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35,926-acre Strangford Lough. South saltwater fishing map with source-audited EMODnet 2024 bathymetry, measured-cell fishing spots, official fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, access context and current-rule links. The south trip-scale survey reach of Strangford Lough, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 183 ft. The depth chart comes from European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) 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.
On the chart, Strangford Lough - South draws 35,901 acres inside 75.8 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 18% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 13.6 mi end to end and 9.8 mi across at its widest. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Strangford Lough - North, 13 mi north of here.
DAERA's AFBI recreational-sea-angling survey covers locations fished and species targeted, while DAERA marine monitoring supplies official habitat and species context. The conservative roster is regional occurrence/search guidance, not equal abundance, a child-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 | — |
| Sea trout (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, atlantic mackerel slide up into 5 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 120 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 80 ft that scores good in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a feather rig or a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (80 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (82 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (80 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic pollock on Strangford Lough - South hold shallow, usually 8 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 150 ft, and by winter most fish are in 29 to 183 ft. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 11 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (11 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 29 to 183 ft | midday | Sharp break (80 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. As the season builds they drop to 18 to 183 ft, wintering in 26 to 183 ft. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in the 82 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a speed jig or a heavy paddletail gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (82 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 18 to 183 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (80 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 17 to 183 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (82 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 26 to 183 ft | midday | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 29 to 183 ft. The depth story barely changes: 34 to 183 ft through summer, 32 to 183 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 182 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a compact metal jig or a bottom rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 29 to 183 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 34 to 183 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 32 to 183 ft | midday | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 32 to 183 ft | midday | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 15 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 70 ft before dropping to 15 to 70 ft for winter. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| 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 |
Spring atlantic cod on Strangford Lough - South hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 42 to 183 ft. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 182 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (80 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (80 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 42 to 183 ft | midday | Deepest basin (182 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Strangford Lough - South 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), sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Strangford Lough - South carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 182 ft down.
No complete official Northern Ireland public shore-fishing access inventory was identified for this rollout. DepthScout does not convert a harbour, road, beach or community slipway into claimed public fishing access; confirm landowner or harbour permission, parking, tides, safety and DAERA restrictions locally.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for United Kingdom waters are set by the DAERA (Northern Ireland inshore fisheries policy and rules) — and special regulations can apply to Strangford Lough - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check current DAERA sea-fisheries rules, protected-area measures, species controls, harbour directions and any Loughs Agency requirements before every trip. Strangford Lough and Outer Belfast Lough include protected features and method restrictions. A source-audited depth cell or named harbour is not permission to fish, enter private land, park or launch.
Check the official United Kingdom fishing regulations →
DAERA fisheries policy →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Strangford Lough - South is about 183 ft (56 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from DAERA and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute informs the atlantic mackerel, atlantic pollock, saithe (coalfish), haddock, whiting, atlantic cod, european plaice, european flounder, thornback ray, sea trout roster for Strangford Lough - South. 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 11 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 Strangford Lough - South is regulated by the DAERA (Northern Ireland inshore fisheries policy and rules). Check the official United Kingdom regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Strangford Lough - North 13 mi · Carlingford Lough - Outer 32 mi, IRL/UK · Dundalk Bay - Outer 39 mi, IRL · Soulseat Loch 43 mi · Loch Magillie 43 mi · Dundalk Bay - Middle 43 mi, IRL · White Loch 44 mi · Cults Loch 44 mi · Black Loch 44 mi · Whitefield Loch 46 mi · White Loch of Myrton 47 mi · Elrig Loch 47 mi
See how Strangford Lough - South stacks up: best sea trout lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european plaice lakes in United Kingdom · best whiting lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024, mean depth (Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT); 97% measured, 3% 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.