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41,323-acre Clew Bay. Middle 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 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 114 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 41,315 acres wrapped in 67.6 miles of bank, with 4 islands in the mix. An index of 2.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 6% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 12.4 mi long by 10.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. If the bite dies, Clew Bay - Inner is 7 mi to the 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Early season european seabass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 25 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
In spring, atlantic mackerel run shallow here, mostly 5 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 29 to 114 ft. INFOMAR measured current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 51 ft, rated prime for fall atlantic mackerel. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a feather rig or a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (29 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (51 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 29 to 114 ft | midday | Deepest basin (114 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season atlantic herring use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 50 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 29 ft that grades good for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a herring feather rig or a small silver jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (25 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (29 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (29 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (29 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured channel edge: a channel edge around 63 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
In spring, european flounder run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 50 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 29 ft, rated prime for fall european flounder. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bottom jig with spinner blade most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (25 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (29 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (29 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (29 ft) | Small bottom jig |
When the water first warms, european plaice slide up into 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured shoal: a gravel shoal around 25 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (25 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (43 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (43 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (63 ft) |
Clew Bay - Middle also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 7 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 114 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 - Middle 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 - Middle is about 114 ft (35 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 - Middle. 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 51 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 - Middle 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 - Inner 7 mi · Clew Bay - West 11 mi · Blacksod Bay - South West 14 mi · Killary Harbour - Middle 15 mi · Killary Harbour - Outer 15 mi · Blacksod Bay - Middle 16 mi · Blacksod Bay - North 23 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Middle 33 mi · Broadhaven Bay - West 34 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West North 38 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 39 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Inner 39 mi
See how Clew Bay - Middle 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.