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Best saithe (coalfish) lakes in Ireland

34 Ireland waters hold saithe (coalfish), 34 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. 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 powerful North Atlantic schooling predator that follows herring and other small fish across current-washed coastal points, steep walls and offshore banks.

1. Dingle Bay — Middle — 122 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
2. Dingle Bay — West South — 307 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
3. Dingle Bay — West North — 344 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
4. Galway Bay — Aran East South — 273 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
5. Roaringwater Bay — West — 248 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Kenmare Bay — Middle — 154 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Broadhaven Bay — Middle — 324 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Galway Bay — Aran West North — 281 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Kenmare Bay — Outer — 260 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Donegal Bay — Central West North — 197 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Galway Bay — Aran East North — 214 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Bantry Bay — Inner South — 214 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Roaringwater Bay — East — 300 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Roaringwater Bay — Middle — 256 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Galway Bay — Central East — 82 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Sheephaven Bay — East — 175 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Lough Foyle — Outer — 77 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
18. Bantry Bay — Inner North — 125 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. The Rosses and Gweedore Bay — Outer Islands — 236 ft max · survey depth data · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, European PlaiceWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Lough Foyle — Inner — 67 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 14 more Ireland waters holding saithe (coalfish).

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When to fish saithe (coalfish) in Ireland

• Spring 15–160 ft — Locate bait before fishing a current-facing point or steep measured break; school depth matters more than an old waypoint.
• Summer 25–260 ft — Use sonar to follow mobile schools along deep walls and channel mouths, and keep the lure above the marks.
• Fall 20–220 ft — Track herring or other schooling forage through constrictions and work the outside edge rather than driving through the school.
• Winter 45–320 ft — Winter marks are commonly deeper and scattered; confirm a current legal fishery and a real school before committing.

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Saithe (Coalfish) elsewhere: Sweden · United Kingdom · Norway · France · Denmark