Fish of Ireland

The oceanic climate moderates everything. Winters stay mild and summers cool, which keeps water within a favourable temperature band for much of the year — where countries at similar latitudes see their waters freeze or overheat. The season is long, with few genuinely dead periods.

The country is covered in loughs, often shallow and rich, linked by short rivers. That layout favours stillwater species and migratory fish, which have only a few tens of kilometres to travel between the sea and their spawning grounds.

The west coast, fully exposed to the Atlantic, offers rock that drops away quickly and shore fishing known for its variety. It is also the frontage most subject to swell, and the sea state often decides whether the trip happens at all.