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14,889-acre Sheephaven Bay. East 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 east trip-scale survey reach of Sheephaven Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 175 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Sheephaven Bay - East maps at 14,891 acres behind 43.2 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 2% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 13.8 mi end to end and 8.6 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Mulroy Bay - Outer, is 11 mi to the east.
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.
In spring, atlantic mackerel run shallow here, mostly 5 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 120 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 82 ft, rated good for summer atlantic mackerel. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a feather rig or a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (38 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (82 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (78 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (82 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, atlantic pollock run shallow here, mostly 8 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 12 to 150 ft before dropping to 28 to 175 ft for winter. Summer atlantic pollock concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 60 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (60 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (60 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (60 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 28 to 175 ft | midday | Sharp break (82 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Early season saithe (coalfish) use the shallows, holding in 15 to 160 ft. Expect a summer slide to 17 to 175 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 175 ft. Put INFOMAR measured current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 78 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a speed jig or a heavy paddletail and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (78 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 17 to 175 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (82 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 16 to 175 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (78 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 25 to 175 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, haddock slide up into 28 to 175 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 33 to 175 ft, winter 31 to 175 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 173 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a compact metal jig or a bottom rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 28 to 175 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 33 to 175 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 30 to 175 ft | midday | Feeding flat (40 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 31 to 175 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it INFOMAR measured current seam: a current seam around 78 ft that scores good in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| 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 | INFOMAR measured current seam (78 ft) | 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 |
In spring, atlantic cod run shallow here, mostly 20 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 44 to 175 ft before dropping to 40 to 175 ft for winter. Winter atlantic cod concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 173 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (82 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 44 to 175 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (82 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 40 to 175 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Sheephaven Bay - East 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), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), ling (29 to 175 ft in summer), european seabass (2 to 30 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Sheephaven Bay - East carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 173 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 Sheephaven Bay - East 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 →
Sheephaven Bay - East is about 175 ft (53 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 Sheephaven Bay - East. 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 60 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Sheephaven Bay - East 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.
Mulroy Bay - Outer 11 mi · Lough Swilly - Outer 15 mi · Sheephaven Bay - West 16 mi · Lough Foyle - Inner 18 mi, IRL/UK · Mulroy Bay - Inner 20 mi · Lough Swilly - Middle 20 mi · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 28 mi · Lough Foyle - Middle 32 mi, IRL/UK · Lough Foyle - Outer 36 mi, IRL/UK · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 37 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West North 45 mi · Donegal Bay - Central East 49 mi
See how Sheephaven Bay - East 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.