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40,551-acre Shannon Estuary. Lower 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 lower 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 240 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 follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Shannon Estuary - Lower draws 40,553 acres inside 77.6 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.8) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 7% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 20.8 mi end to end and 16.2 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Shannon Estuary - Mouth North, 12 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.
Start shallow in spring: european seabass sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 55 ft. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 23 ft of water that rates good for european seabass in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 5 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 80 ft, then a winter hold in 30 to 120 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 113 ft of water and rates good come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (113 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic herring sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 50 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 23 ft of water that rates good for atlantic herring in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a herring feather rig or a small silver jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Start shallow in spring: whiting sit in 15 to 55 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 20 to 70 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 70 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for european flounder tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Start at Feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 36 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bottom jig with spinner blade is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | open water | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Start shallow in spring: european plaice sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 25 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 36 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (36 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Shannon Estuary - Lower also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 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.
Shannon Estuary - Lower carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 240 ft down.
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 Shannon Estuary - Lower 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 - Lower is about 240 ft (73 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 - Lower. 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.
Feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 36 ft of water that rates prime for european plaice in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 - Lower 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 - Mouth North 12 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle West 14 mi · Shannon Estuary - Mouth South 15 mi · Shannon Estuary - Middle East 23 mi · Tralee Bay - Outer 25 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East South 30 mi · Galway Bay - Aran West South 32 mi · Galway Bay - Central West 36 mi · Shannon Estuary - Inner 36 mi · Dingle Bay - Middle 39 mi · Galway Bay - Central East 44 mi · Galway Bay - Aran East North 44 mi
See how Shannon Estuary - Lower 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.