Species profile
Bass
Bass fishing on the Wicklow coast from surf beaches and rock marks, learn best months, tides, baits and lure tactics for consistent bass from the shore.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
Is it good today?Quick answer
Bass feed on Wicklow surf beaches and rock marks from April to November, peaking September to November. Peeler crab, sandeel and soft plastics on flood tides after an easterly blow are the go-to tactics.
Bass · Running now · September to November peak on the Wicklow coast · Good conditions today
In season
April to NovemberIn season now
Typical size
1 to 3 kg from the shore on Wicklow beaches
Retention today
Retention allowedOpen
Conservation
Bag limits apply
Bag limits and closures
Live retention status and statutory rules for bass on the Wicklow shore.
Retention today
Retention allowed
- Bag limit
- 2 per angler per 24 hours, then catch and release
- Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007
- Minimum size
- 42 cm
- Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249
Annual closure windows
- EU catch-and-release window · 1 Feb to 31 Mar · Catch and release only (Irish Sea (ICES Division 7a), including Wicklow)
- Irish spawning closure · 15 May to 15 Jun · No angling
Sources: Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007 · Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249
Verified June 2026Bass legislation changes annually. Check fishinginireland.info and verify the instrument numbers above on EUR-Lex or the Irish Statute Book for the current rules.
Season on the coast
Peak and catchable months on the Wicklow shore.
Peak Sep to Nov · catchable Apr to Nov
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- This month
Where they live
Surf beaches, rocky headlands, harbour walls, estuaries and sandy gutters, most reliably in coloured, wind-driven surf and around tidal rips or white water.
What to use
Peeler crab (spring and autumn) · Sandeel · Ragworm · Soft plastic lures · Surface poppers and walkers
How to fish them
Target the first two hours of flood on surf beaches, casting short into coloured water with crab baits or soft plastics; in calm clear conditions, switch to lures around rock edges and harbour walls at dawn and dusk.
Suggested gear
Starter searches matched to tactics above
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Affiliate disclosure: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we've used or would genuinely buy ourselves.
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Bass surface popper
Surface lure for bass in calm conditions.
- View on Amazon →
Soft plastic bass lures
Paddle tail shads for dawn and dusk bass.
- View on Amazon →
Crab fishing lure
Proven crab imitation for shore bass.
Need a full shopping list? Bass lure buyer guide with comparison table, prices and Amazon picks.
Wicklow marks
Arklow South Beach & FerrybankBeach
Avoca river-mouth shore complex (Ferrybank + South Beach). Bass, hounds, flatfish; historical specimen sole.
Bray HarbourPier
Dargle-mouth working harbour. LRF-style mixed-species pier; codling, dab, flounder and plaice with summer bass and mullet.
Bray Head Rocks, The Brandy HoleRockACCESS CLOSED
Serious rock mark below Bray Head. Quality pollock and wrasse for experienced anglers only, never alone.
Brittas Bay (South End)Beach
Premier Wicklow bass beach. Specimen bass in storm conditions; smoothhound and rays in summer.
Clogga StrandBeach
Last Wicklow venue. Two-zone beach, deeper water north for flatfish/hounds; rock platforms south for bass on lures.
Ennereilly Strand SouthBeach
Remote, sandy, southerly-facing beach. Bass April to November (peak Sep to Nov), smoothhound on evening crab baits May to October.
Five Mile PointBeach
Specimen smoothhound run on spring nights, the single insight justifying this mark. May ray/plaice; nursery beach the rest of the year.
Greystones Harbour & PierPier
Sheltered marina pier, ideal for families and beginners. Good wrasse, pollock, mackerel and an established autumn squid fishery.
Dublin Bay guides
Not live scored. Open a mark guide for access and tactics.
Red Rock, SuttonRock
Sutton channel and Martello rock ground: bass and flatfish into the channel, with peeler crab and mussel beds nearby at low water.
Dollymount StrandBeach
Long firm-sand beach on Bull Island for bass and flatfish, with evening autumn tides the classic window. Codling after winter colour.
North Bull WallPier
Long stone wall out from Dollymount / Clontarf into Dublin Bay. Flounder, dab, pollack, whiting and dogfish; bass possible but less consistent.
Poolbeg South WallPier
South Bull Wall out to Poolbeg Lighthouse: summer mackerel, pollack and conger on the wall, with honest notes on industrial harbour traffic.
Sandymount StrandBeach
Wide Dublin Bay sand for bass and flounder from half flood to high, with lug beds below the promenade and cockle ground toward the low line.
Killiney BeachBeach
Steep shingle and sand storm beach in Killiney Bay: bass and flounder after dark, winter codling and coalfish, summer mackerel when shoals push in.
Related guides and tools
Marks, tactics, bait, gear, and today's plan for this species
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Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Target bass on today's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.