Fishing Around Ballycastle

Ballycastle has always drawn anglers — in-shore, deep sea, river, and lough fishing are all within easy reach. The Straits of Moyle, between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island, are well known for deep sea fishing.

Rathlin’s waters hold numerous shipwrecks, and the wrecks are reliable fishing spots too — the Loughgarry, in about a hundred feet of water off the island’s east side, regularly produces 7–8lb pollock, with bigger fish not unheard of. Further out, the deep sea chasms and the Pinnacles hold bigger species again, for anglers with the gear and stamina for it. Expect ling, cod, gurnard, mackerel, coalfish, herring, conger, and skate, among others.

Several operators in Ballycastle run deep sea and Rathlin Island charter trips — worth contacting locally for current availability, since operators and trip lengths change from year to year.