When it fishes well
Across-current lure work for bass on the flooding tide at dawn or dusk is the documented prime window for the biggest fish.
RockIntermediate
Wicklow Head, Long Rock
Guide last updated 24 May 2026Live score checked today
You can catch Mackerel, Pollock and Bass here. Bring mackerel strip or sandeel, and fish a spinning.
The southern rock mark on Wicklow Head, named locally as 'Long Rock'. Spinning produces mackerel and pollock; lures cast across the current take bass with dawn or dusk being the documented prime window. Fish baits will produce occasional conger.
Long Rock is the southern Wicklow Head sub-mark named locally as Long Rock. The catalogue positions it as the bass-on-lures venue where lures cast across the current at dawn or dusk are the explicit Eastern Regional Fisheries Board prescription, with mackerel and pollock on standard spinning gear and conger only occasional on whole-fish baits while most anglers run surface gear.
This mark today
GoodLive right now
- WindSSE 4 km/hLight
- Swell0.2mSmall
- Sea temp18°CComfortable
- High waterin 46mFlooding
Primary target
Mackerel
Safety
See hazards belowSpecies and seasons
Target list and season windows
Pack for this mark
What to bring, and the rig that matches conditions
Fishing Wicklow Head, Long Rock today? Bring these.
Big bait and distance on Wicklow Head, Long Rock, 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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Hooks · pick
Wide-gape circle hooks 4/0
Strong wire circles for pennel mounting of peeler crab and sandeel. Smoothhound and bass standard on Wicklow marks.
Check price on Amazon.ieLead · pick
FFT Pro breakaway grip leads mixed pack
Breakaway 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
Today's conditions at Wicklow Head, Long Rock 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.
Practical notes
On the ground
What to bring
Baits
- Mackerel strip
- Sandeel
- Ragworm
- Whole fish baits (conger)
Methods
- Spinning
- Lures cast across the current (bass)
- Float fishing
- Fish-bait ledger (occasional conger)
Getting there
Access
Access from the southern side of Wicklow Head. Walk required. Rough terrain.
Parking
R750 car park area.
Hazards
Less dangerous than the lighthouse rocks but currents are still strong; never alone in any swell.
Get an alert for this mark
Good day or better. Email when conditions score well
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Related guides and tools
Species, tactics, tides, and today's plan for this mark
Field note
Southern Head rock, lure fishing for mackerel and pollock, bass on across-current lures at dawn.
Local insight
From the shore
Long Rock is the southern counterpart to Brides Head and is the documented bass-on-lures mark of the three Wicklow Head sub-marks. Lures cast across the current at dawn or dusk is the explicit Eastern Regional Fisheries Board prescription, not a generalisation, a specific tactical instruction. Pollock and mackerel come on standard spinning gear; the bass need across-current presentation to work the tidal flow. Conger occasional on whole fish baits, under-targeted; most anglers fishing here are working for surface predators with lures and don't run a bottom rod. Worth one rod on the bottom if the gear is available.
Read before you go
Spots · 7 min read
Wicklow Head Fishing 2026: Pollack, Wrasse and Mackerel
Wicklow Head is the county's best rock mark: pollack, wrasse and mackerel from May to August. The three platforms, how to reach them, and what to throw.
Read guide →Tactics · 8 min read
Bass Lures Ireland: The Ones That Actually Catch Fish
The bass lures that consistently produce from Irish beaches and piers: soft plastics, surface lures and metals, plus the colours and retrieves for each.
Read guide →Species · 7 min read
Mackerel Fishing Ireland 2026: Season, Marks and Rigs
Are the mackerel in yet? When they run in Ireland, the best piers and rock marks to catch them, and the feather rig that works. Wicklow coast conditions updated daily.
Read guide →
Nearest tackle
Where to top up
Wicklow town tackle shops.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Ready to fish Wicklow Head, Long Rock?
Check today's plan for tides, conditions, and gear.