water entrance to lough. Best fishing in slack water. Lugworm is
plentiful at Island Hill nr Comber and shore at Kircubbin. Wreck
fishing for big ling and conger outside lough.
Tackle and Bait from Hillview Service Station, 91 High St,
Portaferry; Scott's Service Station, 34 Catherine St, Killyleagh;
Country Sports, 48a Regent St, both Newtownards. |
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