The Guide to Where to Fish in Southern Ireland (Eire)

The Southern Ireland Where to Fish A to Z

Waterford

The Blackwater has a justifiable reputation for being one the best salmon fishing rivers in Ireland, and one of the top in Europe with catch statistics of 6000 - 8000 rod caught salmon per year.

The river has fish running throughout the year. The spring salmon in the 8 to 20lb range and run from February to April. Thegrilse run from April to July, with the run peaking at the end of June. The early grilse are larger (in the 5 to 7lb. range), while the later fish are in the 2 to 4lb range.This said - now the drift nets are gone, there was an approx. 50% increase in the average size of grilse & summer salmon in 2007.

There is a run of large May fish (distinct from the spring run) which comes in over a 3-4 week period from late May into June. These are in the 10 to 18lb range.

By far the biggest runs of salmon arrive in the back end of the season, through August and September, with as much as half of the seasons total catch being landed at this time.

Blackwater, Careyville Fishery is a reknowned salmon spring fishery. The beat includes Clondulane Weir. 5 year average about 600 fish. Careysville House and Fishery, c/o Lismore Castle, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Tel: +353 58 54424.