Greencastle

[nomis]

Been looking on google earth and the is what looks like a peir at Greencastle, i will be staying quite close to this and was wondering if you can fish from this and is it anygood?

Cheers Simon.

[saving private brian]

greencastle is one of irelands largest fishing ports and the foyles a busy estuary.not sure bout fishing in to it but im sure if u go further north around shroove and places u will get plenty places to fish

[fishermannum1]

over the back wall of the pier used to be half decent fishing, but has not been great since the ferry service started up. the other pier behind the fish factory is quite good for mullet. just past the pier there is a pathway that takes you along the shoreline, there is some good spots along there to fish, but it can be a tackle graveyard. if you drive on past and go along the bottom road towards shroove you will find a few small beaches, these can be good for doggies and flounder. also try the right hand side of the lighthouse at shroove, and around to the left of the main beach can be very good, hope this helps....

[scrob]

I used to catch plaice off Strove (shroove) beach, about a 5min drive from Greencastle.

A guy I know caught a sun fish just off Greencastle from the boat a couple of years ago, made it into the papers! Mad what can turn up.

[fishermannum1]

A guy I know caught a sun fish just off Greencastle from the boat a couple of years ago, made it into the papers! Mad what can turn up.

hi scrob, a few years ago there was a couple of them sunfish washed up behind thornhill, seen the pic' in the paper, there was also a report in the paper that divers working in lisahally docks seen large shoals of them. you never know what the foyle can hold, sure there was even a killer whale up at the bridge some years ago

[rab01]

What Greencastle are you asking about? Noticed you posting about Kilkeel so I take it you're talking about Greencastle Co. Down?

[The Austrian]

I was spearfishing in the late 70s in Portugal, inter-railing and backpacking with pals over the summer hols, money-less, nearly starved and camping on a beach near Lagos, harpooned one of these babies by accident, around 35kg's in weight, everyone was delighted first until we found out after the mouthwatering sizzles and smells had passed that this kind of fish is not intended for human consumption, the consistency of it's flesh is gelatinous and it's merely used to be cooked into a sort of glue for shoemakers. At least we had a few veggies for a salad and some bread but we gave the other half of the fish to a couple of Germans which were camping nearby and pestering us, pretending it was delicious and we even gave them recipe for free

[scrob]

hi scrob, a few years ago there was a couple of them sunfish washed up behind thornhill, seen the pic' in the paper, there was also a report in the paper that divers working in lisahally docks seen large shoals of them. you never know what the foyle can hold, sure there was even a killer whale up at the bridge some years ago

My grampa says he can remember the killer whale coming up, seriously like wtf! Imagine hooking that badboy Must do some digging on the net - would love to read what the Derry Journal had to say on the whole affair!

[fishermannum1]

What Greencastle are you asking about? Noticed you posting about Kilkeel so I take it you're talking about Greencastle Co. Down?

i just took it for granted that nomis was asking about greencastle co Donegal on the month of the foyle,
ps, sorry nomis if i highjacked your thread with this talk of sunfish and whales, if you need anymore info; on marks around the greencastle area(Donegal) let me know and i'll sort you out..

[bsloan]

The pier in Greencastle co. Down is (as far as I know) private. You used to be able to wet a line off it but a young fella was drowned off it a while ago...its in a bad state and doesnt look the safest. the rock further on round are good when the macks are in...although never caught anything else off them. the beach beside the pier is good for the flatties...hope this helps

[nomis]

Hi all , yes its Greencastle, Co Down.

Im staying on Peir Road between Kilkeel and Greencastle.

Only in Ireland for a week for my brothers wedding end of May, the house backs onto the beach so will give it a try there and any other places you've mentioned.

Thanks.

[johnfish]

hi scrob, a few years ago there was a couple of them sunfish washed up behind thornhill, seen the pic' in the paper, there was also a report in the paper that divers working in lisahally docks seen large shoals of them. you never know what the foyle can hold, sure there was even a killer whale up at the bridge some years ago [/quote
My grampa says he can remember the killer whale coming up, seriously like wtf! Imagine hooking that badboy Must do some digging on the net - would love to read what the Derry Journal had to say on the whole affair!

came up the foyle in 1980 chasing salmon ,back then the nets used to get over 60000 salmon a year from the foyle ,last year the got 800

[bsloan]

The pier in Kilkeel used to be a good spot for macks and coalies.....and there is nice clean ground and deep water off the end. someone once told me that a good head of flatties used to hang around the pier end but i havent ever seen/fished for them...might give is a lash this year as im based in ballynahinch co.down and its only down the road. Only problem is the place stinks of p##s during the summer

[marshpike]

There is good fishing grounds around greencastle, with Bass, Codling, Cuckoo Wrasse, Pollack, Doggies, Flounders, dabs, pin whitting, mullet, mackerel, coalies, strap conger, sea trout and salmon for those in the know.

I have caught all of the above from around greencastle but unless the conditions are calm is doesn't fish that well (even for the bass).

End of May might see a few mackerel in which can be caught around the pier on the fly rod, there are already plenty of good sea trout beng caught with fish up to 7lb so far but the main quarry end of May has to be mullet which there are hundreds of.

I live in Kilkeel and have sent you a PM, when your coming over give me a bell and I'll give you a tour of the hotspots and what methods to use, tides etc

Don't think that I've ever thought the place smells like pshh though

[Big Ben]

Hi All,
I think the killer whale that went up the Foyle was called Dopey Mick.I saw one jump completely out of the water off shroove lighthouse a couple of years ago.I also know a fella who caught a swordfish drifting for salmon behind the tonnes bank so you never do know what's in the Foyle!

[bsloan]

Sorry marshpike didnt mean to offend....had an unfortunate incident of putting my tacklebag down in a puddle of fresh stuff last summer
I spent many happy summers off the end of that pier catching the stripey lads when i was younger and it holds a special place in my heart. would like to try for something else off it....
have you heard any news regarding anything other than mackeral from the end of the pier?

[marshpike]

Either side of the pier is only really good for mackies and sea trout, the rocks the right of the pier (looking at greenore) has produced wrasse, doggies, strap, blennies, codling, pin whitting, around the corner ( to the right) cross over the rocky island and you get about 2 hrs fishing for plumb flounder and occasional bass, the mouth of the river at the top end of millbay is good for targetting mullet.

There are a few hotspots for Bass with fish as big as 10lb showing 3 - 5lb average but the fishing isn't easy down this direction, you just need to be in the right place at the tight time.

Although we have some great night marks around the sea front with decent codling upto around 3lb, plenty of, whiting, flouder and coalies through the winter months.

If you take a look through 2008 reports on here you will see what this area has on offer.

[Whippersnapper]

Had a few nice bass off the pier myself....