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6,399-acre Lough Foyle. 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 Lough Foyle, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 48 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 6,403 acres of water rimmed by 53.4 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. A development index of 4.8 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 83% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 13.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.4 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Lough Foyle - Outer, 8 mi to the 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 | — |
| Sea trout (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Early season atlantic mackerel use the shallows, holding in 5 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 9 to 48 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 48 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 45 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (22 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 9 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (22 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 12 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Small deep jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic pollock tight to the bank in 4 to 48 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 48 ft; the winter hold is 8 to 48 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 8 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 4 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 5 to 48 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 8 to 48 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
In spring, saithe (coalfish) run shallow here, mostly 5 to 48 ft. Summer keeps them at 5 to 48 ft, and they winter in 7 to 48 ft. INFOMAR measured current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 22 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (22 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 5 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (40 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (22 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 7 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts haddock in skinny water — 8 to 48 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 9 to 48 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 48 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 45 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 48 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 9 to 48 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 8 to 48 ft | midday | Feeding flat (7 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 8 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 13 to 48 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 14 to 48 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 48 ft. INFOMAR measured channel edge is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for spring whiting. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (26 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 8 to 48 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (26 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 10 to 48 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic cod tight to the bank in 10 to 48 ft. Through summer count on 12 to 48 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 48 ft. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 45 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 48 ft | dawn | Sharp break (40 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 12 to 48 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 9 to 48 ft | dawn | Sharp break (40 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 11 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest basin (45 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Lough Foyle - Middle also holds european plaice (6 to 40 ft in summer), european flounder (6 to 35 ft in summer), thornback ray (7 to 48 ft in summer), sea trout (14 to 48 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 45 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 Loughs Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland (cross-border rules) — and special regulations can apply to Lough Foyle - Middle specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough are cross-border fisheries. Check current Loughs Agency rules and permits together with the applicable Irish and Northern Irish sea-angling, salmon and sea-trout rules before fishing. Jurisdiction, protected areas, harbour directions and access can change within one trip-scale section; a DepthScout boundary or port lead is never legal permission.
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 →
Lough Foyle - Middle is about 48 ft (15 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, sea trout roster for Lough Foyle - 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 45 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 Lough Foyle - Middle is regulated by the Loughs Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland (cross-border rules). Check the official Ireland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lough Foyle - Outer 8 mi · Lough Swilly - Middle 13 mi, IRL · Lough Foyle - Inner 13 mi · Mulroy Bay - Inner 14 mi, IRL · Mulroy Bay - Outer 21 mi, IRL · Lough Swilly - Outer 22 mi, IRL · Sheephaven Bay - East 32 mi, IRL · Sheephaven Bay - West 47 mi, IRL · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 54 mi, IRL · Loch Conailbhe 55 mi, UK · Donegal Bay - Central East 57 mi, IRL · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 58 mi, IRL
See how Lough Foyle - Middle stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Ireland · best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best european plaice lakes in Ireland · best whiting 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.