Wicklow fishing calendar.

The quietest months on the Wicklow coast. Whiting are still present on open beaches into February on night tides. Flounder feed in estuaries and around freshwater outflows in cold settled weather. Dogfish are reliable from beaches year round. Pier fishing at Greystones and Wicklow produces rockling and the odd codling on night sessions. Cold, dark and exposed, dress for it.

The first bass of the year begin to appear on milder days in March, particularly after a spell of southerly or easterly winds. Flounder remain active. The water is still cold but spring is building, a good time to shake off the winter rust and get sessions in before the main season starts.

April marks the proper start of the bass season on Wicklow beaches. Plaice move inshore in calm settled weather in April and May, fish them at 30 yards in flat conditions with ragworm tipped with sandeel above a small attractor spoon. Flounder are still active. A good month for daylight bait fishing before summer crowds arrive.

May is one of the best months of the year. Bass are feeding hard on peeler crab as the first major moult of the year occurs. Smoothhound arrive from mid-May as water temperatures rise. Mackerel begin to show at harbour walls from late May. Plaice are accessible on calm days. Evening tides produce bass and smoothhound consistently, a prime month to be fishing.

Peak summer fishing begins. Mackerel arrive in numbers at Greystones Harbour and Wicklow Pier, feathers catch fish on every cast. Smoothhound are in full flow on evening tides from sandy beaches. Bass are active from dawn. Wrasse and pollack fishing from pier walls and rock marks is at its summer best. One of the most productive months on the coast.

Mackerel dominate summer pier fishing. Bass and smoothhound continue on beaches but popular marks like Brittas Bay are crowded during daylight, fish evening and night sessions to avoid the crowds and catch more fish. Garfish appear at harbour walls in summer and are excellent sport on light tackle. Wrasse are active from rock marks.

September is the best month of the year for bass on the Wicklow coast. Fish are feeding hard before moving offshore for winter, baitfish shoals are thick inshore, and the first autumn easterlies push ideal surf conditions onto the beaches. Smoothhound remain present into October on settled evenings. Flounder reappear in good numbers. Night sessions are outstanding.

Autumn fishing at its best. Bass are still present and feeding aggressively on spring tides. Late smoothhound remain possible on settled evenings into October. The first whiting of winter arrive on night tides from mid-October. Shore tope are a genuine possibility in October and November from Kilcoole and The Murrough, one of the most exciting captures possible from Irish shore marks. Dogfish are reliable from all beaches.

The bass season effectively ends but whiting fishing improves through November. Shore tope are still possible in the first half of the month. Flounder are active through autumn and winter. Night tides from shingle beaches like Greystones South and The Murrough produce consistent bags of whiting and dogfish. Cold and dark, proper winter fishing begins.

December fishing is for the committed. Whiting are present on night tides. Flounder feed in estuaries in settled weather. Dogfish and rockling from piers. The upside: you'll have every beach to yourself. Short days, cold conditions and the satisfaction of catching when most anglers have packed away for the year.