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118,657-acre Galway Bay. Aran East 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 aran east south trip-scale survey reach of Galway Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 273 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.
Drawn out, this is 118,514 acres of water rimmed by 93.8 miles of bank, with 3 islands in the mix. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.9) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 1% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 20.8 mi with a 20.3-mi widest point. For a second option, Galway Bay - Central West lies 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When the water first warms, atlantic mackerel slide up into 5 to 45 ft. Summer is a 15 to 80 ft game here, winter a 30 to 120 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 14 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a feather rig or a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (14 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (14 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic pollock on Galway Bay - Aran East South hold shallow, usually 8 to 100 ft. They move out to 12 to 150 ft in summer and finish the year down in 35 to 220 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 14 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (14 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (14 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (14 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Sharp break (14 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 260 ft before dropping to 38 to 273 ft for winter. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in about 122 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a speed jig or a heavy paddletail gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (122 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (122 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 38 to 273 ft | midday | Deepest basin (272 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 35 to 220 ft. As the season builds they drop to 51 to 273 ft, wintering in 48 to 273 ft. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 272 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a compact metal jig or a bottom rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (34 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 51 to 273 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (272 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Feeding flat (34 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 48 to 273 ft | midday | Deepest basin (272 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 15 to 55 ft. As the season builds they drop to 20 to 70 ft, wintering in 15 to 70 ft. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| 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 atlantic cod on Galway Bay - Aran East South hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. They move out to 45 to 180 ft in summer and finish the year down in 50 to 220 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 14 ft that grades good for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (14 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (150 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (14 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest basin (272 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Galway Bay - Aran East 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 (46 to 273 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 Galway Bay - Aran East South; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 272 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 Galway Bay - Aran East 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 →
Galway Bay - Aran East South is about 273 ft (83 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 Galway Bay - Aran East 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 14 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 Galway Bay - Aran East 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.
Galway Bay - Central West 11 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West South 11 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 14 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West North 18 mi · Galway Bay - Central East 23 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth North 29 mi · Galway Bay - Inner 29 mi · Shannon Estuary - Lower 30 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle West 35 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle East 37 mi · Killary Harbour - Middle 38 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth South 40 mi
See how Galway Bay - Aran East 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.