Best saithe (coalfish) lakes in United Kingdom
6 United Kingdom waters hold saithe (coalfish), 6 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.
- Lough Foyle — Outer — 77 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Lough Foyle — Inner — 67 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Strangford Lough — North — 178 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Strangford Lough — South — 183 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Lough Foyle — Middle — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Sea Trout, European Flounder, European Plaice, WhitingWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
…plus 1 more United Kingdom waters holding saithe (coalfish).
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See United Kingdom waters with public access data
When to fish saithe (coalfish) in United Kingdom
- 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 · Norway · France · Ireland · Denmark