SPECIES PROFILE
Dogfish
Dogfish from Wicklow surf beaches and shingle marks, simple rigs, reliable baits and night-tide tactics for steady sport on the east coast.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
See if dogfish are worth targeting todayIn season
Year roundIn season now
Typical size
400 to 800 g from Wicklow beaches
Conservation
OK to keep
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
Clean sandy ground from shallow surf to deeper water, often around sandbars and gutters where food collects.
What to use
Mackerel strip · Squid · Lugworm · Ragworm · Sandeel
How to fish them
Use simple two or three-hook bottom rigs with strips of fish or squid fished at short to medium range, especially at night on flooding and high water.
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
Arklow South Beach & FerrybankBeach
Avoca river-mouth shore complex (Ferrybank + South Beach). Bass, hounds, flatfish; historical specimen sole.
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 October, smoothhound on evening crab baits May to September.
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 South BeachBeach
Accessible competition-grade town beach with reliable winter codling and close-in plaice in calm weather.
Jack's HoleBeach
Mixed beach/rock cove south of Wicklow. Autumn night fishing for bass and pollock; winter school bass.
Kilcoole BeachBeach
Flat shingle beach, great for beginners. Reliable flatfish year-round; codling and coalfish through the colder months.
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