WICKLOW COAST
Arklow is the southern bookend of the Wicklow catalogue and fishes with a harbour town rhythm. South beach and Ferrybank give pier-style access with flounder, mullet, and the usual harbour species on small hooks.
2 marks · Wicklow coast
Marks
From the shore
Clogga strand extends the southern catalogue when you want open surf away from the estuary. The Avoca estuary upstream holds specimen mullet in summer and flounder much of the year, but it is a different skill set from open surf. Arklow rewards preparation: check pier crowding, wind funneling up the estuary, and roadstone permissions if you wander south of town. This is not a single-mark day for beginners unless you stay on the main harbour wall with modest gear. When open beaches to the north are blown out, Arklow can still produce a sheltered session if you fish down the wall and keep exits simple.
Species calendar
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Possible | May: Good | Jun: Good | Jul: Good | Aug: Good | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Quiet |
| Coalfish | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Good | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Codling | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Quiet | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Dab | Jan: Good | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Dogfish | Jan: Good | Feb: Good | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Dover sole | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Quiet | Oct: Quiet | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Flounder | Jan: Good | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Possible | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Mackerel | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Good | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Possible | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Plaice | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Possible | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Good | Sep: Possible | Oct: Quiet | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Pollack | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Sea Trout | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Good | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Good | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Smoothhound | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Possible | Jun: Good | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Possible | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Thornback Ray | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Good | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Possible | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Whiting | Jan: Possible | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Quiet | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
Access
FAQ
Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank is a well-known local mark: Avoca river mouth complex, bass and hounds on the beaches, check access around Ferrybank. Open the plan page for ranked picks against today's conditions.
No state licence is required for sea angling in Ireland. The state rod licence covers salmon and sea trout only. If you plan to target sea trout from the shore, a state licence is required.
Harbour and estuary species year round; beach bass and ray in calmer spring and autumn.
From the shore
NEXT STEP
Check today's plan for marks, tides, and conditions on the Wicklow coast.