Coalfish at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks.

Quick facts

Mark type

Rock

Skill

Advanced only

Catalogue rank

Secondary target

Why fish Coalfish at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks

Lighthouse rocks at Wicklow Head. Deep water and severe tide rip, experienced rock anglers only. Autumn herring brings tope and conger.

Cliff-base rocks beneath the Wicklow Head Lighthouse.

Deep water close in, severe tide rip, very deep holes just off the steps.

Pollack 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.

Short: Lighthouse rocks at Wicklow Head.

Deep water and severe tide rip, experienced rock anglers only.

Harbour walls, pier mouths and rough ground where baitfish shoals run, especially in colder months when pollack fishing fades.

Lighthouse rocks with severe tide rip, expert rock anglers only, autumn herring can bring tope.

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.

Season and tide

On Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks the catalogue season for Coalfish is October to February. Coast-wide, Coalfish runs September to May (Autumn and winter from piers).

Wider mark season notes: Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the rocks April to November; biggest fish Sep to Nov on the tide turn), Wrasse: May to September, Coalfish: October to February, Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Tope/Conger expedition window: October (with the herring run as first frosts arrive)

Tide guidance for this mark: Slack water is the only safe and productive window, the tide runs very fast here. Lighthouse Rocks tide rip is described in SAI threads as 'lethal, your first accident could be your last'. October tide turn for the biggest pollack.

Species tide and time pattern: Moving water around piers and harbour mouths. Night tides in autumn and winter often produce the biggest fish. Coalfish are less structure-dependent than pollack and will chase prey across open ground.

Catalogue fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb. Peak phases: mid-flood, first-ebb.

Tactics on this mark

Fish small metals, feathers or natural baits in the flow around harbour mouths and deep pier edges, letting lures swing through the current in autumn and winter.

Float rig; Heavy ledger with sacrificial weak link to leads (tackle graveyard); Lure fishing (jigs, shads); Tope-rig with whole mackerel or fresh herring (October)

Gear class for this mark: rough rock. Facing E. Confidence HIGH.

• Same methods as pollack, spinning, jigging, feathers
• More aggressive takes than pollack, heavier gear can be used
• Float rig
• Heavy ledger with sacrificial weak link to leads (tackle graveyard)
• Lure fishing (jigs, shads)
• Tope-rig with whole mackerel or fresh herring (October)

Baits and lures

Coalfish baits and lures: Feathers; Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Soft plastics; Metal jigs.

What this mark typically holds: Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Ragworm; Whole mackerel or fresh herring (autumn tope/conger).

Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Ragworm; Whole mackerel or fresh herring (autumn tope/conger)

Access and ground

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.

Safety: SERIOUS, SAI consensus is that this is one of the most dangerous shore marks in the area. 'If you fall in you'll be lucky to get back out.' Never fish alone, never in any swell, only in calm dry weather. Rockfall risk from above. The 'tackle graveyard' deep holes off the steps mean significant gear loss.

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops, short drive north.

Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Advanced only.

Size and identification

Typical shore size around 300 g to 1.5 kg on harbour and rock marks; specimen class from about Larger coalfish over 2 kg possible in deep water channels.

Very similar to pollack but distinguished by a straight lateral line (not curved), a white lateral line, and a jaw that is roughly equal (not strongly protruding). Dark green-black back, pale flanks. Young coalfish (known as 'billets' or 'cuddies') are common from pier walls.

Tip: Coalfish and pollack are often caught together from the same marks. The autumn run of coalfish through Greystones Harbour can produce excellent sport, small shoals of 500 g to 1 kg fish attack feather rigs in the harbour mouth from September onwards.

Irish shore context: record class around 7.26 kg.

Same-mark companions

Other ranked targets on the same mark include Pollack, Wrasse, Bass. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.

Live ranked advice for Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks updates on Today's plan. Pair this page with the Coalfish species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

No major concerns but keep only what you will eat fresh.

Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.

Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Coalfish species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.

Next steps

Live ranked session advice for this mark sits on today's plan. Rules and bag limits: learn / rules.