Fishing

Royal Canal LongwoodFishing is a major pastime on the Royal Canal. In addition to providing many hours of pleasure for the amature angler  it is also host to a number of nationally important match fishing events every year. On the eastern section of the canal the hot spot for these events is between Ferns Lock (Lock 17) and Ballasport Bridge (18th Lock) which is 30 km long.

Information and details relating to coarse fishing on the  NCFFI website, and for additional information on fishing the Royal Canal see An Irish Angler’s World


Waterways Ireland Greenway Survey

We would inviting visitors to complete a survey on their usage of the Greenway. Click on; Greenway to complete the survey.


Type of fish found in the canal

Roach
Size: Weigh up to 0.7 kg (1.5 lb)
Features: Roach are easily identified by their silver colour, red fins and red eyes.
Baits: Maggots, casters, bread, paste, sweetcorn, worms.
 
Bream
Size: Weigh up to 3 kg (7 lb)
Features: Adult Bream are recognised by their bronze colour, black fins and protruding upper jaw, while young bream or ‘skimmers’ differ from adults due to their silver colouring.
Baits: Maggots, worms, casters, sweetcorn, bread, paste.

Tench
Size: Weigh up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)
Features: distinguishing red eyes and are a dark olive or blackish colour with rounded fins and an almost unforked tail.
Baits: Maggots, casters, sweetcorn, bread, paste, worms, mini boilies.

Rudd
Size: Rudd weigh up to 1 kg (2 lb)
Features: A rudd can be identified by their golden green hue, scarlet fins and protruding lower jaw.
Baits: Maggots, bread, casters, sweetcorn, paste, worms, flies.

Perch
Size: Perch weigh up to 3 kg (1.1 lb)
Features: easily identified by the olive green colour and distinctive vertical black stripes on the flanks and reddish colour fins. The fins have sharp spines.
Baits: Worms, maggots, casters, small dead fish and a range of spanning baits.

Pike
Size: Pike weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb) and can grow up to 1.3 m. Females are normally larger.
Features: Streamlined olive green, torpedo shaped body & white belly. They have a large broad mouth with rows of backward pointing sharp teeth.
Baits: Range of deadbaits, spinners and plugs including jerkbaits, flies.