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92,088-acre Bantry Bay. Middle South 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 middle south 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 269 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Bantry Bay - Middle South runs 92,055 acres with 111.5 miles of edge. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 2% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 17.7 mi, about 17.2 mi across. For a second option, Roaringwater Bay - West lies 7 mi east.
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.
Spring atlantic mackerel on Bantry Bay - Middle South hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. They move out to 15 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 120 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 53 ft that grades good for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a feather rig or a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic pollock slide up into 8 to 100 ft. Summer is a 12 to 150 ft game here, winter a 35 to 220 ft one. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 72 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (72 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (72 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (72 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Spring puts saithe (coalfish) in skinny water — 15 to 160 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 25 to 260 ft; cold water stacks them in 38 to 269 ft. INFOMAR measured current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 119 ft, rated prime for spring saithe (coalfish). Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (119 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (119 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 38 to 269 ft | midday | Deepest basin (266 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
In spring, haddock run shallow here, mostly 35 to 220 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 269 ft, and winter fish settle into 47 to 269 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 266 ft, rated prime for summer haddock. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a compact metal jig or a bottom rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured flat (32 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 50 to 269 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (266 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured flat (32 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 47 to 269 ft | midday | Deepest basin (266 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
In spring, whiting run shallow here, mostly 15 to 55 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 70 ft. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 20 to 100 ft. Summer is a 45 to 180 ft game here, winter a 50 to 220 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 53 ft of water and rates good come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (53 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (53 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (53 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest basin (266 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Bantry Bay - Middle South 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 (45 to 269 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.
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 266 ft, is the deepest of them.
The complete Marine Institute Fishing Ports layer returned no port point inside this operational section. DepthScout does not substitute a nearby road, beach or community slipway as verified public fishing access; confirm legal access, parking, tides and local restrictions before visiting.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
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 - Middle South 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 - Middle South is about 269 ft (82 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 - Middle South. 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 72 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in summer. 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 - Middle South 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.
Roaringwater Bay - West 7 mi · Bantry Bay - Outer South 13 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner South 16 mi · Kenmare Bay - Middle 16 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner North 16 mi · Roaringwater Bay - Middle 18 mi · Kenmare Bay - Outer 20 mi · Roaringwater Bay - East 27 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 36 mi · Dingle Bay - West South 41 mi · Dingle Bay - Middle 44 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Courtmacsherry 48 mi
See how Bantry Bay - Middle South 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.