Guide last updated 1 June 2026Live score checked today
You can catch Pollock, Wrasse and Coalfish here. Bring sandeel or mackerel strip, and fish a float rig.
Cliff-base rocks beneath the Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Deep water close in, severe tide rip, very deep holes just off the steps. Pollock to specimen size on the wrecks offshore (Kit Dunne / Wicklow Boat Charters has multiple Irish Specimen Pollack recorded under 20nm), the shore mark connects to similar water but tide rip and depth holes make this an experienced-only venue. Tope and conger possible in October as herring shoals push into the bay with the first frosts.
The lighthouse rocks sit cliff-base beneath Wicklow Head Lighthouse with deep water close in, severe tide rip and very deep holes off the steps. The catalogue ties this mark to slack-water-only safety, an advanced-only skill rating, and an October window where herring and the first frosts bring tope and conger on whole-mackerel or fresh-herring baits.
This mark today
GoodLive right now
Primary target
Pollock
Safety
See hazards belowTarget list and season windows
What to bring, and the rig that matches conditions
Big bait and distance on Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks, so the pulley pennel protects the cast and presents cleanly on the drop. A light grip lead still casts clean on calm sand.
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Strong wire circles for pennel mounting of peeler crab and sandeel. Smoothhound and bass standard on Wicklow marks.
Check price on Amazon.ieBreakaway grips for surf pulley fishing at distance on open Wicklow beaches.
Check price on Amazon.ieRecommendations follow the same Wicklow-first editorial standards as the rest of the site.
Pack next
Tomorrow's conditions at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks suit a pulley pennel rig. A heavy-duty distance rig that protects large soft baits during the cast. The hooklink slides through a pulley swivel so bait and hooks lift on splash-down while the lead anchors.
On the ground
Baits
Methods
Access
Approach via the lighthouse road from Wicklow Head; not far from the car. SAI threads note access is 'not too far from the car' but the descent to the rocks themselves is hazardous. Only attempt in calm dry weather; never alone.
Parking
At/near Wicklow Head Lighthouse.
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Species, tactics, tides, and tomorrow's plan for this mark
Lighthouse rocks with severe tide rip, expert rock anglers only, autumn herring can bring tope.
From the shore
This is the Wicklow Head sub-mark that requires the explicit safety overlay. SAI forum sources describe the tide rip as 'lethal' with multiple posters reinforcing that 'your first accident could well be your last'. There are very deep holes just off the steps, known locally as a 'tackle graveyard'. Budget heavy gear loss or rig a sacrificial weak link to your leads. The non-obvious October opportunity: as the first frosts hit, herring shoals push into the bay and tope/conger become viable on whole-mackerel or fresh-herring baits. This is a one-month window. The pollock connection: Kit Dunne's boat work shows multiple Irish Specimen Pollock recorded over the local wrecks under 20nm, same fish stock that uses this water column. Local poaching/take-everything behaviour at Wicklow Pier is reported to extend to this mark for the pollack fishing, worth a conservation note. Splitting Wicklow Head into three sub-marks rather than one record lets the site direct readers appropriately by skill level: Brides Head (intermediate), Long Rock (intermediate), Lighthouse (advanced only).
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Wicklow town tackle shops, short drive north.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Check tomorrow's plan for tides, conditions, and gear.