LEARN · RULES
The regulations that actually matter for shore anglers on the Wicklow coast, without wading through PDFs.
Quick answer
No licence is required for Irish sea fishing from the shore. Bass and pollack carry the strictest bag limits: two bass per 24 hours when retention is allowed, with Feb to Mar catch-and-release only and no angling in May to June, plus three pollack per day from June 2026.
Minimum sizes apply to bass, pollack and flounder. Each guide below covers one topic in plain English.
Before you keep a fish
Irish sea angling from the shore is mostly free and open, but a handful of species carry strict rules. Bass and pollack are the ones most likely to catch you out if you have not checked recently.
This hub splits the topic into four guides. Each page owns one search question so you are not reading the same bag-limit paragraph four times. When bylaws change, we update these pages and link out to Inland Fisheries Ireland for the official word.
FOUR GUIDES
One topic per page. Follow through for species guides and Wicklow marks once you know where you stand legally.
01 · Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Ireland?
No licence for tidal shore fishing, but freshwater and salmon rules differ. Start here if you are new.
Read guide →02 · What are the Irish bass bag limits and closed season?
Bag limit, minimum size, EU catch-and-release window, and the May spawning closure.
Read guide →03 · How many pollack can you keep in Ireland?
Three per day from 1 June 2026, then catch and release under the 2026 pollack bye-law.
Read guide →04 · Which sea fish have legal minimum sizes in Ireland?
Statutory minimum landing sizes versus voluntary catch-and-release norms on Irish shores.
Read guide →Before you keep a fish
Check whether today scores well for your target species and mark.
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OFFICIAL SOURCE
Bylaws can change. Inland Fisheries Ireland publishes the current sea angling regulations, including bass conservation measures and minimum sizes.
fisheriesireland.ieWICKLOW CONTEXT
Once you know the limits, pair them with scored marks and species seasons on the Wicklow coast.