Anglers get your bait, flies and hooks at the ready and plan your perfect fishing trip. We are spoilt for choice here in the Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion for fishing destinations. Our beautiful region is abundant in peaceful lakes, challenging rivers and wonderful coastal areas, perfect for your ideal fishing trip, whether it is coarse, game, or even sea fishing in beautiful fishing villages with plenty of history and impressive trawlers! We are here to tell you all about the best fishing spots in the area.
Cast a line at the Quoile Basin, Downpatrick
If you enjoy the pleasure rather than the sport of fishing, pack your gear, a picnic and try your hand at coarse fishing at the lovely Quoile River in Downpatrick, County Down and catch some pike, rudd or perch. Grab a seat and a hot drink and take in the scenery while catching a few fish.
Spinning at Spelga Dam
Located right in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, County Down we have the ever so interesting Spelga Dam. It offers an ideal spot for fly fishing for small wild brown trout perfect on a summer's day and late into a summer evening. Have a go at spinning, challenge yourself to hook the biggest fish!
Lure on Castlewellan Lake
For the game fishers looking to catch the biggest trout, head to the picturesque Castlewellan Forest Park and try out the amazing Castlewellan lake situated in the centre of the park. Follow the perimeter path, get your rod set up and cast a line, spend the day basking in the beauty of the park and catch a selection of brown and rainbow trout on the lake.
Fly fishing is also available, for non-mechanical and electrically powered boats, so get your boat and tackle ready for a cruise on the lake.
Angling in Ardglass
Pack your equipment up and head to Ardglass, County Down for some sea fishing which provides a variety of shore, rock and boat fishing opportunities along the stunning Ardglass coastline. The Ardglass rock marks next to the Ardglass Golf Course is a great spot for sourcing pollock, wrasse or mackerel Or If still angling isn’t your thing, Take your boat and sail out to the Irish sea and cast a line, tackle fishing out in the open sea, don’t forget your lifejackets!
Tackle the tide in Newcastle, County Down
Make a trip to the beautiful seaside resort of Newcastle, a perfect location at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and fish on the shores of the various beaches, Newcastle harbour or take the Bloody Bridge coastal path. Follow this relaxed trail and safely set up your gear on the rocks for some sea angling, catch the likes of mackerel, codling and pollock.
Salmon at Shimna River
For some brilliant river fishing, plan your day out to the Shimna River, which stretches throughout the town of Newcastle, County Down. It rises on the slopes of Ott Mountain in the Mourne Mountains and enters the Irish Sea at Newcastle. Fish the town stretch in areas such as Shimna Road Bridge, Castlepark and Island Park on the Bryansford Road. Its main starting point is the beautiful Tollymore Forest Park, that is rich in forest scenery. Soak up the tranquil ambiance as the sound of the river flows through the park. The river has good stocks of wild brown trout plus salmon and sea trout.
Relax at the Reservoir
The large disused reservoir at Camlough is a haven for pike fishing and is best done from a boat. The lake offers good pike fishing all year round and gives an opportunity to try fly fishing.
Historic Kilkeel
Kilkeel Angling Club is the custodian of Whitewater River which produces sea trout and salmon every season. The town of Kilkeel is famous for having the largest fishing fleet in Northern Ireland and fishing has been heart of the town for centuries.
Our region has various options for fishing, also have a look on our Fishing and Angling section. Prepare yourself and follow the correct rules and regulations to fish in our beautiful region..
This walk begins at the Down County Museum, passing the Mound of Down, travelling along the Quoile River taking in sights such as Quoile Countryside Centre and Steamboat Quay.
Located on Forest Park View, Castlewellan, County Down, in a dramatic setting of mountains and sea, Castlewellan Forest Park has one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe. The beauty, vigour and perfect shape of the trees in the National Arboretum attract tree enthusiasts from around the world.
Ardglass is a beautiful fishing village which overlooks the Irish Sea. Ardglass has been a fishing port for over two thousand years. Today it is the home port of thirty fishing vessels and it is a major fish marketing and processing centre. Ardglass boasts a fabulous marina created in 1991. Ardglass Castle, once the home of the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare, is the clubhouse of Ardglass Golf Club. The golf club restaurant and bar offers a fine a la carte meal or bar snacks and the golf course itself is something to be savoured and sampled. Originally there were seven castles in Ardglass. Now Jordan's Castle, restored by antiquarian QC Francis Joseph Biggar when he bought it in 1911, is the only fortified tower that is more or less compl
Newcastle (An Caisleán Nua) is a seaside resort located in County Down at the foot of the Mountains of Mourne and made famous by the Percy French song "Where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down to the Sea".
Camlough is small village five kilometres west of Newry in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The village is named after a lake, known as Cam Lough which is about 90 acres in extent. South of the village is Camlough Mountain which is part of the Ring of Gullion.
Kilkeel is situated in the heart of the Kingdom of Mourne. It is renowned for its thriving fishing industry, which can be experienced through a visit down to the harbour. It is home to one of the largest and best equipped fishing fleets in Ireland, with fresh fish available all year round. The Nautilus Centre and Mourne Maritime Visitor Centre provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the local fishing and maritime heritage, see how nets and boats are mended and also sample some of the local catch, which is mainly king prawns.
