When it fishes well
First two hours of the fill is the most-cited productive window. HW for mackerel spinning. Night sessions on the outer wall for codling and dabs.
PierBeginner
Bray Harbour
Working harbour at the mouth of the River Dargle, two breakwaters and a slipway. The most accessible north-Wicklow venue for Dublin-based anglers. Fishes more like a UK LRF (Light Rock Fishing) venue than a heavy beachcaster mark, small hooks, light leads, rag baits are the productive setup. Codling, dabs, flounder and plaice are regular catches with bass appearing periodically in summer; shoals of mullet visit the inner harbour. Northern Bray Head rocks (separate alternative) for float fishing wrasse, pollack and mackerel when the beach is mobbed.
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SSE 26
Wind
1.0m
Swell
Flooding · High in 6h 21m
Tide
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Session plan
Ranked marks, species targets and today's call for the Wicklow coast live on the plan page — not on individual mark guides.
Open today's planTide window
First two hours of the fill is the most-cited productive window. HW for mackerel spinning. Night sessions on the outer wall for codling and dabs.
Primary target
Codling
Safety
Busy with public year-round; family suitable on the inner walls. Standard pier safety; live boat traffic.
Live readings
Tides and weather charts. Confirm tides and Met Éireann sea-area forecasts before travelling.
Species and seasons
Target list and season windows
- BassIN SEASON: periodic summer
- CoalfishIN SEASONSeasonal
- Corkwing wrasseIN SEASONand Shanny: year round on light gear
- FlounderIN SEASON: year round
- Grey mulletIN SEASON: summer shoals in inner harbour
- MackerelIN SEASON: June to September (HW spinning)
- PlaiceIN SEASON: spring to summer
- PollockIN SEASONSeasonal
- ShannyIN SEASONSeasonal
- Silver eelIN SEASONSeasonal
- WhitingIN SEASONSeasonal
Field note
Dargle mouth harbour, mixed LRF species, dab and flounder, summer bass and mullet in the channel.
Read before you go
Tactics · 6 min read
Bass Fishing from Irish Piers: A Practical Guide
How to catch bass from harbour walls and piers in Ireland: the right lures, baits, timing and approach for pier bass from spring through autumn.
Read guide →Species · 7 min read
Mackerel Fishing Ireland 2026
Mackerel arrive off Wicklow in late May. Best marks, rigs and timing for shore mackerel in Ireland, updated 2026.
Read guide →Species · 6 min read
Flounder Fishing in Ireland: Shore Guide
How to catch flounder from Irish beaches and piers: the best marks, baits, rigs and tides for one of the most reliable winter shore species on the Wicklow coast.
Read guide →
Practical notes
On the ground
What to bring
Baits
- Ragworm
- Lugworm
- Mackerel strip
- Sandeel
Methods
- Two-hook flapper with size 6 hooks (LRF-style)
- Light spinning rod
- Mackerel feathers at HW
- Standard ledger for night codling
Getting there
Access
Free parking on Bray seafront; harbour fully accessible on foot. The southern end of Bray beach proper, where the Loughlinstown River enters the sea, holds wrasse and rockling on weed-covered rock and occasional specimen autumn bass. Access to the beach is via an underpass from the R119.
Parking
Free parking on Bray seafront.
Hazards
Busy with public year-round; family suitable on the inner walls. Standard pier safety; live boat traffic.
Nearest tackle
Where to top up
Bray town has fishing tackle shops within walking distance of the seafront.
Gear for this mark
Tackle
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12ft pier rod (medium)
Comfortable length for walls, float work and lures.
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Feather rig pack
Mackerel and pollack sessions made simple.
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Sabiki rig pack
Great for small baitfish when shoals are in.
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20 to 30g metal lure set
Metals for quick, mobile spinning from piers.
Ready to fish Bray Harbour?
Check today's plan for tides, conditions, and gear.