Rosscarbery and Clonakilty

Bass fishing in Rosscarbery is not as good as it used to be, but is can be quite good still. Like everywhere else in West Cork, not many people consistently fish from the shore for anything more than mackerel or pollack, so the full potential of the entire region is unknown. However, I can vouch for the fact that there are plenty of specimen flounder and quite a few good bass to be caught between Ross and Clonakilty.

Rosscarbery is a small town with a small estuary. There are three good, sandy surf beaches close to the town, with another two outside Clonakilty. Starting from the west, these are: the Warren Strand, Owenahincha Strand, Long Strand, Red Strand, and Inchydoney strand. These beaches can provide excellent bass fishing in ideal conditions, with flounder fairly common, and dogfish and ray at night. Coalfish are commonly caught at Red Strand, while codling are likely to be around at times. Sea trout can be seen jumping most evenings fairly close to the shore.

The estuaries are the main focus of angling (with the exception of the pier during mackerel season). There are three good estuaries: Rosscarbery estuary, Muckross estuary, and Clonakilty estuary. Rosscarbery estuary is fairly small, and there is only a few places worth fishing. Plenty of large mullet can be seen just before the lagoon, on the southern side of the causeway. There have been quite a few specimens caught here, though they are hard to catch, and groundbaiting is fairly essential. The channel is home to good sized flounder for most of the year, and mullet and sea trout pass up and down it regularly. The mouth of the estuary is a very good place for bass, though not as good as it used to be. Sandeels, lugworm, ragworm, cockles, and fully grown mussels can all be found around the estuary.

Muckross estuary is not quite as good, with flounder the main species. Clonakilty estuary is probably the best place for bass fishing in West Cork. There are specimen flounder and bass caught regularly in Ring. At the mouth of the estuary, beyond the cul de sac, there are some rocks at "the Coole", or Bar Rock, where excellent bass and flounder fishing can be experienced. This is the place to go when spinning for bass. Peeler Crab can be collected before Ring pier, with loads of sandeels available in ring.

Rock fishing in the area can be good also. Beside the pier in Rosscarbery, there is some very rough ground where you will find some large pollack, dogfish, seatrout, mackerel and garfish in the summer, and probably conger and codling. Potentially, this relatively unfished area could provide some very big surprises. Similar fishing can be experienced at Ross pier, though without the big pollack, and with the addition of bass and flounder. For the latter two species, cast east towards the southernmost house visible. Distance casting will contact the ray. Fishing in Milcove and Dunnycove is fairly similar to what you will find at the pier.