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Ireland's most reliable shore fish
Ask any Irish shore angler what they caught on their first session and nine times out of ten the answer is a dogfish. The lesser spotted dogfish, known to scientists as Scyliorhinus canicula and to anglers as LSD, rough hound or simply "dog", is the most commonly caught sea fish from Irish beaches. They are prolific, willing biters, present year-round on most Wicklow marks, and genuinely valuable for beginners learning to handle fish and read bites.
Identifying dogfish
The lesser spotted dogfish is a small shark, typically 40 to 65cm from nose to tail, occasionally reaching 75cm. The body is sandy brown or grey-brown with dark brown spots. The skin is extremely rough, like coarse sandpaper, always wet your hands before handling and hold the fish firmly behind the head to avoid being abraded.
The bull huss is a larger relative occasionally caught from rock marks and deeper reef ground. It has larger, less numerous spots and can reach over a metre in length. If you land something that looks like an oversized dogfish with fewer, larger spots, you have caught a huss.
When and where to fish
Kilcoole Beach
Year roundThe long shingle and sand mix holds dogfish throughout the year. Night sessions on the ebb tide are particularly productive in autumn, expect them alongside whiting from October onwards.
The Murrough
Autumn bestThe stretch of beach running north from Wicklow town holds significant numbers of dogfish, especially in autumn. Mixed sand and rough ground provides ideal habitat.
Brittas Bay
Summer to AutumnThe southern end of Brittas where sand meets the reef produces dogfish alongside smoothhound. Night sessions from June to September are most consistent.
Greystones South Beach
Year roundDogfish are taken here year-round, particularly after dark when the beach quietens and dogs move in over the shingle. Reliable even in difficult winter conditions.
Rigs and tackle
Dogfish need no specialist tackle. Any standard beach setup handles them. A 12 to 13ft beachcaster rated 4 to 6oz paired with a fixed spool reel loaded with 15 to 18lb mono is more than adequate.
Rig
Two-hook paternoster or running ledger, both work equally well for dogfish
Hook size
1/0 to 2/0 on a 30 to 40lb fluorocarbon snood, dogfish have small mouths, don't oversize
Snood length
30 to 40cm hooklinks, long enough to allow natural bait movement
Lead
3 to 5oz breakaway on any tidal beach, plain bombs roll continuously in current
Best baits
Dogfish are scent-driven feeders and will take almost any natural marine bait. These work consistently from Wicklow marks:
Mackerel fillet or strip
The number one dogfish bait. A long strip of fresh or frozen mackerel on a 1/0 hook produces bites within minutes on any dogfish-holding mark. Cut the strip 10 to 12cm and thread the hook once at the top, leaving the tail to flutter.
Sandeel
Fresh or frozen sandeel is excellent and will also attract bass and flatfish. Use a whole sandeel or the bottom half on a 1/0 Aberdeen.
Mackerel and squid cocktail
Strips of squid mixed with mackerel create a bait that carries scent well and is tough enough to survive multiple casts. Hard to ignore for dogfish.
Key points
- 1Most common Irish shore species, reliable on almost every Wicklow mark year round
- 2Best in autumn, September to November night sessions are prime
- 3Fish strip (mackerel) is the top bait, far more effective than worm baits
- 4Two-hook paternoster on 1/0 hooks is the standard rig
- 5Wet your hands before handling, the skin is very rough and will abrade skin
- 6Strike on the slack line, dogfish often swim toward you after picking up the bait
- 7Return all dogfish alive, they are a protected species in Irish and EU law
Recommended gear
Dogfish fishing essentials
Three items that make dogfish sessions more productive and safer to handle.
Affiliate links, we earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Truscend Fishing Pliers Saltwater
~€33Corrosion-resistant aluminium pliers with a Mo-V blade cutter. Essential for removing hooks from dogfish safely, their skin will shred cheap pliers within a season.
View on AmazonPhoxinus Aberdeen Hooks 1/0 (100 pack)
~€8Fine wire 1/0 Aberdeens, the right size for dogfish. They have small mouths relative to their body and oversized hooks result in missed bites. 100 per pack at low cost.
View on AmazonFFT Pro Breakaway Grip Leads Mixed Pack (10 pack)
~€27Mixed 3oz to 7oz breakaway grip leads, dogfish beaches at Kilcoole and The Murrough have a strong tidal run requiring grip leads to hold bottom. Essential kit.
View on Amazon
