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
See if conger eel are worth targeting todayIn 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 from the catalogue season window, parsed for Wicklow shore fishing.
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F
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M
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- Now
Where they live
Rocky ground, pier pilings and harbour walls with crevices and snags where eels lair by day and hunt after dark, the site species guide names Greystones Harbour, Wicklow Town Pier, Jack's Hole and Bray Head rocks as 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; species-guide copy stresses the first two hours of darkness on a flooding tide as a classic pier window, but Wicklow Head lighthouse safety text only allows slack-water fishing, match your plan to that mark's sheet, not a generic flood rule. Long Rock explicitly calls conger under-targeted on a second bottom rod while most anglers spin for mackerel and pollock.
Suggested gear
Starter searches matched to tactics above
Amazon UK affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See the fishing calendar for month-by-month targets.
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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 HoleRock
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; winter school bass.
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.
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Target conger eel on today's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.