Sitting pretty between the mountains of Mourne and the Cooley peninsula is lovely Carlingford Lough.The sea angler will find exciting possibilities with tope and rays as well as the little explored bass fishery. The Lough holds the Irish record for Tope at 66½ lbs, and specimen fish are frequently caught.There is also excellent wreck fishing just outside the lough. The area offers shore, rock and boat fishing and there are numerous species to be found. Carlingford Lough, which produced the current Irish record Tope, has some excellent fishing during the summer months with Ray, Spurdog, Tope and Dogfish all being present. Mackerel and Codling are also abundant and an assortment of species including others such as Bass, Mullet, Coalfish, Pollack, Ray and Conger.

Newry Canal and Camlough are only two venues among many for the coarse angler who will find, roach, bream, perch and quality pike. Ireland is not generally known for large sea trout but the rivers flowing into Carlingford Lough are an exception with the Whitewater being perhaps one of the best known for these enigmatic fish. There is also a numerous mixture of wild brown trout and hard fighting rainbows.

The Tope, incredibly fast and sleek, is prized by anglers for its fighting qualities. Commercial boats have taken female fish over 100 lbs (45 kgs) in weight, although anything greater than 30 lbs (14 kgs) is a fine fish... with the males usually around the 25-40 lb mark (12-18 kgs). All the larger fish are female. Usually caught over sand, the male pack fish tend to make for the more exciting fishing given there can be lots of them down there at any one time and they fight better than even far larger females. Tope migrate massive distances and it is officially listed as an engandered species globally so catch and release is essential to its continued survival.

Whilst a 30 lbs rod and reel is a must for standard shark fishing, Tope are smaller fish and you could drop down to 20 lbs especially if you fishing off a boat. A wire trace is essential as shark skin (never mind the teeth) are abrasive and can cut through mono or braid. Normal bait is half or a full mackerel, however small half Flounder baits are also reknowned as a Tope bait. Local knowledge is important in the selection of suitable bait. Ask around, but a forged 6/0 hook is a Tope standard.