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.
89,584-acre Donegal Bay. Central West South 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 west south 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 238 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Donegal Bay - Central West South draws 89,576 acres inside 69.4 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 17.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 13.8 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Donegal Bay - Central East, 10 mi east of here.
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.
Spring atlantic mackerel on Donegal Bay - Central West South 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, 86 ft, good for winter. 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 (51 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (86 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (86 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic pollock slide up into 8 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 150 ft, and by winter most fish are in 35 to 220 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 51 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Sharp break (86 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Spring puts saithe (coalfish) in skinny water — 15 to 160 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 23 to 238 ft, wintering in 33 to 238 ft. Spring saithe (coalfish) concentrate at INFOMAR measured current seam, a prime-rated current seam around 107 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (107 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 23 to 238 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (86 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (107 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 33 to 238 ft | midday | Deepest basin (237 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
In spring, haddock run shallow here, mostly 35 to 220 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 45 to 238 ft before dropping to 42 to 238 ft for winter. Summer haddock concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 237 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a compact metal jig or a bottom rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (237 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 45 to 238 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (237 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 41 to 238 ft | midday | Feeding flat (35 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 42 to 238 ft | midday | Deepest basin (237 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
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 |
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 50 to 220 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 237 ft that scores good in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (86 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (86 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (86 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest basin (237 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Donegal Bay - Central West South 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 (40 to 238 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.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 237 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 West South 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 West South is about 238 ft (73 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 West South. 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 West South 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 East 10 mi · Donegal Bay - West South 11 mi · Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 12 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West North 12 mi · Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Outer Sligo 13 mi · Donegal Bay - West North 18 mi · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 23 mi · Killala Bay - Outer 29 mi · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 35 mi · Sheephaven Bay - West 49 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Inner 52 mi · Mulroy Bay - Inner 54 mi
See how Donegal Bay - Central West South 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.