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698-acre Shannon Estuary. 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 Shannon Estuary, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 37 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Shannon Estuary - Inner maps at 698 acres behind 20.3 miles of shoreline. A development index of 5.5 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 95% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 7.7 mi, about 1.4 mi across. If the bite dies, Shannon Estuary - Middle East is 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bass (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Herring (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Sole (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Thick-lipped grey mullet (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Sea trout (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, european seabass slide up into 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 2 to 30 ft game here, winter a 7 to 37 ft one. Start at INFOMAR measured current seam. It's a current seam holding about 17 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 37 ft | midday | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 4 to 37 ft. The depth story barely changes: 7 to 37 ft through summer, 9 to 37 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 7 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 6 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 9 to 37 ft | midday | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. Summer is an 11 to 37 ft game here, winter an 11 to 37 ft one. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 27 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (17 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 9 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft | midday | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Early season whiting use the shallows, holding in 10 to 37 ft. Even in summer they hold at 11 to 37 ft; winter keeps them in 8 to 37 ft. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured channel edge — channel edge, 20 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 6 to 37 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 8 to 37 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european flounder in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 35 ft before dropping to 11 to 37 ft for winter. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured flat, a feeding flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bottom jig with spinner blade gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (4 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (4 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 7 to 37 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured drop off (26 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft | midday | Deepest basin (27 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Early season european plaice use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Summer is a 6 to 37 ft game here, winter an 11 to 37 ft one. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured channel edge — channel edge, 20 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (8 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 37 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 7 to 37 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (20 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft | midday | Deepest basin (27 ft) |
Shannon Estuary - Inner also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (6 to 37 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), sea trout (11 to 37 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 27 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 Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations) — and special regulations can apply to Shannon Estuary - 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 →
Shannon Estuary - Inner is about 37 ft (11 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 european seabass, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, whiting, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, thornback ray, thick-lipped grey mullet, garfish, sea trout roster for Shannon Estuary - 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.
INFOMAR measured current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For european seabass, 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 Shannon Estuary - 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.
Shannon Estuary - Middle East 13 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle West 23 mi · Shannon Estuary - Lower 36 mi · Galway Bay - Inner 38 mi · Galway Bay - Central East 40 mi · Galway Bay - Central West 42 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East South 45 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth North 48 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth South 49 mi · Tralee Bay - Outer 55 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West South 55 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 56 mi
See how Shannon Estuary - Inner stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Ireland · best atlantic herring lakes in Ireland · best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish 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.