angling around south antrim

Fishing is plentiful in the Glens of Antrim. Its superb variety of rivers and lakes are home to most kinds of freshwater fish. Salmon, sea trout and brown trout frequent the Margy, Carey, Glenshesk, Dun, Dall and Glen rivers. The lakes and reservoirs at Larne, Dungonnell and Fair Head are also good for brown trout. You can fish off the rocks, beaches and piers around Larne, Ballygalley, Glenarm, Cushendall and Ballycastle for plaice, cod, pollock, dogfish and mackerel. Boats can be hired at...

The 4,000 year old tradition of eel fishing is still strong on Lough Neagh, with many local communities dependent upon the 'harvesting' of the eels. The eel's life cycle begins when the tiny elvers set out from the Sargasso Sea on a mammoth journey to the mouth of the River Bann near Coleraine. During the final leg of their journey downstream to Lough Neagh many of the maturing brown eels are caught by local fishermen using traditional methods. The surviving eels remain in the lough and at...

The rivers Bush, Carey, Glenshesk, Margy and Roe all have salmon, sea trout and brown trout. The Agivey river and Dungonnell and Altnahinch reservoirs are good for brown trout. Check that you have the right licence and, where required, owner's permission....

Brill, bass, coalfish, cod, conger, dab, dogfish, flounder, gurnard, haddock, mackerel, mullet, plaice, megrim, pollack, ray (cuckoo, homelyn), skate, turbot, whiting, wrasse. First-class sea boats are avalable. There is also excellent rock and beach fishing....

Running through the western end of the estate is the River Maine, a substantial river, a large part of which can be waded. Chest waders are recommended and a stout wading staff is needed. The river provides nearly 3 miles of unique angling in more attractive surroundings.

Access:
This shall be by the Grand Entrance or White gates, off the Randalstown/Antrim Road. Drivers are requested to keep their cars parked on the hard road where possible.

A stocking progra...

This Reservoir is situated at the head of the Bush River, four and a half miles north east of Clough Mills. It is in a very attractive location with pine forest to the north and south. It holds a native stock of free rising trout and in addition, is stocked with brown trout averaging 1lb. There are some quite large fish in there and test nettings have turned up trout to 5lb. Access to the water is good with a car park by the west shore. The season runs from 1 March to 30 September. There is a 10...

Carrickfergus Castle the finest best preserved Norman castle in Ireland, dominates the town. John de Courcy, first Earl of Ulster, built the castle in the late 12th century, and for five centuries thereafter it was the seat of English power in the North. After serving as a prison in the 18th century, the castle was used as a magazine and armoury until 1928. Today life-like models depict stirring events in its 800-year history.

De Courcy also built the parish church of St. Nicholas,...

There are six reservoirs in the Woodburn district near Carrickfergus. The reservoirs provide a wide variation of fishing areas....

Sea fishing for conger, dogfish, mackerel and plaice is popular from the rocks and piers all the way up the coast. Boats can be hired at Larne, Carnlough and Cushendall for deep-sea expeditions to catch blockan, cod, conger, dab, herring, mackerel, plaice, pollack, skate, tope and whiting. Trout fishing is excellent throughout the area. Around Carrickfergus, where there are public reservoirs and waters at Woodburn Forest, Dorisland, Copeland and Lough Mourne and also at the Killylane, Bally...

These waters vary in size from 18 acres up to the 127 acres of Lough Mourne. They all lie north of Carrickfergus and the season runs from 1 March to 31 October, except for the North reservoir where the season is announced annually. Angling is not permitted before 8am or after 10pm. There is a 4 trout daily bag limit and an orthodox fly fishing only is allowed on the Upper and Lower South reservoirs. All legitimate methods on the others, except groundbait and maggots. North Woodburn is stocked wi...