Best River in County Kerry
The Best Salmon River in County Kerry
My Take on the Data
I don't normally write big blogs like this but I feel obliged to do so at this very moment, because I've been asked a lot lately which is the best salmon river in County Kerry and I feel the answer needs to be clear, straight, and based on the actual numbers.
I pride myself on being truthful and straight, even though my life has been up and down since I walked through the crowd…
When I started off fishing as a four year old, I knew nothing about which river was best and as my father was a fishery officer, (good and bad) I have actually being around angling my whole life…
As I got older I taught myself why, some rivers are better than others…
It was only when, I got into my 20's and 30's that I really started looking at the data properly…
The fact is, there is data from the Inland Fisheries Board and TEGOS (Technical Expert Group on Salmon) that tells us something very clear about Kerry's salmon rivers.
The River Laune
The Numbers Don't Lie. lf you take a glance at the catch records from the Inland Fishery Board, it makes for interesting reading. The River Laune is the best salmon river in County Kerry, and I'm not saying this because I want to Sound clever, I'm saying it because the numbers back it up.
The Laune consistently features in the top five fisheries for salmon angling catch year in, year out across Ireland. In 2022, the Laune accounted for 23% of the overall national commercial salmon catch in Kerry – that's massive when you think about it. Kerry had just under 2,000 commercial salmon catches that year and the Laune pulled nearly a quarter of that.
The river also has a strong spring salmon run, which is something special. Most rivers in Kerry don't have that. The fisheries on the upper section of the river provide the best chance of connecting with a spring fish, and if you've ever hooked a spring salmon you know what I'm talking about.
The River Feale
The Wild River Alternative
The River Feale is rated as one of the outstanding Salmon and Sea Trout rivers in Ireland. In a good season it is estimated to produce 1,500 Salmon and Grilse to rod and line and well over 2,000 Sea Trout.
The Feale is one of the few rivers in the entire Shannon catchment that is still open for angling having a sustainable totally wild salmon run. After 2019 the Feale was made catch and release by IFI for the first time which meant all salmon and sea trout over 40cm must be returned. This law is reviewed regularly.
The Feale is probably the most serious rival to the Laune if you value a wild river with a big reputation and strong historical production. But when you look at the combined commercial and recreational catch figures, the Laune edges it.
The River Roughty – Good but Constrained
The Roughty is important too, but the fact IFI uses brown-tag draw management there is a sign of tighter stock control. In 2025 there were 74 brown tags available for the Roughty, distributed to anglers via four draws during the season. This tells you the stock needs protection and opportunity is more limited than the Laune or Feale.
Why the Laune Wins
The Laune leads because it combines:
Strong catch record – 23% of Kerry's commercial catch, top five nationally for rod angling.
Spring run – meaning you get fish earlier in the season when most rivers are empty
Season length – best fishing from June through September, with fresh salmon caught throughout.
Access – multiple permit options, private beats, and IFI stretches.
The river Laune has so many different fishing right owners it can be a nightmare, but that also means there's fishing for different types of anglers.
My Ranking for Best Salmon River in County Kerry.
River Laune – best all-round combination of catch data, spring run, and consistency.
River Feale – strongest wild-river alternative, catch and release now in place.
River Roughty – good river, but more constrained by tag/draw management.
River Maine – has improved since the fish counter was introduced, but still behind the top three.
If you're new to Kerry salmon fishing or you're planning a trip and want the best chance, fish the Laune. If you're a purist who wants wild fish and catch and release, the Feale is your river.
The data is there if you look for it. The Laune is the best salmon river in County Kerry on the balance of fish counter data, commercial catch significance, and recreational catch performance.
Tight Lines…
Daniel
