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2,129-acre Galway Bay. Inner 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 inner 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 26 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Galway Bay - Inner draws 2,129 acres inside 28.1 miles of shoreline. An index of 4.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Call it 8.3 mi long by 2.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is Galway Bay - Central East, 7 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.
Early season atlantic mackerel use the shallows, holding in 3 to 26 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 26 ft; winter keeps them in 7 to 26 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 25 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a feather rig or a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (12 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 4 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (12 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Small deep jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic pollock tight to the bank in 2 to 26 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 26 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 26 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A surface plug or a baitfish swimbait is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 2 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 2 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 4 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 35 to 220 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured drop off (18 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
In spring, saithe (coalfish) run shallow here, mostly 2 to 26 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 26 ft, and they winter in 4 to 26 ft. INFOMAR measured current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for spring saithe (coalfish). Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a speed jig or a heavy paddletail most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (12 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 3 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured drop off (18 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 2 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (12 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 4 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 320 ft | midday | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts haddock in skinny water — 4 to 26 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 26 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 26 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for spring haddock. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A compact metal jig or a bottom rig covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 260 ft | midday | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 70 to 400 ft | midday | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 7 to 26 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 7 to 26 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 26 ft. INFOMAR measured channel edge is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for spring whiting. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (14 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 70 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 4 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (14 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 6 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 70 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic cod tight to the bank in 5 to 26 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 26 ft; the winter hold is 6 to 26 ft. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 25 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured drop off (18 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 6 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured drop off (18 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 6 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest basin (25 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Galway Bay - Inner also holds european plaice (4 to 26 ft in summer), european flounder (4 to 26 ft in summer), thornback ray (4 to 26 ft in summer), brill (3 to 26 ft in summer), ling (4 to 26 ft in summer), european seabass (2 to 26 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Galway Bay - Inner carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 25 ft down.
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 Galway Bay - Inner 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 - Inner is about 26 ft (8 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 - Inner. 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in summer. 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 - Inner 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 East 7 mi · Galway Bay - Central West 18 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 28 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East South 29 mi · Shannon Estuary - Inner 38 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle East 39 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West North 39 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West South 39 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle West 44 mi · Killary Harbour - Middle 45 mi · Shannon Estuary - Lower 48 mi · Clew Bay - Inner 52 mi
See how Galway Bay - Inner 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.