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48,383-acre Cork Harbour. East 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 east trip-scale survey reach of Cork Harbour, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 255 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.
On the chart, Cork Harbour - East draws 48,301 acres inside 42.2 miles of shoreline. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 2% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 14.8 mi long by 11.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Youghal Bay - Outer lies 3 mi northeast.
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.
Start shallow in spring: european seabass sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 55 ft. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 4 ft of water that rates good for european seabass in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 5 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 80 ft, then a winter hold in 30 to 120 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 60 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (60 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (60 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (60 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic herring sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 50 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 60 ft of water that rates good for atlantic herring in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a herring feather rig or a small silver jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (60 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Start shallow in spring: whiting sit in 15 to 55 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 20 to 70 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 70 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 |
Come spring, look for european flounder tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Start at Feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 35 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bottom jig with spinner blade is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | open water | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (60 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Start shallow in spring: european plaice sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 25 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 35 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Cork Harbour - East 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.
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 254 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Cork Harbour - East 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 →
Cork Harbour - East is about 255 ft (78 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 Cork Harbour - East. 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.
Feeding 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 Cork Harbour - East 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.
Youghal Bay - Outer 3 mi · Cork Harbour - Middle 7 mi · Youghal Bay - Harbour 12 mi · Cork Harbour - West 15 mi · Dungarvan Bay - West 18 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Inner 21 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Outer 28 mi · Dungarvan Bay - Inner 29 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Courtmacsherry 33 mi · Waterford Harbour - Outer West 40 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 44 mi · Waterford Harbour - Outer East 51 mi
See how Cork Harbour - East 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.