Species profile
Silver eel
Silver-phase European eels on Wicklow harbour mouths: autumn timing, night tactics, and why catch and release is the default.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
Is it good tomorrow?Quick answer
Silver-phase European eels on Wicklow harbour mouths: autumn timing, night tactics, and why catch and release is the default.
Silver eel · Running now · October peak on the Wicklow coast
In season
August to DecemberIn season now
Typical size
Migrating silver-phase European eels from harbour mouths
Conservation
Release advised
Season on the coast
Peak and catchable months on the Wicklow shore.
Peak Oct · catchable Aug to Dec
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- This month
Where they live
Harbour channels and river mouths where silver-phase European eels run on autumn nights. Bray Harbour lists them as an occasional visitor alongside conger.
What to use
Worm · Fish strip · Small deadbaits fished on the bottom
How to fish them
Night sessions on harbour channels during the autumn run. Treat silver eel as a regulated migratory fish, not a casual bag-filler, and check current Irish eel rules before every session.
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.
The Breaches (Vartry Outflow)Beach
Specialist mark, under-targeted specimen mullet on the Vartry outflow under the rail bridge. Flounder, sea trout, bass at the same outlet.
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 silver eel on tomorrow's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.