Wicklow species library

Every shore species worth knowing.

29 species profiles for the Wicklow shore. When they run, what baits work, where to find them on Wicklow marks, and what the rules say before you keep a fish.

29 species · 22 catchable this month · 10 peaking

Browse all 29 Tomorrow's plan

Marks on Fishing spotscalendar on Seasons

Season grid

What is running, and when.

Top 10 target species for this month, sorted by today's month rating. Columns run January to December, and this month is outlined.

Species	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Bullhuss	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Possible	Jun: Good	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Quiet	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Conger Eel	Jan: Possible	Feb: Possible	Mar: Possible	Apr: Good	May: Good	Jun: Peak	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Peak	Oct: Peak	Nov: Good	Dec: Possible
Grey Mullet	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Possible	Jun: Good	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Possible	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Mackerel	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Quiet	Jun: Good	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Possible	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Pollack	Jan: Possible	Feb: Possible	Mar: Good	Apr: Good	May: Peak	Jun: Peak	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Good	Nov: Possible	Dec: Possible
Sea Trout	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Quiet	Jun: Quiet	Jul: Good	Aug: Peak	Sep: Peak	Oct: Good	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Shanny	Jan: Possible	Feb: Possible	Mar: Possible	Apr: Good	May: Good	Jun: Peak	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Good	Nov: Possible	Dec: Possible
Smoothhound	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Possible	Jun: Good	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Possible	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Spurdog	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Quiet	Jun: Possible	Jul: Good	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Quiet	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet
Thornback Ray	Jan: Quiet	Feb: Quiet	Mar: Quiet	Apr: Quiet	May: Good	Jun: Peak	Jul: Peak	Aug: Peak	Sep: Good	Oct: Possible	Nov: Quiet	Dec: Quiet

Quiet

Possible

Good

Peak

Current month (Aug)

See all 29 species across the year

Full directory

Search, filter, open a guide.

In-season species sort first. Search by name or bait, or filter by season and shore type. Each row opens the full profile with tactics, conservation, and Wicklow marks.

29 of 29

NOWBassPeeler crab (spring and autumn) · Sandeel · Ragworm NOWBullhussMackerel head · Mackerel fillet · Squid NOWConger EelWhole or flapper mackerel · Herring · Squid NOWDabRagworm · Lugworm · Harbour ragworm NOWDogfishMackerel strip · Squid · Lugworm NOWFlounderRagworm · Lugworm · Harbour ragworm NOWGarfishSmall strip of mackerel skin (bright side showing) · Sandeel · Tiny soft plastics NOWGrey MulletBread flake · Bread punch · Maggots NOWMackerelFeather rigs · Sabiki rigs · Metal slices NOWOctopusCrab · Fish strip · Small jigs worked slowly along the wall NOWPlaiceRagworm · Lugworm · Sandeel strip NOWPollackSandeel · Mackerel strip · Soft plastic shads NOWPoutingRagworm · Mackerel strip · Squid NOWRaySandeel · Ragworm and squid cocktails · Peeler or hardback crab for hound-heavy sessions NOWSea TroutSmall spoons · Spinners · Surface and shallow-diving plugs NOWShannyIsome and soft plastics · Tiny metals · Small ragworm pieces NOWSilver eelWorm · Fish strip · Small deadbaits fished on the bottom NOWSmoothhoundPeeler crab · Soft-back crab · Hermit crab NOWSpurdogSquid · Mackerel strip · Fish baits on pulley or ledger rigs NOWThornback RaySandeel · Bluey or mackerel strip · Crab and fish cocktails NOWTurbotLive or dead sandeel · Mackerel strip · Small flatfish strip NOWWrassePeeler crab · Ragworm · Harbour ragworm PierCoalfishFeathers · Sandeel · Mackerel strip BeachCodLugworm · Ragworm · Crab baits BeachDover soleRagworm · Lugworm · Small worm baits on light ledger BeachEuropean SquidEgi squid jigs · Sabiki rigs with small fish strips · Live or dead baitfish under a float BeachRocklingRagworm · Lugworm · Mackerel strip BeachTopeFresh whole or half mackerel · Fresh herring · Large sandeel BeachWhitingRagworm · Lugworm · Sandeel

Rules

Responsible fishing on the Wicklow coast.

Bass and tope are the two high-risk shore calls anglers check first. These figures are rendered from the species regulations source of truth; still check gov.ie fishing regulations before every session.

Bass

Bag: 2 per angler per 24 hours, then catch and release under Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007.
Size: 42 cm minimum retention size under Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249.
Catch and release only: 1 Feb to 31 Mar (Irish Sea (ICES Division 7a), including Wicklow).
No bass angling: 15 May to 15 Jun under Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007.

Checked: 2026-06-29

Tope

Size: N/A.
Return strongly advised; vulnerable, not legally size-limited in Ireland.

Checked: 2026-07-15

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Pair species with a mark.

Open Tomorrow's plan for scored marks, or browse the full directory when you know what you are targeting.