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17,208-acre Lough Foyle. Outer 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 outer 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 77 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Lough Foyle - Outer runs 17,207 acres with 53 miles of edge — 6 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.9) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 60% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 13.1 mi with a 4.9-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Lough Foyle - Middle, 8 mi to the southwest.
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. Summer is a 14 to 77 ft game here, winter a 19 to 77 ft one. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured basin — deep basin, 69 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is 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 (34 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 14 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (34 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 19 to 77 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Small deep jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic pollock tight to the bank in 6 to 77 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 77 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 77 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 4 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is 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 | 6 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 6 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 7 to 77 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 12 to 77 ft | midday | Sharp break (4 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
In spring, saithe (coalfish) run shallow here, mostly 7 to 77 ft. Summer keeps them at 7 to 77 ft, and they winter in 11 to 77 ft. Spring saithe (coalfish) concentrate at INFOMAR measured current seam, a prime-rated current seam around 34 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 | 7 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (34 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 7 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (4 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 7 to 77 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (34 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 11 to 77 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts haddock in skinny water — 12 to 77 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 14 to 77 ft, and winter fish hold in 13 to 77 ft. Spring haddock concentrate at INFOMAR measured basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 69 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A compact metal jig or a bottom rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 77 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 14 to 77 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 13 to 77 ft | midday | Feeding flat (13 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 13 to 77 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 15 to 55 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 20 to 70 ft, wintering in 15 to 70 ft. Spring whiting concentrate at INFOMAR measured channel edge, a prime-rated channel edge around 41 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (41 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (41 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic cod tight to the bank in 15 to 77 ft. Through summer count on 19 to 77 ft; the winter hold is 18 to 77 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured basin: a deep basin around 69 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is 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 | 15 to 77 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (41 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 19 to 77 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 14 to 77 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (41 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 18 to 77 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (69 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Lough Foyle - Outer 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), sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 7 structure features on Lough Foyle - Outer; the deepest is INFOMAR measured basin at about 69 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 Loughs Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland (cross-border rules) — and special regulations can apply to Lough Foyle - Outer 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 - Outer is about 77 ft (23 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 - Outer. 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 basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 69 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 - Outer 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 - Middle 8 mi · Lough Foyle - Inner 19 mi · Lough Swilly - Middle 19 mi, IRL · Mulroy Bay - Inner 22 mi, IRL · Lough Swilly - Outer 24 mi, IRL · Mulroy Bay - Outer 25 mi, IRL · Sheephaven Bay - East 36 mi, IRL · Loch Conailbhe 47 mi, UK · Sheephaven Bay - West 53 mi, IRL · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 61 mi, IRL · Donegal Bay - Central East 65 mi, IRL · Loch na Naich 66 mi, UK
See how Lough Foyle - Outer 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.