Official tourism website for Northern Ireland

Fishing on Lough Macnean
County Fermanagh

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Fishing

Right out here on the very north-west of Europe with the Atlantic Ocean to our west and the Irish Sea to our east, the natural conditions for fishing in Northern Ireland are arguably better than anywhere else on the planet: pristine lakes, clear streams and a variable coastline that offers easy access to rich fishing grounds.

All the more reason for you to pick up a rod while you’re here, cast a line and sample a little or a lot of some of the best game, sea and coarse fishing to be found anywhere. Not only will you get to enjoy a sport enjoyed by millions worldwide from childhood to old age, but fishing here will also take you into some of our most amazing and inspirational landscapes.

All geared up and ready to go

If you’re a newcomer you can have as much or as little back up as you wish because the region is also rich in professional casting instructors and guides, boatmen, fly fishing schools, angling clubs and tackle and bait shops. All of them are more than willing to offer local knowledge, tips and tricks, and also as much or as little gear as you need.

Game on – salmon, sea trout, brown trout, dollaghan and gillaroo

Game angling in Northern Ireland’s rivers, streams and lakes is highly-prized and extremely rewarding for all levels of angler. You can be tricking small, free-rising brownies in the upland streams of the Sperrins and Mournes, and minutes later be connected to a hard-fighting sea-run Atlantic salmon in the River Foyle or River Mourne. Any local tackle shop will let you know about permits, day tickets, beats, ghillies, boat hire flies and methods – there are few secrets here (well, not for long).

A beautiful salmon and trout river just minutes away from the world famous Old Bushmills Distillery and Giant's Causeway sounds like a dream fishing trip. Well, at the River Bush it is. This County Antrim river is best known for its superb salmon fishing and hard-fighting trout, and with the right conditions you can land something really special. With impressive sights and lovely named pools along its 35-mile length, the River Bush is fishing heaven.

The Six Mile Water (it’s a lot longer than six miles!) in County Antrim is a wonderful river for pursuing a truly big wild trout. It’s one of just a handful of rivers in the world where anglers can catch dollaghan, the large brown trout-like species native only to Lough Neagh and its feeder rivers. Dollaghan migrate to and from lough, and many of these impressive fish surpass their sea-faring salmon cousins in size – a 20-pounder has been taken in the Six Mile Water. The river holds salmon and a good head of brown trout too, but have a go for the dollaghan, particularly at night.

Tucked away in a corner of County Fermanagh is Lough Melvin. These pristine waters have a worldwide reputation as no artificial stocking has ever taken place here, and that means the native trout have not changed since the Ice Age. These wild fish include four varieties of pure-bred, wily and energetic trout, and there’s a good run of salmon plus sea trout, char and perch. All are present in great numbers.

This is coarse fishing heaven

Aided by the fact that there is no closed season, Northern Ireland is an incredible coarse fishing destination synonymous with record hauls of fish. Modern pegs and fishing stands are widely available on many of the most frequented coarse fishing swims, and an array of quiet spots can be easily found. The top species include roach, bream, hybrids and tench, complemented by rudd, carp, dace and gudgeon. Specimen pike are plentiful, especially in Lough Erne.

Lough Erne and the fishing centre of Enniskillen is certainly the capital of Northern Ireland’s coarse angling community, activity and festivals. The rich, inter-connected lakes of Lough Erne and its rivers and canals make for an astounding array of fishing venues from which to target the dominant shoals of roach, bream, rudd, hybrids and tench. Each April, the Waterways Ireland Classic and the Mahons festival attract hundreds of coarse match anglers from around the globe to Enniskillen, while September’s World Pairs brings more anglers together right across County Fermanagh.

Not to be outdone, however, is the River Bann. This is Northern Ireland’s longest river, rising in the Mourne Mountains and flowing into and then out of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK. In the Upper Bann, the stretch downstream of Portadown to the lough is regarded as one of the best coarse fisheries in Europe. Time it right here and massive bags of roach and bream are on the cards. On the Lower Bann, the stretch around Portglenone also contains a fantastic head of bream, roach, eels and hybrids with plenty of accessible and wheelchair-friendly stands installed along its length.

A coastal cast – sea fishing from all points north and east

In Northern Ireland, the sea angling comes with unrivalled scenery spotting. That’s because most of the best shore and sea marks here are along an unspoilt coastline that features breath-taking sights such as the world-famous Giant’s Causeway, The Gobbins, Dunluce Castle, Rathlin Island, Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains.

All along the coast here there is beach and rock fishing for a wide variety of species using spinning, lure and float tactics. Pollock and wrasse are easily caught within a rod length or two, while mackerel begin to dominate the catches as Summer gets into gear. Beach casting, especially at dusk, yields cod, flounder, coalfish, turbot, spurdogs and even tope; while boat-fishing on in-shore waters will throw up almost any fish on your bucket list: tope, conger, ling, plaice, haddock and more. If you can take your eyes of the jaw-dropping scenery, there’s every chance of hooking and landing a specimen or trophy fish here – even on your first trip out!

Many harbours offer sea fishing charters and boat hire and it pays well to ask in harbour bars and local tackle shops for advice on baits, marks and boats.

Licenses and permits

We look after our wildlife as carefully here as we do our visitors, and we invest in both. That’s why fishing Northern Ireland’s public freshwaters for game or coarse fish means by law you will always need a rod licence issued in Northern Ireland. It’s straightforward to get one online and at local tackle shops and various distributors. Game anglers must also observe bag and size limits and adhere to a fish tagging scheme.

You’ll find that many coarse venues have easy access, but if in doubt check with the landowner, local tackle shop or Visitor Information Centre. Almost all game fisheries are privately controlled and you will need a permit or day ticket to fish them. Again, tackle shops are the best place to ask, and usually get permits.

For more information on licences and permits click here.

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Number of results: 47

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Rod & Line

Derry~Londonderry

Address

1 Clarendon Street, Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry, BT48 7EP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7126 2877

csduffy21@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Located in Derry City, we offer an extensive selection of tackle, bait, accessories, clothing and footwear for all types of fishing, to suit all budgets from most of the leading manufacturers.

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D & P Marine

Ballymoney

Address

68 Moyan Road, Stranocum, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 8NX

Telephone
+44 (0) 7880 625 102

info@dandpmarine.co.uk

Type

Type:

Caving

Fishing reefs, ship wrecks, sharking, scuba diving, photography. Scottish shooting trips, sea safari trips along the Causeway Coast and Rathlin Island, trips to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge from Ballintoy Harbour and much more.

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
10 reviews
Hillsborough Forest

Royal Hillsborough

Address

22 Large Park, Royal Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6AL

margaret.mcavoy@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

A popular choice among bird-watchers, dog walkers, photographers and nature-lovers, the forest covers an area of almost 200 acres and has way-marked routes providing a variety of different walks to suit everyone.

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Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Dunteige Shoot

Ballymena

Address

38 Loughdoo Road, Dunteige, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT44 0ED

Telephone
+44 (0) 7919 493 840

info@dunteigeshoot.com

Type

Type:

Adventure Sports

Dunteige Shoot is located in the Glens of Antrim, we offer Driven Duck and Partridge shooting, walked up and dog training days.Please contact us to discuss availability all shoot day packages can by tailored to suit each group of Guns.

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
South Lake Watersports Centre

Craigavon

Address

1 Lake Road, Craigavon, County Armagh, BT64 1AS

Telephone
0330 0564 411

sllc@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Climbing

At South Lake Watersports, Craigavon, say hello to unforgettable ”whoopeeee’ water and land-based adventure and ‘total wipeout’ style fun, whatever your age, experience and ability, all set within the stunning grounds of Craigavon City Park and…

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
410 reviews
Castlewellan Forest Park

Castlewellan

Address

Forest Park View, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9BU

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

castlewellanpark@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

Castlewellan Forest Park boasts a stunning Victorian Castle, incredible panoramic views, scenic walking trails, 27 km of mountain bike trails, nature play perfect for the kids, an on-site multi-activity centre, hedge maze and equestrian centre,…

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From:

1 Nov 2024to28 Feb 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00

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25 Dec 2024
From:

1 Apr 2025to30 Sept 2025Open 09:00 - 21:00

From:

1 Oct 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 09:00 - 18:00

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Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
Causeway Explorer

Ballycastle

Address

Portrush and Ballycastle, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6AS

Telephone
+4407712115755

causewayexplorer@hotmail.co.uk

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

The Causeway Explorer is an Cygnus Cyfish 38 pilot (38 foot) capable of 28 knots.
The boat is available for charter from Ballycastle for fishing around Rathlin Island, North Coast and Scottish Waters.
Tackle and Bait can be arranged on ...

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Angling @ North Woodburn Reservoir (Carrick Dams)

Carrickfergus

Address

Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 9QL

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Anglers must use the official entrances and on no account trespass on adjoining lands or park their cars in such a way as to obstruct roadways or gate entrances. These are very popular lakes and are stocked regularly with up to 30000 takeable sized…

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Angling in the Banbridge District

Banbridge

Address

Various, Banbridge, County Down, BT32 3RU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4062 3322

tic@banbridge.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

The Banbridge District is a paradise for the keen game angler, the main areas being at Corbet Lough, Lough Brickland Lake and Upper River Bann. There are also about 10 other small lakes in the area, all of which are open for coarse fishing.

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Kiltybane Lake

Cullyhanna

Address

Kiltybane Road, Cullyhanna, County Down, BT35 0LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

This is a natural lake, part bog with good clear springs in its centre. Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Colin Chartres

Fivemiletown

Address

Erne Angling, Corcreevy, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, BT75 0SA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8952 1224

colin@erneangling.com

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Angling guide and casting instructor in the Lough Erne Area. Quality pike/trout fishing with equipment supplied if required. Fishing normally takes place on Upper or Lower Lough Erne from traditional fishing boat. All fishing methods catered for.

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Causeway Fisher Fishing Trips

Carnlough

Address

c/o Carnlough Harbour, Harbour Road, Causeway Coastal Route, Carnlough, County Antrim, BT44 0EU

Telephone
+44 (0) 7956 586 432

billy@boats4u.com

Type

Type:

Sea Fishing

Hop aboard the Causeway Fisher and enjoy a 3 hour fishing trip out of Carnlough or Glenarm (subject to tidal and weather conditions) and enjoy spectacular views of the Causeway Coast.

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Gary Bell Fly Fishing

Lisburn

Address

5 Knockagh Road, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT28 1UR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9209 0878

gary@gbflyfish.com

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Gary Bell from county Antrim is a professional casting instructor and guide with over 30 years of fly fishing and fly tying experience.

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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Procastangling/Thehedgehunter

Armagh

Address

1D Dobbin Street, Armagh, County Armagh, BT71 7QQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7727 637 530

chris.dawson7@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Procastangling offers everything needed for Game, Coarse and Sea Fishing and supplies all the Major Brands - Thehedgehunter is a Full R.F.D Dealer dealing in Guns and Ammo and Full Hunting Floor Available

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Bag a MacNabb Challenge

Strabane

Address

Finn Valley Cottages, 2 Somerville Road, Strabane, County Tyrone, BT82 9QZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7720 452 161

finnvalleycottages@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Tailor-made Tours

The aim of the experience is to harvest a stag, shoot a brace of birds and catch a salmon or pike on the fly with accommodation in the luxurious Finn Valley cottages. A truly authentic experience, steeped in tradition, attractions and activities.

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Fisherman's Dream Ltd

Garrison

Address

165 Loughside Road, Garrison, County Fermanagh, BT93 4FB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 6865 8529

pottieferr26@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Ghillies & Guides

My name is Andries Ferreira and I am a full time Fishing Guide based in the West of Fermanagh. I supply a service all over Fermanagh, specialising in trout, salmon, pike and sea fishing.

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Duncrun Fishing Lakes

Limavady

Address

76 Duncrun Road, Limavady, County Londonderry, BT49 0JD

Telephone
+44 (0) 7835 604874

info@duncrunfishinglakes.com

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Duncrun fishing lakes at Magilligan, the hidden gem on the north coast of Ireland; offering beautiful fresh water lakes for trout bait and fly fishing.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Temple Springs Fishery

Garvagh

Address

11 Temple Road, Garvagh, County Londonderry, BT51 5BH

Telephone
+44 (0) 7830 345286

info@templesprings.co.uk

Type

Type:

Game Fishing

Temple Springs is a facility located in the Sperrin Mountain range just outside Garvagh that can be hired by groups of up to 20 anglers. All tackle and bait will be supplied. An induction can be given if required.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Trout Tours NI

Larne

Address

23 Cumbrae Heights, Ballycraigy, Larne, County Antrim, BT40 2HQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7974 854 219

info@trouttoursni.com

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

Trout Tours NI are based in the seaport and market town of Larne, County Antrim. We have a passion for trout fishing and aim to provide the best fishing tours available in Northern Ireland.

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Crewe Angling Club

Strabane

Address

131 melmount Rd, Sion Mills, Strabane, County Tyrone, BT82 9PY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8165 9501

info@nmtackle.com

Type

Type:

Game Fishing

We specialise in products for salmon and trout angling. We stock many old favorites but keep up to date with the latest tackle and trends. Our range of salmon flies are regarded by many as the best in Ireland.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking