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63,296-acre Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays. Clonakilty 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 clonakilty trip-scale survey reach of Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 291 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. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 63,221 acres of water rimmed by 60.2 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 2% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 13.7 mi, about 10.7 mi across. For a second option, Roaringwater Bay - East lies 10 mi 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 | — |
| Brill (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Thick-lipped grey mullet (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Cod (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts european seabass in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 30 ft, wintering in 10 to 55 ft. Fall european seabass concentrate at Shoreline point, a good-rated point around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 120 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 22 ft, good for summer. Prime time lands in 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 | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Summer atlantic herring concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 22 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
In spring, whiting run shallow here, mostly 15 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 70 ft before dropping to 15 to 70 ft for winter. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. 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 |
Spring european flounder on Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 50 ft. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured flat — feeding flat, 35 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bottom jig with spinner blade.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (35 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small bottom jig |
In spring, european plaice run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 40 ft before dropping to 25 to 80 ft for winter. Spring european plaice concentrate at INFOMAR measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 35 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (35 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (35 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (35 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), atlantic cod (45 to 180 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 7 structure features on Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 289 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 Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 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 →
Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty is about 291 ft (89 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, brill, thick-lipped grey mullet, garfish, atlantic cod roster for Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty. 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 flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 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 - East 10 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Courtmacsherry 12 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Outer 16 mi · Roaringwater Bay - Middle 19 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner South 21 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Inner 23 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner North 28 mi · Roaringwater Bay - West 29 mi · Cork Harbour - West 32 mi · Bantry Bay - Middle South 36 mi · Cork Harbour - Middle 37 mi · Kenmare Bay - Middle 39 mi
See how Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Ireland · best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish lakes in Ireland · best european seabass 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.