Boat Hire

Boat Hire2025-04-25T14:39:44+00:00

A choice of boats to hire for half or full days, to fish or simply enjoy a trip around the bay.

Self Drive – Boat Hire

A choice of boats to hire for half or full days, to fish or simply enjoy a trip around the bay.

Charter Boat Hire

Courtmacsherry Sea Angling can offer 2 purpose built 12m Aquastars, The Lady Patricia and the Lady Louise powered by cat 375 hp engines with the latest electronic and safety equipment onboard, we can also offer the Lady Catherine a 14 metre Cygnus typhoon powered by twin 500 hp engines built to class 6 specification. For the inshore or Estuary angler we have a fleet of 5 metre Self drive boats with 9,9 hp Outboard engines., including:

GPS Positioning System
Colour Fish-finder
VHF radio-telephone Dsc
Radar
Plotter
Echo sounder
The boats are licenced.

The boats are designed to get the angler to the fishing grounds in safety and comfort. Shark fishing is just 30 minutes steaming, while one can be fishing on the largest wreck off Ireland’s coast, the Lusitania, in just 40 minutes. Both vessels are licenced and insured.Charter Rates: Special off season rate for exclusive charter including rod hire, contact us for details. We reserve our right to impose a minimum charge to cover our expenses in the event of cancellations.

Fishing Exclusive Charter –  €700/boat per day (Wreck/Shark fuel charge)
Fishing Per Person – €80 person per day.
Rod hire – €15per day or evening
Transfer Cork Airport to Courtmacsherry, 4 persons or less – € 90
Transfer Cork Airport to Courtmacsherry, more than 4 persons each way – € 120

Self Drive Boats

With our Self Drive boats several different activities can be enjoyed, for the enthusiastic angler, bass, sea-trout,Mullet, flounder and Giltedged Bream can be caught in the estuary, also dogfish, conger, ray, dab, skate, pollack, coalfish, cod, ling and mackerel further in the bay.One can also just laze around admiring the scenery and wildlife and hopefully observe the many Dolphins and seals in the Bay or even a whale which frequent the shores of Courtmacsherry Bay.

For the lovers of wildlife the estuary is host to upwards of 15,000 shore birds and wild fowl. Seals & Dolphins can also be admired in the inner bay near the many inlets and coves.

The many beaches within easy reach of Courtmacsherry are ideal for family picnics, or follow the channel to Timoleague and trace the route the monks took when they they founded the Franciscan Abbey in 1240 AD.

Self-Drive Rates:

€140/boat/day (maximum 4 people)
€85/Boat/half day (when available) Petrol included

Our self drive 16′ Boats are equipped with 8 HP Yamaha 4 stroke engines. Equipment includes:
• Set of oars
• Life-Jackets
• Anchors
• Charts of local area

Also:
• Rods and Reels can be hired
• Instructions will be provided in the operation of the boat

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us if you require further information regarding any of the services we offer.

How do I book?2025-04-23T12:41:00+00:00

To make a Booking for any of our Angling options or tours, please use the BOOK NOW button on the website.

Alternatively, if you wish to contact us directly, prior to making a booking or if you have any queries, you can contact us below:

Contact
Mark &Trish Gannon,
Woodpoint House,
Courtmacsherry,
West Cork.
Mobile: +353876381003 ,mobile +353868250905
E-mail: [email protected]

Are you licensed and insured?2025-01-16T14:51:11+00:00

The Lady Patricia and Lady Louise are licensed and insured and are skippered by licensed boatmen. The vessel and occupants are insured for charter operations. A copy of our License can be viewed on board .

What about safety at sea?2025-01-16T14:50:53+00:00

Your safety whilst on our vessel is of paramount importance to us.
When you sail with us, you will be given a brief lecture and shown the location of such things as all safety gear. The idea is that, in the highly unlikely event of an emergency, everyone on board knows what to do.

What about the weather?2025-01-16T14:50:09+00:00

It is essential that you call us on the evening before the trip & we will try to make a decision then. If you are not travelling too far, we may delay that decision until the morning of the trip. Please remember that even with today’s technology trips are sometimes cancelled when in hindsight they should not have been. Also some times we advise anglers that the weather will be OK, when in fact we find the following morning that the conditions are not as forecasted.
For charters of longer than one day, you must travel regardless of the weather. When you arrive and are settled, we can meet and discuss prospects for your charter. If you lose one or more days due to the weather, there are plenty of things to do. We may even be able to fish inshore.

What if the charter is cancelled?2025-01-16T14:49:45+00:00

It depends on who cancels and when. The full story is told in our conditions of hire, a copy of which can be found in our ‘Cost & Terms’ page, but in short, if we cancel there is no charge. If you cancel late however, the CHARTER FEE is payable in FULL. If one of the party drops out, it makes no difference to overall CHARTER COST, you are paying for the boat, not the number in the party. Please remember we operating a business.

How many people can the vessel carry?2025-01-16T14:41:31+00:00

Our boats are licensed for 12 paying passengers plus two crew, but, unless cost is a major factor, we recommend you bring fewer – 10 or less. You are however paying for the cost of the boat, not per passenger.

What about individuals and small parties?2025-03-24T17:38:10+00:00

We have set aside individual weeks in May,June,July ,August and Sept where we offer individual spaces and small groups to join a charter together.

Do you require a deposit?2025-01-16T14:49:10+00:00

In order to have your booking confirmed you will need to send us €100 deposit or the total cost of the charter. Any balance is due on completion of the charter. Circumstances under which the deposit is returnable are explained in our conditions of hire, a copy of which can be found in our ‘Terms & Costs’ page.

Where is your boat berthed & about car parking?2025-01-16T14:53:34+00:00

Directions & maps can be found on our ‘LOCATION’ page.

Our vessel is now moored at Courtmacsherry Pier, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, Ireland. Please go to our location page for directions.
PLEASE NOTE: Car parking at the Pier is FREE and there is plenty of room for all. Please call me on my mobile to access the vessel on the marina.

What about conservation ?2025-01-16T14:47:55+00:00

We take advice from the Cental Fisheries Board and play an active part in their tagging programme.

Is bait provided?2025-03-24T17:22:47+00:00

We try our upmost to catch fresh bait daily but they can be scarce at times better to bring a few frozen just in case or alternatively order a box of frozen bait a few days prior to the charter.

What tackle should I bring?2025-01-16T14:45:58+00:00

We have a small tackle outlet on the pier which would stock all the main items. You need to bring a good collection of swivels, booms, lures (especially Jelly worms or equivalent), feathers and weights etc. You are likely to need a 30lb class outfit or bigger for Conger Fishing. Leads of 8oz-16oz should be available, nylon for traces in the range 20 – 300lb, fine-wire hooks between sizes 4 & 2/0, & medium-wire hooks from 2/0 to 6/0. The above will cover you for most of our fishing, but there are specialised applications you should consider listed below.Please see the Press articles in the news section of the site under the Featured articles section for good advice and fishing tips.

TACKLE NEEDED FOR PIRKING.
Rods should be of the 20lb to 50lb class with reels of a sturdy nature. i.e. Penn 4/0 or equivalent loaded with matching
breaking strain line. Cod feathers of muppets are a must, with 8/0 hooks and minimum of an 8/0 treble with a red muppet attached.
Pirks that work best are long and thin rather than short and fat. The ideal length is about 8″ to 9″ in length and the ends cut at 45 degree angles with one inch split rings. Smaller split rings tend to twist and break off when fighting larger fish.

We also find that fighting fish with a bright red muppet on the treble hooks enhances cod catches.

GILLING FOR COD ,POLLACK and Coalfish.
Rods of 20 to 30lb class together with small multipliers such as Abu, Penn or Shimano.
Slow line retrieve speed is essential when gilling and with practice excellent results can be achieved. For Coalfish however it is a very fast retrive.The main line is affixed to a boom in “flying collar rig” fashion with a small snap swivel to take the trace. Plastic 10″ UNI-BOOMS are ideal but there are many different makes available. Trace line strength should be between 15lb to 26lbs and be no shorter than eight feet in length.
Jellyworms are an excellent alternative to Redgills or Eddystone Eels and much cheaper to purchase. Please ensure the tails of your artificial eels are not bent in your tackle box or the eel will not “swim” correctly. All artificial lures should be kept apart in colour coded compartments to stop “bleeding” on other colours. Red is usually the culprit colour to cause this phenomenon. The colours that seem to work best are Black with Red or Yellow Tails. Red, Orange, Blue/White and Green.
Weights should be between from 6oz to 16oz and will be changed as tidal or wind conditions change.

ANCHORING/DRIFTING FOR CONGER AND LING.
A 50lb class rod is a must to handle giant conger especially in the hands of a novice, as even these can be broken if not handled correctly. Matching breaking strain line is essential and should be no stronger than 50lb breaking strain or else we are unable to break it out of the bottom should you become stuck. A 4/0 Penn reel is sufficent. Booms should be of the Zip slider type which are simple but effective, .
Traces should be NYLON as these tend not to kink. We advise 300lb as this tends not to get bitten through. Traces of this quality can be purchased onboard.
You will also require an assortment of leads from 8oz to 16ozs.

What fish will we catch and what happens to them?2025-01-16T14:44:19+00:00

The catch is yours to do with what you will, but you should bear in mind that we are a sportfishing operation. We discourage large-scale fish kills in an attempt to cover the cost of a trip. Of course depending on tidal situations we target different species. All shark,Ray and Skate are tagged and releasedWhere practical we prefer a ‘catch & release’ approach for inedible species & for table fish in excess of those required for personal consumption, unless of course the skipper feels that they dead due to decompression.

What is the cost of a Charter?2025-01-16T14:43:09+00:00

Please refer to our Boat Hire section of the website.

We can also assist you with

Sea Angling

Courtmacsherry Sea Angling offer excellent Sea Angling Trips

Dolphin & Whale

Courtmacsherry Sea Angling offer Dolphin & Whale Watching Tours

Accommodation

Find out more about local accommodation options

If you have any further enquiries, please get in touch with us, we would be delighted to assist you.

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