Westport & Clew Bay

Clew Bay is one of the great natural harbours of the Irish Atlantic coast — a broad, island-studded inlet on the south shore of County Mayo, sheltered from the open ocean by the bulk of Clare Island to the west and the mountainous Corraun Peninsula to the south. Dominated by the unmistakable conical profile of Croagh Patrick rising directly from its southern shore, the bay is as visually striking as any body of water in Ireland. Less obvious but no less significant, it is an outstanding and remarkably varied sea fishing destination.

The bay's most distinctive physical feature is its extraordinary collection of islands — drowned drumlins left by retreating ice sheets that now form a unique archipelago visible in their entirety from the summit of Croagh Patrick above. Tradition claims 365 islands, one for every day of the year. The reality varies with the tide, but the practical effect is the same: a complex underwater landscape of channels, reefs, sandy shallows, and deep-water passages that creates a mosaic of habitats supporting an impressive diversity of marine life. Bass patrol the current-swept channels between islands. Thornback and blonde ray rest on the sandy ground in the sheltered depressions. Pollack hold the reef edges and rocky island shores. Wrasse work the kelp forests in the more sheltered sections. This complexity is the foundation of the Clew Bay fishing experience.

Westport, situated at the head of the bay, is the natural base for visiting anglers and consistently rated among the most attractive towns in Ireland. A planned Georgian settlement with a tree-lined canal walk, excellent restaurants, a genuine traditional music scene, and a warm welcome that does not feel manufactured, it provides a quality of visitor experience that few sea fishing bases anywhere in the country can equal. The town is connected by rail to Dublin and is within reasonable driving distance of both Knock and Shannon airports.

Charter boats operate from Westport Quay, Rosmoney, and Old Head, offering access to the full range of the bay's fishing — from sheltered island-hopping trips for bass and ray through to more ambitious runs toward Clare Island and the open Atlantic marks beyond. The bay's sheltered nature also makes it ideal for small boat and kayak fishing, and a kayak or small dinghy opens up dozens of island channels and shorelines that shore anglers cannot reach and charter boats cannot manoeuvre into.

For visiting anglers who also fish freshwater, Westport offers an additional advantage that no other Mayo sea fishing base can match. Loughs Mask and Corrib — two of Ireland's greatest trout and pike loughs — are within thirty to forty-five minutes by road. A week based in Westport, alternating between Clew Bay sea fishing and the western loughs, is one of the most varied and rewarding fishing itineraries available in Ireland.

Based on 0 reports, these conditions consistently produce the best fishing on Westport & Clew Bay:

Flies and methods reported most successful by the community.

Clew Bay is a Special Area of Conservation and a habitat of significant ecological importance — responsible angling is not optional but essential to maintaining the quality of the fishery. Comply fully with bass regulations — the bay's bass population is a conservation success story that depends on continued protection. Release all tope and shark. Handle ray with care, supporting the full body weight, and release on sandy ground in shallow water. Observe minimum sizes for all species without exception. Remove all litter and tackle waste from the islands and shore marks. Avoid disturbing seal haul-outs on the islands and bird nesting sites. If kayak fishing, maintain respectful distances from wildlife and avoid landing on sensitive island shores.