Fishing spots mapDiscover the best fishing spots in Oughterard
Fishing in Oughterard
What can I fish there ?Join our 112 fishermen in Oughterard in County Galway. The fishing forecast is currently 5. The most caught fishes here are black bream fish, the striped bass, the smallmouth bass and the wahoo fish. Come try the most famous fishing techniques like the support fishing for bass, trap fishing for lobster, tips on material to catch bass in surfcasting or tips on material for sea bream throwing.

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The fishing forecast
Discover the scientific algorithm that gives you the best moment to go fishing at Oughterard !
This is a score calculated according to about forty criteria: moon, weather conditions, atmospheric pressure, tides, swell ...
. Forecast calculated at 4 days

Most caught fish species in Oughterard Top species caught by Club members
Top species caught by Club members
N°1 | Black Bream Fish
The Black breamfish, also known as Acanthopagrus butcheri, is a Sparidae. In general, its average size is 15 to 35 cm and its weight is 500 g to 2.5 kg. However, some individuals can reach up to 60 cm and 4 kg. The black bream has a lifespan of 27 years. Its spawning period is between August and January. It can have up to 300,000 spawn each season. It is not hard to catch and offer a little resistance. The Black bream has a high body and relatively compressed laterally, with symmetrically curved dorsal and ventral fins. The mouth is of moderate size compared to the body and has six incisors in the front of the lower and upper jaws. The body is covered with large scales that can be cycloid or slightly ctenoid. The head is essentially flake-free, except for the lids. A flake sheath covers the soft ray bases of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The Black Bream is silvery, from golden brown or bronze to grey-green on the back as well as on the sides with sometimes greenish reflections, depending on its habitat. The belly is white. The fins are all dark, with black borders. The caudal fin is often dark olive-brown.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : 25 cm
Difficulty :
N°2 | Bleak Fish
The Bleak fish is a Cyprinidae. In general, its average size is 10 to 15 cm and its weight is 15 to 50 g. However, some individuals can reach up to 60 g for a size of 25 cm. The bleak has a lifespan of 6-7 years. The spawning period is between April and August. It can lay up to 7000 spawns. You can fish bleak from June to September. This fish swims quite fast and offers a little resistance during the catch. The bleak is a fish with an elongated body that is very compressed laterally, allowing it to have a high velocity. The upper jaw is shorter than the lower jaw. The mouth of the bleak is oriented upwards (above), a typical character of fish that seek their food on the surface. The caudal fin is strongly indented and the caudal peduncle is thin. The dorsal fin is inserted behind the pelvic fins and has a shorter base than the dorsal fin. Its name refers to the bright white color of its scales, which gives the bleak a metallic sheen. Its back is darker greenish-blue, its sides are silvery white and its fins are pale grey. During the breeding season, nuptial tubers appear on the backs and sides of males and their fins become orange.
Fishing period : June to September
Minimum size : 10 cm
Difficulty :
N°3 | Brown Trout
The Brown Trout belongs to the Salmonidae family. According to the location, the adult size varies from 25 cm to 80 cm for 300 to 800 g. It lives for 3 to 6 years. The spawning period starts in October and end in January. The female can lay up to 4000 eggs. The fishing period is open from the second Saturday of March until the third Sunday of September. This fish is not hard to catch but the fishing needs complex skills. Depending on its environment, the brown trout have a very variable color, but the brown trout, as its name shows, is rather brown with scattered black and red spots, depending on the spawners. It has a certain mimicry according to the bottom of its living spaces since the dominant brown will become a green dress if it lives close to the banks where yellow and even sometimes silvery white will mix. It has a "useless" adipose fin between the dorsal fin and the caudal fin. The head is tapered, strong and has a powerful jaw. Its back is a pretty black or night blue.
Fishing period : March to September
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :
N°4 | Dolphinfish or Mahi-mahi
Dorade coryphĂšne, dorado, dolphin, lampuga, rakingo, calitos, ti-rone, maverikos, mahi-mahi... There are so many ways to call the dolphinfish (coryphaena hippurus). This species is well known for its flesh and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Fishing period : June to September
Minimum size : 20 inches
Difficulty :
N°5 | Marlin
Marlin is a fish from a large family called Istiophoridae, which includes about 10 species. The most popular species include the blue marlin (makaira nigricans), the striped marlin (kajikia audax), the white marlin (kajikia albidus) and the black marlin (istiompax indica).
Fishing period : All the year
Minimum size : 40 inches
Difficulty :
N°6 | Striped bass
Striped bass (morone saxatilis) is a fish of the Moronidae family found along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Fishing period : All the year
Minimum size : 28 inches
Difficulty :
N°7 | The Alligator Gar
The Alligator Gar belongs to the Lepisosteidae family. In its adult form, it can measure up to three meters long and weigh up to 140 kilograms. It breeds in spring. It can be fished all year round. Alligator gar are elongated fish with a long, narrow snout. Their scales form a kind of armor, protecting them from other predators, the scales are similar in hardness to our nails, hard as keratin. They are also sharp, never brush a sharp-edged club fish. These fish have the swim bladder modified into a gas bladder, it allows them to breathe at the surface.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :
N°8 | The American Shad
The American Shad belongs to the Clupeidae family. With an average of 38 cm, adult specimens can measure up to 76 cm and weigh between 0.9 and 1.4 kg. It can live up to 13 years old. Egg laying takes place in May, June or July. On average, the female lays 140,000 eggs, but can reach 600,000 eggs. It is fished in the spring. The American shad is characterized by its slender, high and very flattened body. The species has a very forked caudal fin and a low, elongated anal fin. It has no lateral line or adipose fin. Its color is silvery with a blue or blue-green sheen on the back and bright silver flanks. When entering fresh water for reproduction, the pigmentation may become darker, taking on a tan or copper hue, turning red for the head and belly parts. A black spot is visible near the top edge of the lid, sometimes followed by smaller spots. Its lower jaw fits into a notch in its upper jaw. It can also be recognized by its large scales that are easily detached. The ventral surface of the American shad is thin with saw tooth scales. With regard to internal characteristics, it has teeth in the premaxillary and lower jaw, a silver peritoneum and, between 53 and 59 vertebrae.
Fishing period : spring
Minimum size : 30 cm
Difficulty :
N°9 | The Apache trout
The Apache trout belongs to the Salmonidae family. The Apache trout is 15 to 61 cm long and weighs 0.2 to 2.7 kg. It rarely exceeds 25 cm but can reach up to 40 cm in its natural headwaters. It breeds from May to June. Fishing for Apache trout is prohibited all year round. Apache trout are yellowish gold in color with a golden belly and have medium sized dark spots, uniformly spaced, which can extend below the lateral line and over the dorsal fins and tail. The top of the head and back are dark olive in color, and it appears to have a black stripe/mask through each of its eyes, thanks to two small black dots on each side of the pupil. There may be a throat mark under the lower jaw, ranging from yellow to gold.
Fishing period :
Minimum size :
Difficulty :
N°10 | The Arctic Grayling
The Arctic Grayling belongs to the Salmonidae Family. The Arctic shade can reach a length of about 24 cm long and weighs about 3 kg. He can live to be 18 years old. It breeds in the spring and lays thousands of eggs. It can be fished all year round. Coloring may vary depending on the location. The dorsal fin is usually bordered red and dotted with large iridescent red, turquoise, purple or purple spots and marks. Back marks are more evident on the large shadows. The back of the Arctic shadow is generally dark. The sides can be in black, silver, gold, or blue. Gold markings sometimes form a border between the hips and the belly, while pelvic fins can be orange, red or pink. The sides and head can be freckles with black spots. The eye of the iris is often the color of gold.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : 15 cm
Difficulty :
N°11 | The Atlantic Sturgeon
The Atlantic Sturgeon belongs to the Acipenseridae family. Its length can generally reach 3 m; its maximum length is 4.3 m. Its weight is between 150 and 200 kg; it can reach a maximum weight of 368 kg. It can live to 60 years and over. It only reproduces every 2 years. The maximum fertility rate is 3.75 million eggs. It is one of IUCN's protected species and fishing is highly regulated. It can be fished during the cool seasons. It has a snub nose, with four barbells in the front of his belly mouth. It carries five rows of bone plates on the back and sides of the body. The dorsal lobe of its caudal fin is longer than the ventral lobe. The skeleton of this bony fish is largely cartilaginous.
Fishing period : cool season
Minimum size : depends on location
Difficulty :
N°12 | The Banded Rudderfish
The Banded Rudderfish belongs to the Carangidae family. Their adult size is 50 cm for 2 kg. They can live for 17 years. They can be fished all year. The banded rudderfish is similar in appearance to the other amberjack fishes, but smaller than most others. It has a relatively thin but deep body with a forked boomerang tail. This semi-profiled shape indicates that it is a fast swimmer. The body is light in color with a slight amber or gold band on the sides, extending from eye to tail. Younger banded rudderfish have six black bars on their bodies and a black band that extends from the eye to the first dorsal fin; they retain this pattern strongly until they reach 27 to 35 cm long, when the stripes begin to fade. The larger fish have no bars; they are generally brownish or greenish, with the dorsal side darker than the belly. This species can be distinguished from other amberjacks in several ways. Other young amberjacks have a striped pattern similar to the young banded rudderfish, but the latter begin to lose their pattern when they are several centimeters taller than those of other young amberjacks. Moreover, unlike other amberjacks, the banded saffron is white at the end of its tail. Eight spines in its first dorsal fin and 34 & 39 rays in its second dorsal fin are characteristic of banded fish, while other amberjacks generally have less than 34 rays in their second dorsal fins. The young banded rudderfish also closely resembles the pilot fish. However, the other amberjack
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :
N°1 | Black Bream Fish
The Black breamfish, also known as Acanthopagrus butcheri, is a Sparidae. In general, its average size is 15 to 35 cm and its weight is 500 g to 2.5 kg. However, some individuals can reach up to 60 cm and 4 kg. The black bream has a lifespan of 27 years. Its spawning period is between August and January. It can have up to 300,000 spawn each season. It is not hard to catch and offer a little resistance. The Black bream has a high body and relatively compressed laterally, with symmetrically curved dorsal and ventral fins. The mouth is of moderate size compared to the body and has six incisors in the front of the lower and upper jaws. The body is covered with large scales that can be cycloid or slightly ctenoid. The head is essentially flake-free, except for the lids. A flake sheath covers the soft ray bases of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The Black Bream is silvery, from golden brown or bronze to grey-green on the back as well as on the sides with sometimes greenish reflections, depending on its habitat. The belly is white. The fins are all dark, with black borders. The caudal fin is often dark olive-brown.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : 25 cm
Difficulty :
N°2 | Bleak Fish
The Bleak fish is a Cyprinidae. In general, its average size is 10 to 15 cm and its weight is 15 to 50 g. However, some individuals can reach up to 60 g for a size of 25 cm. The bleak has a lifespan of 6-7 years. The spawning period is between April and August. It can lay up to 7000 spawns. You can fish bleak from June to September. This fish swims quite fast and offers a little resistance during the catch. The bleak is a fish with an elongated body that is very compressed laterally, allowing it to have a high velocity. The upper jaw is shorter than the lower jaw. The mouth of the bleak is oriented upwards (above), a typical character of fish that seek their food on the surface. The caudal fin is strongly indented and the caudal peduncle is thin. The dorsal fin is inserted behind the pelvic fins and has a shorter base than the dorsal fin. Its name refers to the bright white color of its scales, which gives the bleak a metallic sheen. Its back is darker greenish-blue, its sides are silvery white and its fins are pale grey. During the breeding season, nuptial tubers appear on the backs and sides of males and their fins become orange.
Fishing period : June to September
Minimum size : 10 cm
Difficulty :
N°3 | Brown Trout
The Brown Trout belongs to the Salmonidae family. According to the location, the adult size varies from 25 cm to 80 cm for 300 to 800 g. It lives for 3 to 6 years. The spawning period starts in October and end in January. The female can lay up to 4000 eggs. The fishing period is open from the second Saturday of March until the third Sunday of September. This fish is not hard to catch but the fishing needs complex skills. Depending on its environment, the brown trout have a very variable color, but the brown trout, as its name shows, is rather brown with scattered black and red spots, depending on the spawners. It has a certain mimicry according to the bottom of its living spaces since the dominant brown will become a green dress if it lives close to the banks where yellow and even sometimes silvery white will mix. It has a "useless" adipose fin between the dorsal fin and the caudal fin. The head is tapered, strong and has a powerful jaw. Its back is a pretty black or night blue.
Fishing period : March to September
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :
N°4 | Dolphinfish or Mahi-mahi
Dorade coryphĂšne, dorado, dolphin, lampuga, rakingo, calitos, ti-rone, maverikos, mahi-mahi... There are so many ways to call the dolphinfish (coryphaena hippurus). This species is well known for its flesh and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Fishing period : June to September
Minimum size : 20 inches
Difficulty :
N°5 | Marlin
Marlin is a fish from a large family called Istiophoridae, which includes about 10 species. The most popular species include the blue marlin (makaira nigricans), the striped marlin (kajikia audax), the white marlin (kajikia albidus) and the black marlin (istiompax indica).
Fishing period : All the year
Minimum size : 40 inches
Difficulty :
N°6 | Striped bass
Striped bass (morone saxatilis) is a fish of the Moronidae family found along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Fishing period : All the year
Minimum size : 28 inches
Difficulty :
N°7 | The Alligator Gar
The Alligator Gar belongs to the Lepisosteidae family. In its adult form, it can measure up to three meters long and weigh up to 140 kilograms. It breeds in spring. It can be fished all year round. Alligator gar are elongated fish with a long, narrow snout. Their scales form a kind of armor, protecting them from other predators, the scales are similar in hardness to our nails, hard as keratin. They are also sharp, never brush a sharp-edged club fish. These fish have the swim bladder modified into a gas bladder, it allows them to breathe at the surface.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :
N°8 | The American Shad
The American Shad belongs to the Clupeidae family. With an average of 38 cm, adult specimens can measure up to 76 cm and weigh between 0.9 and 1.4 kg. It can live up to 13 years old. Egg laying takes place in May, June or July. On average, the female lays 140,000 eggs, but can reach 600,000 eggs. It is fished in the spring. The American shad is characterized by its slender, high and very flattened body. The species has a very forked caudal fin and a low, elongated anal fin. It has no lateral line or adipose fin. Its color is silvery with a blue or blue-green sheen on the back and bright silver flanks. When entering fresh water for reproduction, the pigmentation may become darker, taking on a tan or copper hue, turning red for the head and belly parts. A black spot is visible near the top edge of the lid, sometimes followed by smaller spots. Its lower jaw fits into a notch in its upper jaw. It can also be recognized by its large scales that are easily detached. The ventral surface of the American shad is thin with saw tooth scales. With regard to internal characteristics, it has teeth in the premaxillary and lower jaw, a silver peritoneum and, between 53 and 59 vertebrae.
Fishing period : spring
Minimum size : 30 cm
Difficulty :
N°9 | The Apache trout
The Apache trout belongs to the Salmonidae family. The Apache trout is 15 to 61 cm long and weighs 0.2 to 2.7 kg. It rarely exceeds 25 cm but can reach up to 40 cm in its natural headwaters. It breeds from May to June. Fishing for Apache trout is prohibited all year round. Apache trout are yellowish gold in color with a golden belly and have medium sized dark spots, uniformly spaced, which can extend below the lateral line and over the dorsal fins and tail. The top of the head and back are dark olive in color, and it appears to have a black stripe/mask through each of its eyes, thanks to two small black dots on each side of the pupil. There may be a throat mark under the lower jaw, ranging from yellow to gold.
Fishing period :
Minimum size :
Difficulty :
N°10 | The Arctic Grayling
The Arctic Grayling belongs to the Salmonidae Family. The Arctic shade can reach a length of about 24 cm long and weighs about 3 kg. He can live to be 18 years old. It breeds in the spring and lays thousands of eggs. It can be fished all year round. Coloring may vary depending on the location. The dorsal fin is usually bordered red and dotted with large iridescent red, turquoise, purple or purple spots and marks. Back marks are more evident on the large shadows. The back of the Arctic shadow is generally dark. The sides can be in black, silver, gold, or blue. Gold markings sometimes form a border between the hips and the belly, while pelvic fins can be orange, red or pink. The sides and head can be freckles with black spots. The eye of the iris is often the color of gold.
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : 15 cm
Difficulty :
N°11 | The Atlantic Sturgeon
The Atlantic Sturgeon belongs to the Acipenseridae family. Its length can generally reach 3 m; its maximum length is 4.3 m. Its weight is between 150 and 200 kg; it can reach a maximum weight of 368 kg. It can live to 60 years and over. It only reproduces every 2 years. The maximum fertility rate is 3.75 million eggs. It is one of IUCN's protected species and fishing is highly regulated. It can be fished during the cool seasons. It has a snub nose, with four barbells in the front of his belly mouth. It carries five rows of bone plates on the back and sides of the body. The dorsal lobe of its caudal fin is longer than the ventral lobe. The skeleton of this bony fish is largely cartilaginous.
Fishing period : cool season
Minimum size : depends on location
Difficulty :
N°12 | The Banded Rudderfish
The Banded Rudderfish belongs to the Carangidae family. Their adult size is 50 cm for 2 kg. They can live for 17 years. They can be fished all year. The banded rudderfish is similar in appearance to the other amberjack fishes, but smaller than most others. It has a relatively thin but deep body with a forked boomerang tail. This semi-profiled shape indicates that it is a fast swimmer. The body is light in color with a slight amber or gold band on the sides, extending from eye to tail. Younger banded rudderfish have six black bars on their bodies and a black band that extends from the eye to the first dorsal fin; they retain this pattern strongly until they reach 27 to 35 cm long, when the stripes begin to fade. The larger fish have no bars; they are generally brownish or greenish, with the dorsal side darker than the belly. This species can be distinguished from other amberjacks in several ways. Other young amberjacks have a striped pattern similar to the young banded rudderfish, but the latter begin to lose their pattern when they are several centimeters taller than those of other young amberjacks. Moreover, unlike other amberjacks, the banded saffron is white at the end of its tail. Eight spines in its first dorsal fin and 34 & 39 rays in its second dorsal fin are characteristic of banded fish, while other amberjacks generally have less than 34 rays in their second dorsal fins. The young banded rudderfish also closely resembles the pilot fish. However, the other amberjack
Fishing period : All year
Minimum size : no restriction
Difficulty :

Oughterard - Fishing techniques Top fishing techniques
Top fishing techniques
N°1 | Support fishing for Bass
The support fishing is a bottom fishing technique. It consists in putting a setting of a lead with one or more hooks that are let down. Once the assembly is at the bottom, the line is stretched and the touch is waited, keeping the rod in hand. You can fish with different baits depending on the morphology of the bottom. Like all bait fishing techniques, you have to find the right balance between discretion and robustness. The bar will have time to go around the setting before swallowing the bait, so maximum discretion is required.
N°2 | Trap fishing for lobster
A crustacean whose reputation is well established; lobsters enjoy an incredible reputation thanks to their succulent flesh. Located in its claws and abdomen, its edible parts represent only 30% of its weight. Nevertheless, lobster is highly prized by all, and has long been the subject of great covetousness and an ancestral fishery: that of the trap.
N°3 | Tips on material to catch bass in surfcasting
Here are some articles that can guide you on the choice of your equipment to fish for sea bass in surfcasting
N°4 | Tips on material for sea bream throwing
In order to succeed when throw for sea bream, you need to have the right material. Below are some suggestion of material to successfully catch sea bream.
N°5 | TIPS ON TROLL FISHING MATERIAL FOR LEERFISH
For your fishing trip to succeed, use the right material. Below are some tips and suggestions that may help you.
N°6 | Tips on material for mullet fishing with plug
Here are some models of rods, reels and wires that can guide you when choosing materials for mullet fishing with a plug.
N°1 | Support fishing for Bass
The support fishing is a bottom fishing technique. It consists in putting a setting of a lead with one or more hooks that are let down. Once the assembly is at the bottom, the line is stretched and the touch is waited, keeping the rod in hand. You can fish with different baits depending on the morphology of the bottom. Like all bait fishing techniques, you have to find the right balance between discretion and robustness. The bar will have time to go around the setting before swallowing the bait, so maximum discretion is required.
N°2 | Trap fishing for lobster
A crustacean whose reputation is well established; lobsters enjoy an incredible reputation thanks to their succulent flesh. Located in its claws and abdomen, its edible parts represent only 30% of its weight. Nevertheless, lobster is highly prized by all, and has long been the subject of great covetousness and an ancestral fishery: that of the trap.
N°3 | Tips on material to catch bass in surfcasting
Here are some articles that can guide you on the choice of your equipment to fish for sea bass in surfcasting
N°4 | Tips on material for sea bream throwing
In order to succeed when throw for sea bream, you need to have the right material. Below are some suggestion of material to successfully catch sea bream.
N°5 | TIPS ON TROLL FISHING MATERIAL FOR LEERFISH
For your fishing trip to succeed, use the right material. Below are some tips and suggestions that may help you.
N°6 | Tips on material for mullet fishing with plug
Here are some models of rods, reels and wires that can guide you when choosing materials for mullet fishing with a plug.
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