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16,141-acre Bantry Bay. Inner North saltwater fishing map with official INFOMAR survey bathymetry, measured-cell fishing spots, official fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, access context and current-rule links. The inner north trip-scale survey reach of Bantry Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 125 ft. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 16,138 acres wrapped in 42.1 miles of bank, broken up by 2 islands. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 9% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 8.9 mi, about 6 mi across. Kenmare Bay - Middle sits 12 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Marine Institute spawning, nursery, observation and range layers support the principal surveyed pelagic and groundfish. IFI's national and regional sea-angling publications support additional habitat-compatible recreational targets. This is occurrence and search guidance, not equal abundance, a section-level population estimate or a promised catch. The roster may combine exact-water monitoring with habitat-filtered official regional evidence; it does not imply that every species is equally abundant throughout the mapped section.
| Species | Evidence basis | Count / date |
|---|---|---|
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Pollack (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| Coalfish (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| Haddock (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Cod (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Brill (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Ling (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| Bass (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 80 ft, wintering in 30 to 120 ft. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in the 56 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (56 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic pollock sit in 8 to 100 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 125 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 125 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 24 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 10 to 125 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 12 to 125 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 20 to 125 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
When the water first warms, saithe (coalfish) slide up into 12 to 125 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 12 to 125 ft, winter 18 to 125 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured current seam: a current seam around 56 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a speed jig or a heavy paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 125 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (56 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 12 to 125 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 11 to 125 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (56 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 18 to 125 ft | midday | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season haddock use the shallows, holding in 20 to 125 ft. Even in summer they hold at 23 to 125 ft; winter keeps them in 22 to 125 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 125 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a compact metal jig or a bottom rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 125 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 23 to 125 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 22 to 125 ft | midday | Feeding flat (29 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 22 to 125 ft | midday | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Early season whiting use the shallows, holding in 15 to 55 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 70 ft. Put INFOMAR measured channel edge first on the milk run — a channel edge near 69 ft that grades good for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (56 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (69 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (56 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (69 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 20 to 100 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 31 to 125 ft; cold water stacks them in 28 to 125 ft. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 125 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 31 to 125 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 22 to 125 ft | dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 28 to 125 ft | midday | Deepest basin (125 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Bantry Bay - Inner North also holds european plaice (6 to 40 ft in summer), european flounder (6 to 35 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), ling (21 to 125 ft in summer), european seabass (2 to 30 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 125 ft.
Access data: Marine Institute — Fishing Ports. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ireland waters are set by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations) — and special regulations can apply to Bantry Bay - Inner North specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the current national and water-specific rules before every trip, including bass measures, the 2026 recreational pollack controls, salmon and sea-trout licences and river-specific status, protected areas, harbour directions, private land and local signs. A mapped fishing port or measured seabed feature is not permission to fish, park, launch or enter a working harbour.
Check the official Ireland fishing regulations →
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (2026 salmon and sea-trout status) →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Bantry Bay - Inner North is about 125 ft (38 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland informs the atlantic mackerel, atlantic pollock, saithe (coalfish), haddock, whiting, atlantic cod, european plaice, european flounder, thornback ray, brill, ling, european seabass, garfish roster for Bantry Bay - Inner North. The mixed roster combines exact-water records where available with habitat-filtered regional evidence; not every species is documented at this exact water, and it is not a promise of equal abundance or a catch on a particular trip.
INFOMAR measured current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 56 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For atlantic mackerel, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bantry Bay - Inner North is regulated by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations). Check the official Ireland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Kenmare Bay - Middle 12 mi · Roaringwater Bay - West 12 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner South 15 mi · Bantry Bay - Middle South 16 mi · Roaringwater Bay - Middle 18 mi · Roaringwater Bay - East 22 mi · Kenmare Bay - Outer 25 mi · Bantry Bay - Outer South 27 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 28 mi · Dingle Bay - Middle 38 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Courtmacsherry 38 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Outer 39 mi
See how Bantry Bay - Inner North stacks up: best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish lakes in Ireland · best european seabass lakes in Ireland · best european plaice lakes in Ireland
Browse all Ireland fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) INFOMAR All Survey bathymetry mosaic (Source-survey vertical references retained in the INFOMAR All Survey mosaic; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.