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9,394-acre Clew Bay. Inner 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 trip-scale survey reach of Clew Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 61 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Clew Bay - Inner draws 9,393 acres inside 89.3 miles of shoreline — 15 islands included. A development index of 6.6 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 78% of this chart. Call it 8.2 mi long by 5.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is Clew Bay - Middle, 7 mi to the west.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bass (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Herring (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Sole (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Thick-lipped grey mullet (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Sea trout (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european seabass in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 30 ft before dropping to 10 to 55 ft for winter. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
When the water first warms, atlantic mackerel slide up into 5 to 45 ft. Summer is an 11 to 61 ft game here, winter a 15 to 61 ft one. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 57 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a feather rig or a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 11 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 9 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 61 ft | midday | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic herring in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 50 ft before dropping to 20 to 60 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a herring feather rig or a small silver jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (27 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 15 to 55 ft. As the season builds they drop to 17 to 61 ft, wintering in 13 to 61 ft. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured channel edge, a channel edge in the 34 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (34 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 17 to 61 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (34 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 13 to 61 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (57 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
When the water first warms, european flounder slide up into 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 6 to 35 ft game here, winter a 15 to 50 ft one. Start at Feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a bottom jig with spinner blade rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (34 ft) | Small bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european plaice in 8 to 35 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 40 ft, wintering in 18 to 61 ft. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 9 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (34 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 18 to 61 ft | midday | Deepest basin (57 ft) |
Clew Bay - Inner also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (9 to 61 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), sea trout (15 to 50 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 57 ft.
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 Clew Bay - Inner 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 →
Clew Bay - Inner is about 61 ft (19 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 european seabass, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, whiting, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, thornback ray, thick-lipped grey mullet, garfish, sea trout roster for Clew Bay - Inner. 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 27 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For european seabass, 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 Clew Bay - Inner 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.
Clew Bay - Middle 7 mi · Killary Harbour - Middle 17 mi · Clew Bay - West 18 mi · Blacksod Bay - Middle 21 mi · Blacksod Bay - South West 21 mi · Killary Harbour - Outer 22 mi · Blacksod Bay - North 27 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Middle 35 mi · Killala Bay - Outer 36 mi · Broadhaven Bay - West 37 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Inner 38 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 39 mi
See how Clew Bay - Inner stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Ireland · best atlantic herring lakes in Ireland · best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish 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.