The Burrishoole Fishery lies in the west of Ireland some 5km north west of the town of Newport, Co. Mayo. Owned and run by the Marine Institute, it is one of Ireland’s premier Lough fisheries for salmon.
The Burrishoole Fishery is unusual in that it forms part of a catchment dedicated to scientific research. The catch and information from the fishery form a vital component of the scientific returns and for this reason the fishery is highly regulated.
The Lakes
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.
Catches & Updates
If you do want to book or any enquires, please contact Pat - Fishery Manager at the contacts below.
Contact
Pat Hughes,
Fishery Manager.
098 42300 (office)
098 42340 (fax)
087 2377078 (mobile)
email: pat.hughes@marine.ie
Weather data supplied by Met Eireann through the Automatic Synoptic Weather Station in Furnace is available on the Marine Integrated Observations section of the website.