Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Angling at Lough Cowey

The fishery is stocked on a regular basis and has good quality over wintered fish available in early spring. Bags of large fish are frequent with traditional Irish fly patterns, buzzers and streamers being amongst the most popular flies.

Key information about Lough Cowey

Nearest Town Portaferry
Area/Length 18.2 hectares
Species Brown trout and Pike
Season 1 March to 31 October
All year round for Pike only
Methods

Trout - fly fishing only

Pike - deadbaiting from car park bank
Daily Bag Limit 4 trout
1 pike up to 4 kilos
Boats

No boats allowed. See latest news for update, click below;
Licence DCAL Game Fishing Rod Licence
Permit DCAL Game Fishing Permit

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) directly manages Lough Cowey. A DCAL Game Rod Licence and Game Permit are required.

A car-park is provided on the south shore. The ferry linking Strangford and Portaferry makes Lough Cowey easily accessible from Downpatrick and the lough is only 40 km from Belfast.

How to get there

Click on the button directly below for a map and you will see an arrow which shows Lough Cowey.

Open location in Google Map

Click on the map further down to the right on this page for a more detailed view of the location.

Map of Lough Cowey

From Belfast travel eastwards on the A20 to Newtownards. Continue on the A20 through Greyabbey and Kircubbin. The lough is on the right near the main road, 4 km before you reach Portaferry.