A FISHING KINGDOM

GAME FISHER'S DELIGHT

The essence of game angling is the pursuit of native fish in wild places; salmon and trout to challenge the skilful angler.

Wild Atlantic salmon are seasonal visitors to the mid and lower reaches of the River Shannon and its tributaries the Brosna, Fergus, Mulcair and Maigue rivers. These rivers and their tributaries also hold stocks of brown trout. Lough Derg is a vast mixed fishery with a good stock of brownies. Doonbeg River in west Clare has a good run of salmon and sea trout. The River Suir in County Tipperary is good brown trout water, renowned as a dry-fly fishery.

All these fisheries have been immortalised in many treatises on great salmon and trout fishing during the 18th and 19th centuries and are still prestigious game angling waters, especially the stretch of the River Shannon at the village of Castleconnell in County Limerick which continues to bewitch salmon anglers.

PIKE AND COARSE FISH IN ABUNDANCE

Whether you are a seasoned angler or just starting out, the waters of the Shannon Region offer rich bounty of experiences.

About 100 kms of the River Shannon from Shannonbridge to Limerick City, its largest lake Lough Derg, East Clare Lakeland and the River Fergus system combine to form great stretches of river and numerous lakes with very good stocks of pike and coarse fish.

Hard fighting pike that tail-walk in defiance and shoals of well-conditioned bream, tench, roach, rudd, perch and hybrids lurk in the eerie depths of these waters.

Most waters are easily accessible and provided with fishing stands, mooring facilities, slipways, stiles and footbridges. Otherwise they are still perfectly fishable with Bellyboats (float tubes).

The rich sounding names to remember when looking for the best of Ireland's pike and coarse fishing centres are: Corofin, Tulla, Feakle, Broadford, Scarriff, Mountshannon and O'Brien's Bridge and Killaloe in County Clare; Shannonbridge and Banagher in County Offaly; Terryglass and Dromineer in County Tipperary.

THE LURE OF THE SEA

The pristine waters of the vast Atlantic, stretching from a dramatic coastline into the blue horizon, offer a myriad of sea fishing options.

The prospects for shore and deep sea angling are many and varied. Over 100 kms of rough Atlantic coastline off County Clare, the sheltered 80 kms stretch of the Shannon Estuary from Limerick City to Loop Head, which widens to 13 kms as it seems the sea, are regarded as prime sea fishing territory. These waters offer wonderful angling opportunities from easily accessible rocky shoreline and sandy beaches for a wide variety of species.

The lure of the deep sea and its rich feeding attract anglers wanting to challenge the waves to hunt shark, fish over wrecks or just marvel at the vast seascape and captivating horizon.

Deep-sea charter boats with the most modern safety equipment and communications technology operate from Liscannor, Kilrush, Carrigaholt and Kilbaha ports in County Clare.