The Breaches, Kilcoole
Live score checked today
You can catch Grey mullet, Flounder and Bass here. Bring bread/flake or ragworm, and fish a float-fished bread or flake.
Marsh gullies and mountain streams from the Kilcoole shingle belt meet the sea under a railway bridge, on older maps marked as 'The Breaches'. This is ERFB Site 23, not the Broad Lough / Vartry system at Wicklow (Site 28 Broadlough on the Murrough), which lies about 12 km south. The single most under-targeted specialist mark on this stretch of coast, the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board guide explicitly notes mullet 'well over the specimen weight of 5 lb' present, with 'little attempt to catch them'. Flounder concentrate at the freshwater interface; sea trout pass through on their run; bass at dawn/dusk on the outlet.
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Log the result first; add bait and a note after if you need to. Your note and this history stay on this device. The result and bait are shared anonymously to sharpen the forecast for this mark.
Bait / method
This mark today
ExcellentLive right now
- WindNW 8 km/hLight
- Swell0.9mModerate
- Sea temp18°CComfortable
- High waterin 11h 28mEbbing
Primary target
Grey mullet
Safety
See hazards belowShould I fish this today?
Not the regional pick for today.
The live call prefers Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank (12:00 AM to 2:00 AM). Fish here only if you already know the ground.
Today's planNext 48 hours
Hourly mark score with the Wicklow tide curve overlaid
| Wed 2600:00 | Wed 2601:00 | Wed 2602:00 | Wed 2603:00 | Wed 2604:00 | Wed 2605:00 | Wed 2606:00 | Wed 2607:00 | Wed 2608:00 | Wed 2609:00 | Wed 2610:00 | Wed 2611:00 | Wed 2612:00 | Wed 2613:00 | Wed 2614:00 | Wed 2615:00 | Wed 2616:00 | Wed 2617:00 | Wed 2618:00 | Wed 2619:00 | Wed 2620:00 | Wed 2621:00 | Wed 2622:00 | Wed 2623:00 | Thu 2700:00 | Thu 2701:00 | Thu 2702:00 | Thu 2703:00 | Thu 2704:00 | Thu 2705:00 | Thu 2706:00 | Thu 2707:00 | Thu 2708:00 | Thu 2709:00 | Thu 2710:00 | Thu 2711:00 | Thu 2712:00 | Thu 2713:00 | Thu 2714:00 | Thu 2715:00 | Thu 2716:00 | Thu 2717:00 | Thu 2718:00 | Thu 2719:00 | Thu 2720:00 | Thu 2721:00 | Thu 2722:00 | Thu 2723:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | 78 | 74 | 72 | 73 | 42 | 70 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 70 | 71 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 44 | 73 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 80 | 74 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 48 | 77 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 74 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 46 | 73 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 |
Scroll for all 48 hours
What's here
Species feeding this month on this mark
Also: Dab, Flounder, Silver eel, Coalfish, Cod
Grey mullet, Sea trout are peaking this month.
Season grid
Peak and catchable months for every species listed at this mark.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey mullet | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Catchable | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Off | Dec: Off |
| Sea trout | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Off | Jun: Off | Jul: Catchable | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Off | Dec: Off |
| Bass | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Catchable | Aug: Catchable | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Off |
| Dab | Jan: Catchable | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Catchable | Aug: Catchable | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Flounder | Jan: Catchable | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Catchable | Aug: Catchable | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Silver eel | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Off | Jun: Off | Jul: Off | Aug: Catchable | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Peak | Nov: Catchable | Dec: Catchable |
| Coalfish | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Off | Jul: Off | Aug: Off | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Cod | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Off | Jun: Off | Jul: Off | Aug: Off | Sep: Off | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
Table scrolls horizontally to show all twelve months.
Season windows
- BassIN SEASONApril to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov; outlet at dawn/dusk)
- FlounderIN SEASONyear round at freshwater interface
- Grey mulletIN SEASONMay to October (specimen-class possible)
- Sea troutIN SEASONJuly to October
- CoalfishOFFSeasonal on this mark
- CodOFFSeasonal on this mark
- DabOFFOctober to February
- Silver eelOFFSeasonal on this mark
Pack for this mark
What to bring, and the rig that matches conditions
Fishing The Breaches, Kilcoole today? Bring these.
Fishing the drop at The Breaches, Kilcoole, so the paternoster holds baits at set heights for pollack and coalfish. A light grip lead will hold in the run today.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we've used or would genuinely buy ourselves.
Phoxinus Aberdeen hooks 2/0
Slightly larger Aberdeen for mackerel strip and sandeel on pier paternosters.
View on AmazonPlain bomb leads mixed pack
Light bombs for pier paternoster fishing. 1 to 3oz covers most Wicklow harbour walls.
View on AmazonPower Cast 6lb mono
Light mono for short hooklinks and mullet-style finesse; also usable for 12 lb paternoster snoods when doubled.
View on AmazonRecommendations follow the same Wicklow-first editorial standards as the rest of the site.
Pack next
Today's conditions at The Breaches, Kilcoole suit a simple paternoster. A vertical rig with two dropper hooks on short snoods above a fixed lead. Presents baits at set heights off the bottom for pier pollack, coalfish, and mixed species.
Fishing it
Tide, tactics, and local read
If I were fishing here
If I were fishing The Breaches, Kilcoole, I'd match the tide to grey mullet and change mark before I change the whole kit.
I'd skip when…
I'd skip when wind and swell make footing or casting the problem, not the fish.
When it fishes well
Mullet move into the pool behind the bridge on the flood and back out on the ebb, both windows fish the channel. Bass at the outlet on the flooding tide at dawn or dusk. Flounder concentrate at the freshwater/saltwater interface throughout the tide.
Kilcoole outflow specialist mark, specimen mullet and flounder, groundbait and finesse tactics required.
Baits
- Bread/flake (mullet)
- Ragworm
- Peeler crab
- Small lures (bass/sea trout)
Methods
- Float-fished bread or flake (mullet, specialist technique)
- Light ledger with worm or crab close in (flounder)
- Surface lures or sub-surface plugs at the outlet (bass)
- Single-handed fly (sea trout)
Getting there
Access, parking, hazards, and getting back safe
Access
Long walk in from either Kilcoole (north) or Newcastle (south). The railway bridge with the freshwater channel is the singular landmark. No road access mid-beach. The pool behind the rail line is sheltered from open-sea conditions and fishes when the open beach does not.
Parking
Limited; Kilcoole station or Newcastle area as starting points.
Hazards
Before you go
Statutory rules for the regulated species at this mark. Everything else here has no bag limit or closed season.
- BassRetention allowed
42 cm
Rules checked 29 June 2026Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007, Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249
Rules change. Check the linked authority before you keep a fish — see all size and bag limits.
Common questions
- What fish can you catch at The Breaches, Kilcoole?
- The Breaches, Kilcoole produces Grey mullet, Flounder, Bass, Sea trout and Dab. Which of those are actually feeding depends on the month — the season grid on this page shows the peak and catchable months for every species listed here.
- What bait works at The Breaches, Kilcoole?
- Bread/flake (mullet), Ragworm, Peeler crab and Small lures (bass/sea trout) are the baits that work at The Breaches, Kilcoole, fished on float-fished bread or flake (mullet, specialist technique), light ledger with worm or crab close in (flounder) and surface lures or sub-surface plugs at the outlet (bass).
- Where do you park for The Breaches, Kilcoole?
- Limited; Kilcoole station or Newcastle area as starting points.
- How do you get to The Breaches, Kilcoole?
- Long walk in from either Kilcoole (north) or Newcastle (south). The railway bridge with the freshwater channel is the singular landmark. No road access mid-beach. The pool behind the rail line is sheltered from open-sea conditions and fishes when the open beach does not.
- Do I need a licence to fish at The Breaches, Kilcoole, and what can I keep?
- No licence is needed for sea angling from the shore in Ireland. Retention rules do apply to some species here. Bass: retention allowed, 42 cm. Check the linked authority before keeping a fish.
Read before you go
Species · 7 min read
Mullet Fishing Ireland: How to Catch the Uncatchable Fish
Grey mullet ignore most baits anglers throw at them. Groundbait, bread flake and float tactics that actually catch them in Irish harbours and estuaries.
Read guide →Tactics · 6 min read
Ragworm Guide Ireland: Buy It, Keep It, Fish It Right
Ragworm catches almost everything on the Irish shore. Where to buy or dig it, how to keep it alive for days, and how to hook king rag and harbour rag properly.
Read guide →Spots · 9 min read
Wicklow Sea Fishing Guide 2026: Marks, Species, Seasons
Every shore mark worth fishing in Co. Wicklow, what swims there and when. Beaches, piers and rock marks from Bray to Arklow with tides and access notes.
Read guide →
Related guides and tools
Species, tactics, tides, and today's plan for this mark
Nearest tackle
Where to top up
Wicklow town or Greystones tackle shops; specialist mullet bread/groundbait is BYO.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
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