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1,452-acre Sligo and Ballisodare Bays. Inner Sligo 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 sligo trip-scale survey reach of Sligo and Ballisodare Bays, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 89 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.
Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo maps at 1,452 acres behind 22.9 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. The 4.3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 72% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 8.9 mi end to end and 2.8 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Outer Sligo, is 5 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.
Spring european seabass on Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 55 ft. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured current seam — current seam, 38 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (38 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring puts atlantic mackerel in skinny water — 5 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 80 ft, wintering in 22 to 89 ft. Summer atlantic mackerel concentrate at INFOMAR measured basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 75 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (38 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured basin (75 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (38 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 22 to 89 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (75 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic herring on Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 50 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. The chart's best answer is INFOMAR measured current seam — current seam, 38 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a herring feather rig or a small silver jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured shoal (19 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (38 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (38 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Come spring, look for whiting tight to the bank in 15 to 55 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 70 ft. Start at INFOMAR measured channel edge. It's a channel edge holding about 47 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured basin (75 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring puts european flounder in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 35 ft, wintering in 15 to 50 ft. Spring european flounder concentrate at INFOMAR measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A bottom jig with spinner blade covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (10 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (10 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (10 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Come spring, look for european plaice tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 80 ft. Start at INFOMAR measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (10 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured flat (10 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (47 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured basin (75 ft) |
Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 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.
The chart marks 7 structure features on Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo; the deepest is Sharp break at about 82 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 Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 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 →
Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo is about 89 ft (27 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 Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo. 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 38 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in fall. 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 Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 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.
Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Outer Sligo 5 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West South 12 mi · Donegal Bay - West South 15 mi · Donegal Bay - Central East 17 mi · Donegal Bay - Central West North 24 mi · Killala Bay - Outer 24 mi · Donegal Bay - West North 28 mi · Gweebarra Bay - Outer 35 mi · The Rosses and Gweedore Bay - Outer Islands 47 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Inner 51 mi · Clew Bay - Inner 56 mi · Broadhaven Bay - Middle 58 mi
See how Sligo and Ballisodare Bays - Inner Sligo 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.