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19,567-acre Sheephaven Bay. West 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 west 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 257 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.
The outline encloses 19,583 acres, worked by 32.6 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 0% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 12.9 mi, about 5.8 mi across. The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands sits 16 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 80 ft before dropping to 30 to 120 ft for winter. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in about 115 ft of water that rates good for atlantic mackerel in winter. 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 | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured current seam (115 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic pollock sit in 8 to 100 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 12 to 150 ft, and winter fish settle into 35 to 220 ft. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured point, a point in about 120 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (115 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured point (120 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured point (120 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Sharp break (164 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
When the water first warms, saithe (coalfish) slide up into 15 to 160 ft. Summer is a 25 to 257 ft game here, winter a 36 to 257 ft one. Start at INFOMAR measured current seam. It's a current seam holding about 115 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a speed jig or a heavy paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (115 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 257 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (164 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (115 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 36 to 257 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (236 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season haddock use the shallows, holding in 35 to 220 ft. Summer is a 48 to 257 ft game here, winter a 45 to 257 ft one. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured basin — deep basin, 236 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a compact metal jig or a bottom rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (236 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 48 to 257 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured basin (236 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 44 to 257 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured flat (132 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 45 to 257 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (236 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Early season whiting use the shallows, holding in 15 to 55 ft. Summer is a 20 to 70 ft game here, winter a 15 to 70 ft one. 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 | 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 |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 20 to 100 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 45 to 180 ft, and winter fish settle into 50 to 220 ft. The spot to know is INFOMAR measured basin, a deep basin in about 236 ft of water that rates good for atlantic cod in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (164 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured current seam (115 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (236 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Sheephaven Bay - West 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 (43 to 257 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.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, INFOMAR measured basin, sits near 236 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 Sheephaven Bay - West 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 - West is about 257 ft (78 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 - West. 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 point is the top-rated area: a point in about 120 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 - West 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.
The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 16 mi · Sheephaven Bay - East 16 mi · Mulroy Bay - Outer 27 mi · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 28 mi · Lough Swilly - Outer 31 mi · Mulroy Bay - Inner 34 mi · Lough Foyle - Inner 34 mi, IRL/UK · Lough Swilly - Middle 35 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West North 38 mi · Donegal Bay - West North 40 mi · Donegal Bay - Central East 47 mi · Lough Foyle - Middle 47 mi, IRL/UK
See how Sheephaven Bay - West 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.