Cast Donegal: shore fishing marks with live wind, waves and tides

Marks and conditions

Tap any mark to see its tide times and an hour-by-hour forecast. Tap the star beside a mark to keep it at the top of the list.Tap a mark to see its tides and forecast.

Go: worth goingMaybe: fishable, but not idealLeave it: not worth it, or not safe

Catch log

Write down what you catch and where. The wind, tide and moon are filled in for you, and over time it shows what's working. Your log is kept on this phone or computer only.

What's biting when

The typical shore season for the fish you're most likely to meet around Donegal. It shifts a few weeks with the water temperature each year, so treat it as a guide.

Best monthsWorth a try

Tips that catch fish

The basics that make the biggest difference on the Donegal coast.

New to sea fishing?Step-by-step picture guides: setting up a rod, tying on a hook, baiting up, rigs, casting and releasing a fish. You can print them as a booklet too.Open the guides

Fish the tide, not the clock

Most marks fish best on the flooding tide and in the couple of hours either side of high water. When a tide change lines up with dawn or dusk, that's the session to go for.

Bigger tides around the new and full moon move more water and stir up more food. Each mark shows its tide curve, an hour-by-hour view and a suggested window.

Bait that works here

Mackerel strip catches nearly everything and is easy to come by in summer. Lugworm and ragworm are the go-to for flatfish, codling and wrasse. Peeler crab is hard to beat for wrasse and bass in early summer.

Keep bait cool and fresh. Tired bait catches tired fish.

Simple rigs

Feathers or a sabiki rig for mackerel. A float rig for wrasse and pollack over rock and weed. A two-hook flapper or paternoster on the bottom for flatfish, dogfish and ray. Spinners, metals and soft plastics for pollack, mackerel and bass.

Over rough ground, use a rotten-bottom weak link so you lose the lead, not the whole rig.

Read the wind

Wind matters more than anything on this coast. Pick a mark that's sheltered from the wind direction, and skip exposed rock marks when there's a swell running, even on a sunny day. The ratings here already take each mark's shelter into account.

A steady surf with some colour in the water can switch the beaches on for bass and flatfish. Flat calm and gin clear is often slow.

Where to get bait and tackle

Tackle shops around the county. Opening hours change and bait isn't always in stock, so ring ahead before a long drive. Know a good shop we've missed? Tell us.

Rules and safety

Ireland's sea angling rules are simple, but they're enforced. Check Inland Fisheries Ireland for the latest before you go.

LicencesYou don't need a licence to fish for sea fish from the shore. Sea trout and salmon are different: you need a licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland to fish for them, even in the sea.
BassKeep no more than two bass in any 24 hours, and only fish of 40 cm or more. Bass angling is closed every year from 15 May to 15 June while they spawn. Many anglers release every bass to help the stock recover.
Sharks and skatesReturn tope, skates and rays you don't need. Some, like the common skate, are protected and must go back.
Harbours and piersWorking harbours like Killybegs come first for boats and ferries. Keep slipways, steps and gates clear and move when you're asked to.
LighthousesThe lighthouses at Fanad Head and St John's Point are private homes. Park only where it's allowed and keep away from the buildings.
Leave no traceBring home your line, hooks, bait packets and rubbish. Discarded line kills seabirds and seals.

Stay safe on the rocks

Never fish rock marks alone, wear a life jacket, and watch the sea for a few minutes before you set up. Big waves come in sets, and the biggest can arrive out of nowhere. If someone ends up in the water, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Get in touch

Questions, a mark we've missed, something that's changed at a spot, or a catch you're proud of. Send it in.

Privacy

We only collect what you type into these forms. We use it to reply to you, and to send weekend heads-up emails if you asked for them. Form entries are stored by our web host, Netlify, and emailed to the people who run Cast Donegal. We don't sell or share your details. Ask us any time, using the form above, to see, change or delete what we hold about you, or to stop the emails.

Like any website, the forecast and map services we load (Open-Meteo, the Marine Institute and Esri) can see your IP address when your browser asks them for data. Your catch log, favourite marks and the last forecast are saved in your own browser so the site loads fast and works offline. They never leave your device.