Hotel Newport, County Mayo, Ireland

Fishing and Sea Angling

• Newport River and Lough Beltra West
• Lough Beltra West
• Ballinlough Brown & Rainbow Trout Fishery
• Lough Carrowbeg
• Lough Drumgoney
• Burrishoole Fishery
• Lough Broad
• River Moy
• Deep Sea Fishing

To make your fishing trip a memorable and comfortable one, Hotel Newport provides Drying Facilities and Packed Lunches. Transport to and from your chosen fishing spot can be arranged.

For the 'tight lines' enthusiast, Newport is renowned for its excellent fishing facilities and fishermen are offered a wide choice with Lough Feeagh and Furnace providing four square miles of water, while Newport river and Beltra lake are regarded as one of the best fishing grounds in Europe. Permits must be obtained and we will be happy to assist you.

For the deep sea angler, Clew Bay, is renowned for several species of fish including skate, blue shark, monkfish, thornback ray, cod, pollack, coalfish, gurnard, conger, ling, tope, mackerel, dogfish, bullhuss, and others. Fully equipped deep sea angling boats are available for hire and competitions are organised throughout the summer season. Excellent angling is also available from the shores of the bay and the islands.

Newport River and Lough Beltra West

Newport River (fly fishing only) with 8 miles of river (both banks) and Lough Beltra West - 3 miles by 1 mile. The fishery holds a healthy stock of Spring Salmon, Grilse (Summer Salmon) and still some Seatrout and all fish are wild. We do not stock or ranch the system leaving it to nature to restock and catches are consistent with a wild fishery. It is one of the few fisheries in Ireland where Spring Salmon can be fished from a boat. The spring fishing opens on the 20th of March and continues through June when the Grilse (Summer Salmon) begin to show. There is often a run of bigger fish at the end of the season in September.

The river has 24 named pools with well maintained stiles, bridges and crossings making it easy to negotiate. It is fished from the bank so there is no need for wading. The number of rods is strictly controlled to ensure fishing privacy. A river Ghillie (guide) is usually available on request. A detailed map of the system is available from the fishery manager.

Lough Beltra West is situated 180 feet above sea level and is fished from a boat with a Ghillie (guide) with up to two rods per boat. Fishing is from 10am to 6pm and again is fly fishing only.

Usually a 10/11' salmon fly rod (weight 7/8) is used with floating/sinking/sink tip lines depending on the conditions. Flies used include the Beltra Badger, Silver Doctor, Hairy Mary, Lemon and Grey, various Shrimps among others.

Newport River

River Fishing	Per Person Per Day	€60
River (optional) Ghillie Fee	Per Day for 2 Persons	€80
Easily fished from the banks - maps supplied

Lough Beltra West

2 Rods - Boat & Engine (petrol)	€130
Ghillie (required) Fee	€80
Total 2 Rods	€210

Season

Salmon - 20th March to 30th September
Catch & Release for Spring Salmon - applies for period
20th March to 10th May 2008 only
Sea Trout - Mid-June to 30th September (catch and release).

Ballinlough Brown & Rainbow Trout Fishery

Ballinlough Fishery which is a 10 minute drive from Newport on the Westport road is an exceptionally fertile and alkaline water and is stocked with hard fighting rainbow trout, with residual fish achieving weights up to 10lbs. There are also brown trout present, but in this quality water they are very silver, looking more like sea-trout. Fishing is from boats and it is worth noting that the banks are a chalky marl mixture, very soft indeed and very dangerous to walk on.

Fishing Permits are required
Season 1st May – 31st October
Fly Fishing Only
Boat Fishing Only (Engine not supplied, you may bring your own) Life Jackets essential and can be hired.
Day Permits: €50 boat and 2 persons. Max 3 persons €25 for third person
Day Fishing 10 am – 6pm or 2pm to dusk

Lough Carrowbeg

The Carrowbeg Lake flows to the south of the Newport to Mallaranny road about 10 minutes from Newport.

There is a good sport of fishing for stocks of small Brown trout together with runs of Sea trout and Salmon. The fishing can be done from the north bank.

Catch: Salmon, Sea Trout & Brown Trout.

Lough Drumgoney

Drumgoney Lake can be found to the south of the Newport to Castlebar road about 10 minutes from Newport.

This lake contains a good stock of small Brown trout which is provided regularly by the Newport Angler\'s Club.

Burrishoole Fishery

The Burrishoole Fishery is situated 10 minutes north west of Newport.

The Burrishoole fishery is comprised of a series of fresh and brackish water loughs, stretching from Bunaveela Lough on the far north of the system to the brackish water Lough Furnace, adjacent to neighbouring Clew Bay.

In the interest of salmon conservation reasons Lough Feeagh had been closed to angling for the past 11 years until this year and Bunaveela is of little interest except to the occasional trout angler seeking solitude and fresh mountain air.

Lough Furnace is the lower Lough on the Burrishoole salmon fishery. It is a tidal lough and the water can become quite brackish after a prolonged spell of dry weather. Artificial fly and dapping are the only angling methods allowed.

Fishing Protocols

Fishing for wild salmon (easily recognised by the presence of an adipose fin) is on a catch and release basis and all wild salmon must be carefully returned alive to the water. A replacement ranched salmon of equivalent size will be provided on request.

Sea Trout are protected by law and must also be returned. All ranched salmon (adipose clipped salmon) must be retained for the removal of the nose tag by the scientific staff, it will then be returned to the angler.

Fishing Times

Lough Furnace
Lake Fishing Day: 09.30 - 18.00
Fly fishing only. No spinning, trolling or any form of bait fishing. No more than three persons (including children and ghillie) in a boat, on safety grounds.

Shore Fishing Only available on the Mill Race and at the Back Weir for anglers who have booked rod-fishing in a boat. 1 hour per boat per day at the Mill Race, 1 hour per boat per day at the Back Weir, between the hours of 09.30 and 18.00. A bag limit of one shore caught salmon per angler per day will apply.

Evening - 19.00 – 22.00, Lough Furnace only. Bag limit is 2 fish per angler. No shore fishing at Mill Race or Back Weir.

Lough Feeagh

Lake Fishing Day: 10.00 - 18.00

Only Single Barbless hooks may be used. Day Angling only, must be accompanied by a ghillie. Daily catch limit of 4 fish per boat per day. 2 boats on the lake at one time. No replacement fish will be given for those caught and released on Feeagh. No weekend fishing.

Season: June – September

Lough Broad

The Broad Lake is to the east of the Newport to Westport road about five minutes from Newport town.

Fishing in this lake is for good catches of small Brown trout which can average around 0.75 lbs.

River Moy

The River Moy flows through Foxford 20 minutes from Newport.

The Moy is one of the best Salmon rivers in Ireland and has high bank fishing. The fishing can be productive from opening day at certain points along the river. Small Spring salmon are present in April and are at their best during April. The Grilse start running in May with the best of the fishing in June. Low water can stop the fish running past the trap in Ballina during August. The average size of the Spring fish is around 9 lbs with the Grilse reaching between 2-7 lbs. The Sea trout range around 0.75 lbs. Very famous is the "Rich pool" just below the salmon traps in Ballina.

Deep Sea Fishing

Shamrock 1 33' Aquastar. 120HP
Skipper: Mary Gavin Hughes
Licence: 182 Expires: June 2009
Base: Newport Operational area: Clew Bay

Shamrock 1 sails from Newport. Being Ireland's only lady skipper - in fact, Europe's only lady skipper, combined with her intimate knowledge of Clew Bay and the waters around Clare Island, Achill and beyond, Mary is internationally known for her expertise on sea angling, seamanship and your fishing requirements.

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