Mark × species · Secondary target
Coalfish at Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank.
Coalfish is a regular secondary target at Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank near Arklow. Best window on this ground: September to May. Easy car park access at South Beach.
Quick facts
- Mark type
- Beach
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Catalogue rank
- Secondary target
Why fish Coalfish at Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank
Avoca river-mouth shore complex (Ferrybank + South Beach). Bass, hounds, flatfish; historical specimen sole.
A river-mouth shore complex: Ferrybank on the north side of the Avoca estuary, South Beach below the estuary mouth.
The biggest accessible south-Wicklow venue for shore anglers.
Bass averaging around 3 lb with larger fish annual, plus smoothhound, dogfish, flounder and small whiting through the mix.
Sole over the 2 lb specimen size has been recorded historically, an unusual east-coast species note.
Harbour walls, pier mouths and rough ground where baitfish shoals run, especially in colder months when pollack fishing fades.
Avoca river mouth complex, bass and hounds on the beaches, check access around Ferrybank.
Sole over specimen size (2 lb+) has been recorded historically, that is an unusual east-coast species note that justifies a niche piece in itself.
The Avoca Estuary upstream of the bridge holds specimen mullet (over 5 lb) on float-fished bread in summer and flounder April to December on bottom worm or lures, this is a separate specialist fishery from the surf beach and is undertargeted.
Roadstone Pier to the south is privately owned (permission required at site office) and held the Irish Record three-bearded rockling at 3 lb 1 oz in 1990, night autumn tides most productive.
Season and tide
At Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank, Coalfish is worth targeting in September to May. Coast-wide, Coalfish runs September to May (peaks October to March autumn and winter from piers).
Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov; averaging ~3 lb, larger fish annual), Smoothhound: May to October (crab baits), Dogfish: year round, Flounder: October to March, Codling: October to February (night), Dab: autumn to winter, Whiting: October to February, Sole: occasional summer (historical specimen-class), Plaice: spring to summer, Mackerel: June to September
Tide guidance here: Night tides in autumn most productive across the species mix. Crab essential for the spring/summer bass and hound run.
Moving water around piers and harbour mouths. Night tides in autumn and winter often produce the biggest fish. Coalfish are less structure-dependent than pollack and will chase prey across open ground.
Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb, mid-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.
Tactics on this mark
Fish small metals, feathers or natural baits in the flow around harbour mouths and deep pier edges, letting lures swing through the current in autumn and winter.
Standard surf rigs; Crab for big bass and hounds; Lug for autumn species; Float-fished bread (Avoca estuary mullet)
Gear: general shore. Facing SE.
- Same methods as pollack, spinning, jigging, feathers
- More aggressive takes than pollack, heavier gear can be used
- Standard surf rigs
- Crab for big bass and hounds
- Lug for autumn species
- Float-fished bread (Avoca estuary mullet)
Baits and lures
Coalfish baits and lures: Feathers; Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Soft plastics; Metal jigs.
What this mark typically holds: Crab (essential spring/summer); Lugworm; Ragworm; Mackerel strip.
Crab (essential spring/summer); Lugworm; Ragworm; Mackerel strip
Access and ground
Easy car park access at South Beach. Ferrybank a short walk from the harbour. The Avoca Estuary upstream of the bridge holds specimen mullet (over 5 lb) on float-fished bread in summer and flounder April to December on bottom worm or lures. Arklow Piers in general are 'fishing down the wall with small hooks' venues, same LRF pattern as Bray. Roadstone Pier south of the town is privately owned; permission at site office.
Parking: Free car park at South Beach; harbour parking for Ferrybank.
Safety: River-mouth currents. Mind the channel. Two distinct beaches. Do not confuse access points. Roadstone Pier requires permission at site office before fishing.
Nearest tackle: Arklow town tackle shops.
Nearest town: Arklow. Skill level: Intermediate.
Size and identification
Typical shore size: 300 g to 1.5 kg on harbour and rock marks. Specimen class: Larger coalfish over 2 kg possible in deep water channels.
Very similar to pollack but distinguished by a straight lateral line (not curved), a white lateral line, and a jaw that is roughly equal (not strongly protruding). Dark green-black back, pale flanks. Young coalfish (known as 'billets' or 'cuddies') are common from pier walls.
Tip: Coalfish and pollack are often caught together from the same marks. The autumn run of coalfish through Greystones Harbour can produce excellent sport, small shoals of 500 g to 1 kg fish attack feather rigs in the harbour mouth from September onwards.
Irish shore context: record class around 7.26 kg.
Same-mark companions
Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Smoothhound, Dogfish, Flounder, Whiting, Codling. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.
Live ranked advice for Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Coalfish species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.
Conservation
No major concerns but keep only what you will eat fresh.
Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.
Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Coalfish species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.
Other species at Arklow South Beach & Ferrybank
Full mark guide lists all 12 catalogue pair pages.
Next steps
Live ranked session advice for this mark sits on Today's plan. Rules and bag limits: learn / rules.
NEXT STEP
Open the full mark or species guide.
Pair pages assemble mark and species catalogue facts for this ground. Depth sessions live on today's plan.