Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
38,690-acre Donegal Bay. Central 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 central east trip-scale survey reach of Donegal Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 142 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 38,657 acres of water rimmed by 57.5 miles of bank. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2.1) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 8% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 15.5 mi with a 7.7-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Donegal Bay - Central West South, 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 5 to 45 ft. They move out to 15 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 120 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured current seam: a current seam around 64 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is 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 (10 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 | INFOMAR measured current seam (64 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season atlantic pollock use the shallows, holding in 8 to 100 ft. Summer is an 11 to 142 ft game here, winter a 23 to 142 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 10 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 11 to 142 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 13 to 142 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (10 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 23 to 142 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Start shallow in spring: saithe (coalfish) sit in 13 to 142 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 14 to 142 ft covers summer, 20 to 142 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in the 64 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a speed jig or a heavy paddletail until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 142 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (64 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 14 to 142 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 13 to 142 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (64 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 20 to 142 ft | midday | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: haddock sit in 23 to 142 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 27 to 142 ft covers summer, 25 to 142 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 142 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a compact metal jig or a bottom rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 23 to 142 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 27 to 142 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 25 to 142 ft | midday | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 25 to 142 ft | midday | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Start shallow in spring: whiting sit in 15 to 55 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 70 ft. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in about 64 ft of water that rates good for whiting in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. 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 | INFOMAR measured current seam (64 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (64 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (78 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Early season atlantic cod use the shallows, holding in 20 to 100 ft. Summer is a 36 to 142 ft game here, winter a 32 to 142 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 142 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 36 to 142 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 32 to 142 ft | midday | Deepest basin (142 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Donegal Bay - Central East 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 (24 to 142 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.
The chart marks 7 structure features on Donegal Bay - Central East; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 142 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 Donegal Bay - Central 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 →
Donegal Bay - Central East is about 142 ft (43 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 Donegal Bay - Central 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.
INFOMAR measured current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 64 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Donegal Bay - Central 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.
Donegal Bay - Central West South 10 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West North 14 mi · Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 17 mi · Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Outer Sligo 21 mi · Donegal Bay - West South 21 mi · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 24 mi · Donegal Bay - West North 24 mi · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 34 mi · Killala Bay - Outer 39 mi · Mulroy Bay - Inner 46 mi · Sheephaven Bay - West 47 mi · Lough Swilly - Middle 49 mi
See how Donegal Bay - Central East 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.