Mourne Coast & South Down
"Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea" isn't just a lyric — it's a genuinely accurate description of this coastline, and it makes for an unusual combination: serious sea fishing out of Kilkeel, home to over half of Northern Ireland's entire fishing fleet, sitting a few miles from wild brown trout streams tumbling straight off granite peaks. Kilkeel's harbour lands mackerel, cod, haddock, coalfish and king prawns commercially, and the same waters are fishable from shore and charter boat.
Inland, the Shimna River runs from the slopes of Ott Mountain through Tollymore Forest Park to the sea at Newcastle, holding wild brown trout, salmon and sea trout in genuinely dramatic surroundings, while Spelga Dam and the Silent Valley reservoirs — both built to supply Belfast's drinking water — add stocked and wild trout fishing right in the heart of the mountains.
Sea & coast
Kilkeel
Northern Ireland's largest fishing port, home to over 55% of the region's fishing fleet. Shore and charter fishing for mackerel and coalfish primarily, with cod, haddock and lobster landed commercially from the same waters.
Mackerel · CodCarlingford Lough
Straddling the border beneath the Mournes — pollack, wrasse and seasonal mackerel from the shore, with deeper channels holding dogfish and ray.
Pollack · WrasseRivers
Shimna River
Rises on Ott Mountain, flows through Tollymore Forest Park to the sea at Newcastle. Wild brown trout, salmon and sea trout — the town stretch around Shimna Road Bridge, Castlepark and Island Park is easily accessible.
Wild trout · Sea troutKilkeel & Aughrim Rivers
The two rivers that split Kilkeel town itself, rising in the Silent Valley — smaller game water alongside the harbour's sea fishing.
TroutReservoirs & lakes
Spelga Dam
Popular for brown trout from March onwards. No boats permitted; a DAERA game fishing permit is required.
Brown troutSilent Valley Reservoir
Built to supply Belfast's drinking water, deep in the Mournes — scenic bank fishing for stocked and wild brown trout.
TroutCamlough Lake
A large disused reservoir, well stocked with pike, bream, roach and perch, plus the unusual presence of bitterling and sunbleak.
Pike · CoarseGeneral guide only — DAERA rod licences and, for the reservoirs, specific game fishing permits are required. Always confirm current permits, seasons and rules before fishing.
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