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21,105-acre Dundalk 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 Dundalk Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 47 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.
Dundalk Bay - Middle maps at 21,095 acres behind 35.3 miles of shoreline. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 30% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 12.3 mi with a 5.2-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Dundalk Bay - Outer 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 | — |
| 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 european seabass on Dundalk Bay - Middle hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 2 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 47 ft. Put INFOMAR measured current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 21 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 9 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring puts atlantic mackerel in skinny water — 5 to 45 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 9 to 47 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 47 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 47 ft, rated prime for summer atlantic mackerel. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A feather rig or a small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 9 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 12 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic herring on Dundalk Bay - Middle hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 14 to 47 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 47 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 47 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a herring feather rig or a small silver jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 14 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (21 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 14 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Come spring, look for whiting tight to the bank in 13 to 47 ft. Through summer count on 13 to 47 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 47 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured channel edge: a channel edge around 26 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (26 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 13 to 47 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 8 to 47 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (26 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 10 to 47 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring puts european flounder in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 14 to 47 ft. Feeding flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring european flounder. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom jig with spinner blade covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 14 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Come spring, look for european plaice tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 47 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Feeding flat: a feeding flat around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 9 to 47 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (26 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 14 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) |
Dundalk Bay - Middle also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (7 to 47 ft in summer), brill (6 to 47 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), atlantic cod (12 to 47 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 47 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 Dundalk 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 →
Dundalk Bay - Middle is about 47 ft (14 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 Dundalk 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 21 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass 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 Dundalk 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.
Dundalk Bay - Outer 7 mi · Carlingford Lough - Outer 12 mi, IRL/UK · Dublin Bay - Inner 39 mi · Dublin Bay - Middle 39 mi · Dublin Bay - Outer 41 mi · Strangford Lough - South 43 mi, UK · Strangford Lough - North 52 mi, UK · Llyn Dinam 83 mi, UK · Llyn Penrhyn 84 mi, UK · Llyn Alaw 84 mi, UK · Soulseat Loch 85 mi, UK · Loch Magillie 85 mi, UK
See how Dundalk Bay - Middle 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.