Species profile
Smoothhound
Smoothhound fishing on Wicklow surf beaches, learn when crab feeders arrive, which tides to fish and how to rig baits safely for these powerful sharks.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
Is it good tomorrow?Quick answer
Smoothhound move onto Wicklow sand beaches from May to October, peaking July to August on evening floods. Fresh peeler crab on a pulley or running ledger is the standard method for hard-fighting doubles.
Smoothhound · Running now · July to August peak on the Wicklow coast
In season
May to OctoberIn season now
Typical size
3 to 6 kg on Wicklow surf beaches
Conservation
Catch and release
Season on the coast
Peak and catchable months on the Wicklow shore.
Peak Jul to Aug · catchable May to Oct
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- This month
Where they live
Smooth sandy beaches and clean ground where crab populations are strong; follows peeler crab movements along surf tables and gutters.
What to use
Peeler crab · Soft-back crab · Hermit crab · Squid and crab cocktails
How to fish them
Fish peeler crab on strong pulley or running ledger rigs from evening flood into dark, using long fluorocarbon hooklengths to let baits sit naturally in the surf.
Suggested gear
Starter searches matched to tactics above
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Crab fishing lure
Crab imitation for smoothhound on clean sand.
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Strong pulley rig pack
Heavy-duty rigs for shark-class shore fish.
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60lb fluorocarbon trace
Abrasion-resistant trace for big fish close in.
Need a full shopping list? Bait fishing gear 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.
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.
Killoughter BeachBeach
Reputed best Wicklow beach venue. Specimen homelyn, thornback, smoothhound and bullhuss in the catch record.
Related guides and tools
Marks, tactics, bait, gear, and tomorrow's plan for this species
Read next
Species
Smoothhound Fishing Ireland: Beaches, Rigs and Bait
Smoothhound from Irish east coast beaches, May to October (peak June to August). Peeler crab rigs, evening flood tides and Wicklow sand marks that produce hard-fighting double-figure fish.
Tactics
Peeler Crab: The Complete Irish Shore Fishing Guide
How to find, identify, prepare and fish peeler crab, the bait Irish bass and smoothhound cannot ignore. Where to collect it and how to keep it fresh.
Spots
Brittas Bay Fishing 2026: Bass, Smoothhound and Access
Brittas Bay fishes best from late May: bass and smoothhound on the evening flood. Where to park, where to cast and the baits that work on the sand.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Target smoothhound on tomorrow's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.