Fishing through the year

Use this month-by-month guide as a starting point. Runs shift with water temperature, weather, and local conditions, and legal seasons always take priority.

Sea fishingMatch tides and wind to the individual mark; exposed rocks and beaches can become unsafe quickly.

Rivers and lakesOpen seasons, permits, and catch-and-release rules vary by water and year.

Check current licences and rules →

January

Fish often worth targeting

Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Codling — November–February
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Whiting — September–January

Locations whose season includes January

Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Youghal — September–February

February

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Codling — November–February
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake

Locations whose season includes February

Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Youghal — September–February

March

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Plaice — Spring–summer (March–July)
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake

Locations whose season includes March

Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September

April

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Plaice — Spring–summer (March–July)
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake

Locations whose season includes April

Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lough Bofinne — 1 April–30 September (2026 permit season; verify annually)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Shepperton Lake — 1 April–30 September (2026 permit season; verify annually)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive

May

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Ballan Wrasse — May–September
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Gilthead Bream — Late spring–summer (May–August)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Mackerel — May–September
Plaice — Spring–summer (March–July)
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake

Locations whose season includes May

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Galley Head — Summer (May–September)
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Inch Strand — May–November
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive

June

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Ballan Wrasse — May–September
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Bull Huss — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Gilthead Bream — Late spring–summer (May–August)
Golden Grey Mullet — Summer (June–September)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Mackerel — May–September
Plaice — Spring–summer (March–July)
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Sea Trout — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Thick-lipped Grey Mullet — June–September

Locations whose season includes June

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballydehob Harbour — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Crookhaven — June–December
Galley Head — Summer (May–September)
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Inch Strand — May–November
Inchydoney Beach — June–October; September especially productive
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Estuary — June–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
White Bay — June–October
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)

July

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Ballan Wrasse — May–September
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Bull Huss — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Gilthead Bream — Late spring–summer (May–August)
Golden Grey Mullet — Summer (June–September)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Mackerel — May–September
Plaice — Spring–summer (March–July)
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Sea Trout — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Thick-lipped Grey Mullet — June–September

Locations whose season includes July

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballydehob Harbour — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Crookhaven — June–December
Galley Head — Summer (May–September)
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Inch Strand — May–November
Inchydoney Beach — June–October; September especially productive
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Estuary — June–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
White Bay — June–October
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)

August

Fish often worth targeting

Atlantic Salmon — Spring salmon run earlier (February–May); grilse from June, best July–August; all fishing subject to annual river status
Ballan Wrasse — May–September
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Bull Huss — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Gilthead Bream — Late spring–summer (May–August)
Golden Grey Mullet — Summer (June–September)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Mackerel — May–September
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Sea Trout — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Thick-lipped Grey Mullet — June–September

Locations whose season includes August

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballydehob Harbour — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Crookhaven — June–December
Galley Head — Summer (May–September)
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Inch Strand — May–November
Inchydoney Beach — June–October; September especially productive
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Munster Blackwater — Spring salmon February–May; grilse June–August; subject to annual river status — verify with IFI
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Estuary — June–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
White Bay — June–October
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)

September

Fish often worth targeting

Ballan Wrasse — May–September
Bass — September–November (surf beaches); summer evenings also productive
Brown Trout — Late February–September (typical river open season; confirm for each water)
Bull Huss — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Golden Grey Mullet — Summer (June–September)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Mackerel — May–September
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Sea Trout — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Thick-lipped Grey Mullet — June–September
Thornback Ray — September–December
Whiting — September–January

Locations whose season includes September

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballydehob Harbour — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Courtmacsherry — Bass September–December
Crookhaven — June–December
Galley Head — Summer (May–September)
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Garryvoe — September–December
Inch Strand — May–November
Inchydoney Beach — June–October; September especially productive
Inniscarra Reservoir — Late February–September (typical brown trout season; confirm per season)
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lough Bofinne — 1 April–30 September (2026 permit season; verify annually)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
River Lee (Salmon Fishery) — February–September, best June–September
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Estuary — June–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Shepperton Lake — 1 April–30 September (2026 permit season; verify annually)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
White Bay — June–October
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Youghal — September–February

October

Fish often worth targeting

Bass — September–November (surf beaches); summer evenings also productive
Bull Huss — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Conger Eel — May–October (after dark)
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Pollack — May–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Sea Trout — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Thornback Ray — September–December
Whiting — September–January

Locations whose season includes October

Ballycotton — May–October
Ballycroneen Beach — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Ballydehob Harbour — Summer–autumn (June–October)
Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Courtmacsherry — Bass September–December
Crookhaven — June–December
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Garryvoe — September–December
Inch Strand — May–November
Inchydoney Beach — June–October; September especially productive
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Long Strand — Spring–autumn (April–October)
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Power Head — Summer–autumn (May–October)
Ram Point Strand — April–November
Roches Point — May–October
Rosscarbery Estuary — June–October
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
White Bay — June–October
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Youghal — September–February

November

Fish often worth targeting

Bass — September–November (surf beaches); summer evenings also productive
Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Codling — November–February
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Thornback Ray — September–December
Whiting — September–January

Locations whose season includes November

Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Clonakilty Estuary — June–November; bass September–November
Courtmacsherry — Bass September–December
Crookhaven — June–December
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Garryvoe — September–December
Inch Strand — May–November
Laherne Rocks — Summer–autumn (June–November); codling winter
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Owenahincha Strand — Summer–autumn
Ram Point Strand — April–November
Rosscarbery Pier — Summer–autumn (May–November)
Timoleague Estuary — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Trabolgan Strand — Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive
Whitegate Bay — Summer–autumn (June–November)
Youghal — September–February

December

Fish often worth targeting

Coalfish — Autumn and winter
Codling — November–February
Dab — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Flounder — Autumn–winter (September–February)
Lesser-spotted Dogfish — Year-round; most active April–October
Rainbow Trout — Year-round depending on fishery; check with the individual lake
Thornback Ray — September–December
Whiting — September–January

Locations whose season includes December

Ballynamona Beach — Year-round; codling autumn–winter
Barley Cove — June–December
Courtmacsherry — Bass September–December
Crookhaven — June–December
Garretstown Strand — May–November for bass; November–February for codling and coalfish
Garryvoe — September–December
Lower Aghada Pier — Year-round; codling November–February
Monkstown Pier (De Wall) — November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse
Youghal — September–February