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40,741-acre Galway 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 Galway Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 82 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.
The outline encloses 40,742 acres, worked by 70.2 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. An index of 2.5 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 21% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 12.5 mi long by 10.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. Galway Bay - Inner sits 7 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
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.
Start shallow in spring: atlantic mackerel sit in 5 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 80 ft; cold water stacks them in 21 to 82 ft. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in the 37 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a feather rig or a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (37 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (37 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 21 to 82 ft | midday | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic pollock in 7 to 82 ft. The depth story barely changes: 7 to 82 ft through summer, 13 to 82 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 4 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 82 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 7 to 82 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 8 to 82 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 13 to 82 ft | midday | Sharp break (7 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Come spring, look for saithe (coalfish) tight to the bank in 8 to 82 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 82 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 82 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured current seam: a current seam around 37 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 82 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (37 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 8 to 82 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 7 to 82 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (37 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 12 to 82 ft | midday | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring haddock on Galway Bay - Central East hold shallow, usually 13 to 82 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 15 to 82 ft in summer, 14 to 82 ft once it turns cold. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 82 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a compact metal jig or a bottom rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 82 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 15 to 82 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 14 to 82 ft | midday | Feeding flat (14 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 14 to 82 ft | midday | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring whiting on Galway Bay - Central East hold shallow, usually 15 to 55 ft. They move out to 20 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 70 ft. Put INFOMAR measured channel edge first on the milk run — a channel edge near 45 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic cod in 16 to 82 ft. The depth story barely changes: 21 to 82 ft through summer, 19 to 82 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 82 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 16 to 82 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 21 to 82 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 15 to 82 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (45 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 19 to 82 ft | midday | Deepest basin (82 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Galway 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 (14 to 82 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 7 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 82 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 - 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 →
Galway Bay - Central East is about 82 ft (25 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 - 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 37 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 - 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.
Galway Bay - Inner 7 mi · Galway Bay - Central West 12 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 22 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East South 23 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West North 33 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West South 33 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle East 38 mi · Shannon Estuary - Inner 40 mi · Killary Harbour - Middle 40 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle West 42 mi · Shannon Estuary - Lower 44 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth North 48 mi
See how Galway 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.