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Best common sole lakes in Ireland

47 Ireland waters list common sole (official records or labelled estimates), 47 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A nocturnal flatfish of sand and soft mud that feeds along gently sloping estuary flats and channel margins.

1. Waterford Harbour — Inner — 135 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. Shannon Estuary — Lower — 240 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Sea Trout, Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, GarfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Dungarvan Bay — Inner — 242 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
4. Clew Bay — West — 203 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Sea Trout, Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, GarfishWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Tralee Bay — Outer — 139 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Sea Trout, Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, GarfishWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Cork Harbour — West — 147 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays — Clonakilty — 291 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Dublin Bay — Middle — 109 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Cork Harbour — East — 255 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Youghal Bay — Outer — 235 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Mulroy Bay — Outer — 150 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Sea Trout, Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, GarfishWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay — Wexford Inner — 147 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay — Wexford Outer North — 56 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Kinsale Harbour — Inner — 227 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Lough Swilly — Middle — 66 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Sea Trout, Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, GarfishWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 32 more Ireland waters holding common sole.

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When to fish common sole in Ireland

• Spring 6–30 ft — Present a small bottom bait slowly where firm sand grades into softer mud.
• Summer 3–30 ft — Warm settled nights and a gentle moving tide are the most consistent estuary conditions.
• Fall 8–40 ft — Shift from upper flats to deeper channel margins as temperatures fall.
• Winter 20–70 ft — Most adult sole move deeper or offshore; treat inner-estuary marks as low-confidence winter opportunities.

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Common Sole elsewhere: United Kingdom · France · Netherlands · Denmark