📍Galway · West📋IFI (Republic of Ireland)Season Open
3Species Present
County
Galway
Region
West
Type
Fishery
Species
Atlantic Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout
Costello and Fermoyle is one of the largest and most celebrated fisheries in Connemara — a system of river beats and numerous loughs that has drawn salmon and sea trout anglers to this corner of south Connemara for generations. The fishery office sits at Bridge Cottage in Casla (Costello), at the crossroads where the road forks left to Rossaveel and right to Oughterard.
The fishery holds a special place in Irish angling literature. The late Mr Justice Kingsmill Moore fished the system for many years and wrote extensively about it in his classic work A Man May Fish, which remains one of the finest books ever written about fly fishing in Ireland. That literary pedigree gives Costello a romantic appeal that few fisheries can match.
Spring salmon enter the system from February. These are bigger fish, ranging from seven to twenty pounds, though numbers are modest early in the season. The grilse run builds from May and June, peaking in July. By the end of September, the system may have received between five hundred and a thousand salmon depending on water conditions. Sea trout run the river on any flood from June, with up to four thousand fish entering the system in a good year — numbers that reflect the strong resurgence in stocks following a difficult period caused by sea lice from salmon farming.
The fishery has several river beats as well as numerous loughs with boats and fishing huts. Rods are strictly limited and beats are rotated. Fly fishing only is permitted. The river beats demand stealth — the ground is open with little bankside cover, and fish are easily spooked. A single-handed rod of ten to eleven and a half feet with a floating or intermediate five to six weight line is the standard outfit. For salmon, single or double flies in sizes 10–12 in spring, going smaller in summer; for sea trout on the loughs, a team of three wet flies on six to eight pound tippet.
Ghillies are available with advance notice and tackle can be hired. Day tickets are reasonably priced — €40 for a full day in spring, €60 from June to September, with half-day and evening sessions also available. A state salmon licence is required in addition to the fishery permit.
Casla is located on the R336 between Galway and Rossaveel, approximately forty-five minutes from Galway city. The surrounding area is quintessential Connemara — stone walls, bog, mountain, and the Atlantic on the doorstep.
Connemara Salmon · Sea Trout Heritage · Kingsmill Moore · Fly Fishing Only
Difficulty
Intermediate
Access & bases
The fishery office is at Bridge Cottage, Casla, Co. Galway — located at the crossroads on the R336, just after the left turn to Rossaveel and right turn to Oughterard. Day tickets available on site. Book in advance during peak season (July). River beats and lough boats provided. Fishing huts on some loughs. Ghillies available with advance notice. Tackle hire €15 per day. Approximately 45 minutes from Galway city.
Signature features
Literary Heritage
Costello and Fermoyle features extensively in A Man May Fish by Mr Justice Kingsmill Moore — widely regarded as one of the finest books ever written about fly fishing in Ireland. Moore fished the system for many years and his descriptions of sea trout fishing on the Connemara loughs are among the most evocative passages in angling literature.
Sea Trout Resurgence
After years of decline attributed to sea lice from salmon farming, sea trout stocks at Costello have bounced back strongly. Up to four thousand sea trout now enter the system in good seasons — an encouraging recovery that makes this fishery increasingly attractive to visiting anglers.
Scale and Variety
Costello and Fermoyle is one of the largest fisheries in Connemara, with multiple river beats and numerous loughs providing a range of fishing experiences. From intimate river pools to wild hill loughs, the system offers enough variety for a week of different fishing every day.
Accessible Private Fishery
Unlike some Connemara fisheries where access is restricted to house guests, Costello offers reasonably priced day and half-day tickets to visiting anglers. This makes quality private water fishing available to a wider audience.
Season by season
February – May
Spring salmon season. Bigger fish but smaller numbers. The system fishes best after rain. Brown trout fishing opens on the loughs. Quieter period with fewer visiting anglers — good for those who value solitude.
June – July
The prime period. Grilse arrive from May/June and peak in July. Sea trout enter the system from June, running the river on every flood and spreading into the loughs. This is the period Kingsmill Moore wrote about — long Connemara evenings with sea trout rising on the loughs.
August – September
Salmon continue to run with sufficient water. Sea trout fishing remains excellent on the loughs. Late-season daddy longlegs hatches bring fish to the surface. The season closes at the end of September.
Best conditions
Based on 0 reports, these conditions consistently produce the best fishing on Costello & Fermoyle Fishery:
💨
Light to moderate SW for lough drifts
Best wind
☁️
Overcast ideal; bright sun makes river fish wary
Best sky
🌡️
After rain for salmon and sea trout runs
Water temp
⏰
All day for salmon; evening and dusk for sea trout
Best window
Seasonal fly & tactics guide
Salmon — River Beats (February – September)
Patterns
Black ScrimpGarry DogBlack PennellDelphiButchers
Fly fishing only. Single-handed rod of ten to eleven and a half feet with a floating or intermediate five to six weight line. Cast of twelve to fifteen pound breaking strain. Sizes 10–12 in spring, going smaller as summer progresses. The river beats are open ground with no cover — stealth and a low profile are essential. Fish are easily spooked in the clear water.
⚠️Common mistake: Standing too high on the bank. The open ground means fish can see you from a long way off. Keep low, move slowly, and use every available bit of cover. False casting over the water puts fish down instantly.
Wet fly fishing from a drifting boat. A team of three flies on six to eight pound tippet. Single-handed rod of ten to eleven feet with a floating line. Fish the windward shore where food accumulates. In late summer, dapping with daddy longlegs is an alternative tradition that can be devastatingly effective when the naturals are on the water.
⚠️Common mistake: Fishing too fast. Let the boat drift naturally and cover the water thoroughly. Sea trout are shy and often follow the fly before taking — a slow, steady retrieve with occasional pauses gives them time to commit.
What works here
Flies and methods reported most successful by the community.
Where to Fish at Costello & Fermoyle Fishery
River Beats
Several named river beats with fishing stands provided. Beats are rotated among anglers. Open ground with little bankside cover — stealth is paramount. Best after a flood when fresh salmon and sea trout are running. Single-handed rod territory.
Loughs — Lower System
The larger loughs closer to the sea. Boats provided (without engines — own engines can be used if desired). Sea trout fishing is concentrated here, particularly from June to September. Fishing huts on some loughs for shelter.
Loughs — Upper System
Wilder hill loughs further from the road. Brown trout and salmon that have run through from the lower system. More remote and less frequently fished — for the angler who values solitude above all.
Conservation & stewardship
🌿
All sea trout must be released alive under current Connemara district legislation. One salmon may be kept per day, but anglers are encouraged to release additional fish. The resurgence in sea trout stocks is a conservation success story that depends on continued responsible angling practices. Handle all fish with wet hands and return them quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Before You Go — Key Regulations
Jurisdiction
Republic of Ireland (IFI)
Season
February 1 – September 30
Licence required
Yes — State Salmon Rod Licence
State salmon licence required (Connemara district or national). Fly fishing only.
Main access: Experienced local ghillies available through the fishery — book in advance via 091 572196 or 087 250 9722, Fishery office at Bridge Cottage, Casla — permits, tackle hire, local information. Pat Nolan, Oughterard for flies and tackle., Costello and Fermoyle Fisheries (private)
