Species profile
Conger Eel
Conger eel fishing from Wicklow piers and rock marks, tackle, baits and safety tips for targeting powerful eels after dark.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
Is it good tomorrow?Quick answer
Conger eel fishing from Wicklow piers and rock marks, tackle, baits and safety tips for targeting powerful eels after dark.
Conger Eel · Running now · June to October peak on the Wicklow coast
In season
Year roundIn season now
Typical size
2 to 5 kg from deep pier walls and cliff-base rock
Conservation
Release advised
Season on the coast
Peak and catchable months on the Wicklow shore.
Peak Jun to Oct · catchable Jan to Dec
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- This month
Where they live
Rocky ground, pier pilings and harbour walls with crevices and snags where eels lair by day and hunt after dark. Greystones Harbour, Wicklow Town Pier, Jack's Hole and Wicklow Head Long Rock are the Wicklow marks where conger feature.
What to use
Whole or flapper mackerel · Herring · Squid · Small whiting or pouting (where legal)
How to fish them
Run heavy mono traces and large hooks straight down pier pilings or into cliff-base holes after dark. The first two hours of darkness on a flooding tide are the classic pier window, but Wicklow Head only fishes safely at slack water, so match your plan to the mark rather than a generic flood rule. At Long Rock, conger are under-targeted on a second bottom rod while most anglers spin for mackerel and pollock.
Suggested gear
Starter searches matched to tactics above
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13ft beachcaster rod
A solid all-rounder for surf, casting and tide runs.
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6000 to 8000 fixed spool sea reel
Balanced line capacity for beach and mixed ground.
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Pulley rig ready-made pack
Fast setup for clean ground and snag avoidance.
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Crab fishing lure
Realistic crab lure for bass, works from piers, beaches and rock marks.
Wicklow marks
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.
Greystones Harbour & PierPier
Sheltered marina pier, ideal for families and beginners. Good wrasse, pollock, mackerel and an established autumn squid fishery.
Jack's HoleBeach
Mixed beach/rock cove south of Wicklow. Autumn night fishing for bass and pollock.
Wicklow Head, Lighthouse RocksRock
Lighthouse rocks at Wicklow Head. Deep water and severe tide rip, experienced rock anglers only. Autumn herring brings tope and conger.
Wicklow Head, Long RockRock
Southern Wicklow Head rock mark. Spinning for mackerel/pollock; bass on across-current lures at dawn/dusk.
Wicklow Town PierPier
Deep-water working-harbour pier. Pollack, coalfish, winter whiting; rare connection to autumn shore-tope traffic on big distance baits.
Dublin Bay guides
Not live scored. Open a mark guide for access and tactics.
Howth PierPier
Busy Howth harbour piers with summer mackerel feathers, winter whiting and dogfish on ledger, and pollack or coalfish along the walls. Mullet cruise the inner harbour.
Balscadden BayRock
Rocky bay northeast of Howth village (Cat Rock / Split Rock area): pollack, coalfish and wrasse on float or feathers, with winter codling and night conger over rough ground.
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.
Dún Laoghaire PierPier
East and west piers on Dún Laoghaire harbour: easy access summer mackerel, winter whiting nights, and pollack or coalfish on the walls. Inner harbour dab, plaice and mullet.
Coliemore HarbourPier
Small Dalkey harbour wall for codling, pollack and conger, with rock and sound ground toward Dalkey Island. Shore access only in this guide.
Related guides and tools
Marks, tactics, bait, gear, and tomorrow's plan for this species
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Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Target conger eel on tomorrow's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.