◀ Locations

Ballynamona Beach

East Cork · shore · ⭐ Beginner-friendly

Fish you'll catch here

BassFlounderCodling

How to fish it

Surf Fishing

Gear & bait

Bass BeachcasterBeginner spinning setup LugwormRagwormPeeler Crab

When to go

Year-round; codling autumn–winter · Two hours either side of high water

Ballynamona is a sizeable East Cork beach with the added feature of a sheltered lagoon behind the main strand. The most productive fishing is concentrated at the lagoon entrance — a natural run of water created as the tide floods and ebbs through the gap — which focuses feeding fish in a predictable channel that can be covered with a well-placed cast. The two hours either side of high water are the key session, with bass the primary target on peeler crab and lugworm fished on the run of the tide. Flounder are common alongside and respond to the same baits; codling join the mix from autumn through winter, with worm baits accounting for most fish. One practical advantage of Ballynamona is that lugworm can be dug directly on the beach at low tide, reducing the need to carry heavy bait supplies.

The beach itself is easy walking and the car park makes access straightforward, making this a convenient family-friendly mark. Tackle requirements are modest — a medium beachcaster or even a lighter bass rod will cover most situations — and the sheltered aspect of the beach means it remains fishable in conditions that would rule out more exposed stands along this coastline.

Where it is