Angling

Welcome to the wonderful wild sea and fresh water fishing that is West of Ireland; bordered by the Atlantic and Lough Corrib it is strewn with some of the best salmon and trout fisheries in the world.

Join us on our sea fishing, coarse fishing or salmon and trout angling with like minded people in the spectacular scenery of Connemara and “cráic” (fun) in the evenings at a real Irish pub!

Our package deals include elements of transport, accommodation, the angling itself, and specially selected attractions of Connemara. Designed to maximise enjoyment and minimise the hassle factor! Connemara Wild Escapes offers a range of angling activities.

There is no question but that Connemara contains some of the greatest fresh and sea water angling in the world. Best of all is the fact that angling opportunities can be found anywhere amid its spectacular scenery. If you are happy to fish for different species, you can come twelve months of the year and Connemara Wild Escapes can organize it all for you.

Fishing in Connemara is as good as wild fishing gets and much of it is great value for money. A wealth of information is available from Connemara Wild Escapes. Connemara offers a huge availability of all types and grades of accommodation, safaris for single weekenders or family summer holidays; as well as magnificent food, including what is internationally recognized as some of the best local produce in the world. While in the area why not sample Connemara’s famous award winning whiskey or enjoy a pint of Guinness in any of the many local pubs in the area. All in all it is the ultimate destination for the perfect fishing holiday.

To make your experience more enjoyable and to minimize the guesswork, Connemara Wild Escapes have an excellent and growing network of guides, gillies and boatmen who are available to make your stay more memorable. The advantage of using their expertise is that it short circuits the learning curve on new waters and gets you straight to the fish – perfect for the weekend getaway. Connemara Wild Escapes can organize everything from a day’s fishing to a full fishing holiday. A full list of our activities is available under the Safari’s packages button

The Atlantic salmon are quite rightly Connemara’s most famous fish. The white trout have been in decline since the advent of salmon farming in the late 1980’s. All fishing for white trout is on a catch and release basis. Every year both species run rivers throughout Connemara as they return from the sea to spawn and at the same time attract anglers from all over the world. The Galway Fishery at the Salmon Weir in the city as well as Erriff, Delphi, Ballynahinch, Costelloe, Screebe, Gowla and Inver systems are especially famous for their fishing. The season mainly runs from the 11th February until the 30th September every year and a State salmon and white trout licence is required by all.

There is a perception that fishing for salmon is an expensive hobby but it has to be remembered that some of the fisheries and accommodation on our books are world class. Connemara Wild Escapes offer excellent alternatives and provide a real chance of catching a salmon or white trout.

Wild Brown trout are native to Connemara and the Mayfly on the Corrib is of world renown. Ferox trout on the Corrib are record breakers! Gillaroo offer a third variety of Corrib brown trout. No matter whether you prefer lough or river fishing, this sport is simply world class. If you want to get more remote then the Connemara Mountains hold numerous little treasures containing wily Brownies. Beware the midges; the trout pay them to keep away unprepared fisher folk! Connemara Wild Escapes can lay it on for you whatever your preferences.

Quality Coarse fishing, particularly pike, perch and roach, is to be had on the large loughs Corrib and Mask and on a number of small loughs in the Moycullen area. Corrib pike can grow particularly big, bearing in mind they have sixty square miles of lake and quality brown trout to feed on, and are particularly hard fighters. Pike are caught mainly in spring and autumn, they tend to go a bit quiet during the warmer weather in summer. They spawn in March, and feed hard after this, so April-May is a good time, as is October-November. Roach are fished all year round, although easier caught from March-November, they don’t feed as much during the winter. Perch would be similar. Both are fished for in the lakes around Moycullen.

Fishing season opens 1^st February and closes end of October. No licence is required.

Connemara is also home to some of Ireland’s finest beaches, with wide stretches of pure white sands lapped by a turquoise ocean. Wonderful shore and boat sea fishing is available everywhere around Connemara’s magnificent coast line and islands. Connemara Wild Escapes has everything from serious giant skate and shark fishing to family fun fishing from the shoreline. Reasonably priced boat hire and charters are available and Connemara Wild Escapes will help you to reach the prime spots. Like all fishing local knowledge is the secret to success and Connemara Wild Escapes can assist with skippers and guides.

For those accompanying the intrepid fisherman who doesn’t like fishing there are a range of alternative activity packages to choose from: walking, cycling, leisure and adventure. Whether you are on your own or want to organise a group get together Connemara Wild Escapes will organise it for you, phone us on +353863771025 or email info@connemarawildsafaris.ie. Package trips not for you; contact us to arrange your own bespoke activity tour.

Connemara Wild Escapes has dozens of activities for you to experience and enjoy and if you still cannot find what you are looking for – type the activity word or phrase into our search facility. Still no luck, drop us an email and we’ll look for you – info@connemarawildsafaris.ie