Irish Plaice Season: Beach Marks and Rigs for Wicklow

Updated for the 2026 season. Plaice run close to Wicklow beaches from March through July, with the best sport on clean sand and shingle when the sea is calm and the tide is moving. They are a classic close-in flatfish: fish often within 30 metres of the shore, respond well to worm baits with a small attractor, and are excellent eating when fresh. Brittas Bay, Kilcoole, Silver Strand and the Murrough all produce plaice in season on the east coast.

When and where on the Wicklow coast

Plaice favour open sandy ground with shell and occasional gravel. On Wicklow beaches they are a spring and early summer target rather than a winter species, though odd fish turn up outside the main window.

Rigs and tackle

Plaice respond to a long, light flowing trace fished on a running ledger. The bait should move naturally in the tide without dragging a heavy lead constantly.

Best baits

Tides and conditions

The flood tide through high water is the classic plaice window on open sand, when fish move up onto feeding ground with the rising water. Calm or lightly coloured seas outfish bright, flat gin-clear days for close-in flatfish.

A day or two of easterly breeze that colours the surf often improves plaice fishing on beaches like Kilcoole and Greystones South, fish move inside the band of stirred sand and shell where worm baits stand out.

Eating plaice

Plaice are excellent eating with mild, sweet flesh. Fillet and cook the same day when possible. Pan frying in butter is simple and suits the delicate flavour. They freeze better than some flatfish but still taste best fresh from the beach.