Species profile
Tope
Tope fish from Irish surf beaches, autumn peak on Wicklow sand. Whole mackerel baits, night spring tides and safe catch-and-release practice.
Eric, Greystones · Reviewed Apr 2026 · IFI-aligned
Is it good tomorrow?Quick answer
Tope fish from Irish surf beaches, autumn peak on Wicklow sand. Whole mackerel baits, night spring tides and safe catch-and-release practice.
In season
September to DecemberIn season now
Typical size
7 to 12 kg from deep surf beaches
Conservation
Release advised
Season on the coast
Peak and catchable months on the Wicklow shore.
Peak Nov · catchable Sep to Dec
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- Peak
- Catchable
- Off season
- This month
Where they live
Deep sandy ground close inshore during autumn when whiting and herring shoals run tight to beaches and channels.
What to use
Fresh whole or half mackerel · Fresh herring · Large sandeel
How to fish them
Present large, freshly caught baits on strong wire traces and heavy shore gear, allowing fish to run freely before tightening into them on big autumn tides.
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.
Need a full shopping list? Bait fishing gear buyer guide with comparison table, prices and Amazon picks.
Wicklow marks
Bray Head Rocks, The Brandy HoleRockACCESS CLOSED
Serious rock mark below Bray Head. Quality pollock and wrasse for experienced anglers only, never alone.
Greystones South BeachBeach
Accessible competition-grade town beach with reliable winter codling and close-in plaice in calm weather.
Kilcoole BeachBeach
Flat shingle beach, great for beginners. Reliable flatfish year-round; codling and coalfish through the colder months.
The MurroughBeach
Remote wild beach between sea and lagoon. Bass, mullet, sea trout in the right conditions; specialist mullet fishery on the Vartry side.
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 Town PierPier
Deep-water working-harbour pier. Pollack, coalfish, winter whiting; rare connection to autumn shore-tope traffic on big distance baits.
Related guides and tools
Marks, tactics, bait, gear, and tomorrow's plan for this species
Read next
Species
Tope Fishing Ireland: Shore Marks, Baits and Night Tides
Land tope from the Irish shore: autumn beach marks, whole mackerel baits and night spring tides. Kilcoole to Wicklow tactics from late September through November.
Seasonal
What's Biting Now: Wicklow Shore, September and October
Late August into autumn on the Wicklow shore: whiting nights building, flounder, autumn bass, tope on October springs, with marks and night tactics for September and October.
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Bass Fishing Wicklow 2026: Best Marks, Baits and Tides
Where to catch bass on the Wicklow coast in 2026: the beaches and rock marks that produce, the baits and lures that work, and the tides to fish them on.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Target tope on tomorrow's plan
Ranked marks, species windows, and gear for the Wicklow shore.