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The most exciting time to be on the coast
Updated for the 2026 season. Late May on the Wicklow coast marks the handover into summer species: mackerel at the piers, bass and smoothhound on the beaches, pollack and wrasse on the rocks. Spring remains the most exciting transition of the year, from late March through May, when the sea warms, baitfish return and each session can produce something different before the June peak.
The key to spring fishing is knowing what to target in each month. The season unfolds in distinct phases and being in the right place with the right tactics at the right time is the difference between good sessions and blank ones.
Month by month
March
TransitionSea temperatures are at their lowest, typically 8 to 9°C, and beach fishing is slow. Flounder remain active in harbours and estuaries through March. Pollack and coalfish are beginning to show on rock marks and piers from mid-March. Wicklow Head and Greystones piers produce the first pollack of the year as sea temperatures climb. Dogfish are reliable year-round from all beach marks.
April
ImprovingThe very first mackerel sometimes show in Greystones Harbour from late April, though main runs typically arrive in May. Wrasse become significantly more active as water warms, Wicklow Head and rock marks north of Greystones produce good sessions on warm days. Pollack building in numbers on all pier marks. Evening lure fishing from Greystones south pier becomes worthwhile from mid-April.
May
ExcellentMain season begins in earnest. The first proper bass sessions happen on Greystones South Beach and Kilcoole in easterly winds. Fresh peeler crab is the top bait in May as the first moult occurs. First smoothhound of the year appear on big spring tides. Main mackerel runs arrive from mid-May. Peak spring pollack fishing, large fish hunting actively at dawn and dusk from all rock marks.
Spring tactics
Peeler crab, the key to spring bass
The availability of fresh peeler crab is the single biggest limiting factor in spring bass and smoothhound fishing. Check rock pools and harbour walls from late April, crabs begin peeling when water temperatures exceed 10°C. Collect your own if you can, or ring ahead to check shop stock if you plan to buy.
Match tide to the mark in spring
On the north Wicklow shingle belt (Kilcoole, Greystones South), spring bass sessions often align with the falling tide after an easterly colours the water, the same wind-and-surf rule as the rest of the year. On open sand at Brittas Bay, the first hours of the flood through high water remain a classic smoothhound and bass window. Check the spot guide for the beach you are actually standing on.
Lure fishing from late May
Surface walkers and soft plastics become viable from mid-May as water temperature rises above 12°C. Dusk sessions on calm evenings at Greystones South Beach and the harbour entrance produce bass on surface lures from mid-May into June.
Key points
- 1Flounder and pollack carry the fishing through March as the season transitions
- 2April brings wrasse, more pollack and the very first mackerel at Greystones pier
- 3May is the key spring month, bass, smoothhound, mackerel and pollack all become available
- 4Fresh peeler crab is essential for spring bass and smoothhound, check supply before travelling
- 5On shingle marks, plan around the falling tide after a blow; on Brittas-style open sand, flood-to-high can still be the main event
- 6Lure fishing becomes viable from mid-May as sea temperatures climb above 12°C
Recommended gear
Spring fishing essentials
Recommended kit for a spring session in Wicklow.
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Phoxinus Baitholder Hooks 4/0 (25 pack)
Strong wide-gape 4/0 hooks for peeler crab, the key spring bait for bass and smoothhound. The baitholder shank keeps soft crab bait secure through the cast. Essential from April onwards.
View on AmazonBait Elastic Thread (2 x 200m)
Wrap firmly around peeler crab to keep it on the hook. Spring bass and smoothhound take the bait and run immediately, a poorly secured crab is stripped without hooking the fish.
View on AmazonFFT Pro Breakaway Grip Leads Mixed Pack (10 pack)
Mixed 3oz to 7oz breakaway grip leads for Wicklow spring sessions, the tidal run on Greystones South and Kilcoole demands grip leads to hold bottom. Essential as conditions get lively in spring.
View on AmazonMatrix Bait Box 1.1 pint
Fox Matrix Grey Lime bait box with breathable lid and rubber seal. Keeps ragworm fresh through a long spring session, far better than leaving worm in the supplier bag in your tackle box. Listing defaults to the 1.1 pint size (~€16).
View on AmazonPlan your next session
Mackerel are on through June. See the June peak guide for marks and tide windows on the Wicklow coast.
