When it fishes well
Falling tide for the shingle-belt pattern. Evening and night sessions for the predator species. Distance casting required for hounds and rays; close-in for codling and flatfish.
BeachIntermediateRailway crossing
Killoughter Beach
A shingle beach in the heart of the Greystones-to-Wicklow shingle belt. Documented in the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board guide as the regard of many anglers as the BEST of all the Wicklow beach venues, the beach turns up quality fish with regularity. Specimen-class homelyn ray, thornback ray, smoothhound, bullhuss and occasional spurdog have all been recorded here.
Open today's plan
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
Falling tide for the shingle-belt pattern. Evening and night sessions for the predator species. Distance casting required for hounds and rays; close-in for codling and flatfish.
Primary target
Smoothhound
Safety
Railway crossing required for some access routes, designated points only. Standard shingle-beach safety. Weed can shut the beach down after onshore wind, judge the conditions on arrival.
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: June to October
- BullhussIN SEASON: summer evenings (specimen-class)
- DogfishIN SEASONSeasonal
- Homelyn rayIN SEASON: May to September
- SmoothhoundIN SEASON: May to August (specimen-class possible)
- Specimen-class hounds and raysIN SEASONSeasonal
- SpurdogIN SEASON: occasional summer night
- Thornback rayIN SEASON: May to September
Field note
Reputed specimen beach for rays and hounds on spring nights, not a beginner mark.
Read before you go
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Smoothhound Fishing Ireland 2026
Smoothhound arrive off Wicklow from late May 2026. Peeler crab, rigs, marks and evening tides for Ireland's top summer shore shark.
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Winter Shore Fishing in Co. Wicklow: What to Target and When
The complete guide to winter fishing on the Wicklow coast: species, marks, tactics and essential gear for fishing through October to February when most anglers stay home.
Read guide →
Practical notes
On the ground
What to bring
Baits
- Hardback green crab (hounds, outlasts peeler against lesser species)
- Squid (rays)
- Lugworm (codling/dab)
- Mackerel head (bullhuss)
Methods
- Pulley rig at distance (hounds/rays/huss)
- Standard flatfish rigs close in
- Two-hook flapper
Getting there
Access
Access via the local road from Newcastle/Ashford direction. The road in is poor, described in SAI session reports as 'potholed' with limited improvement over the years. Small car park at the end. Railway crossing required for some access routes.
Parking
Small car park at end of access road; arrive early on quality conditions.
Hazards
Railway crossing required for some access routes, designated points only. Standard shingle-beach safety. Weed can shut the beach down after onshore wind, judge the conditions on arrival.
Nearest tackle
Where to top up
Wicklow town or Greystones tackle shops.
Gear for this mark
Tackle
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Sand spike rod rest
Keeps rods stable on long beaches and surf tables.
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Pulley rig pack
Clean‑ground staple for distance and tidy traces.
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Grip lead sinker set
Grip and distance options for varying swell and tide.
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Crab fishing lure
Realistic crab lure, deadly for bass on Wicklow surf beaches.
Ready to fish Killoughter Beach?
Check today's plan for tides, conditions, and gear.