Mark × species · Secondary target
Mackerel at Clogga Strand.
Mackerel is a regular secondary target at Clogga Strand near Arklow. Best window on this ground: June to September. Car park at the strand; short walk to the beach.
Quick facts
- Mark type
- Beach
- Skill
- Beginner/Intermediate
- Catalogue rank
- Secondary target
Why fish Mackerel at Clogga Strand
Last Wicklow venue. Two-zone beach, deeper water north for flatfish/hounds; rock platforms south for bass on lures.
The last Wicklow shore venue south of Arklow before the Wexford border.
Shallow sandy beach with low rock platforms at the southern end.
Two-zone beach: deeper water to the LEFT (north), low rock platforms to the RIGHT (south).
The south rock platforms deliver bass to both bait and lures, most anglers commit to one zone and miss the other.
Open water around harbour mouths and headlands when baitfish shoals are pushed close in; often mid-water rather than tight to the surface.
Last Wicklow strand, deeper north end for flatfish, south rocks for lure bass when swell allows.
The two halves of this beach fish completely differently and most anglers commit to one side.
Left side (north) = bait and distance for flatfish, hounds, dogs.
Right side (south) = lures off the rock platforms for bass.
Season and tide
At Clogga Strand, Mackerel is worth targeting in June to September. Coast-wide, Mackerel runs June to October (peaks July to August off piers and open beaches once the shoals arrive).
Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov; lures off south rocks), Flounder: year round, Smoothhound: May to October, Dogfish: year round (especially winter), Mackerel: June to September, Pollack: small fish off rocks, Sea trout: occasional
Tide guidance here: Standard surf-beach tide windows. Lure fishing for bass off the south rocks at dawn/dusk in calm clear conditions.
Early morning and evening are the most reliable windows. Mackerel feed throughout the day when shoals are present but often disappear at midday in bright conditions. Moving water always helps.
Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb, mid-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.
Tactics on this mark
Cast 20 to 30 g lures or feather rigs across the flow and retrieve at varying depths, counting down to find the level of the shoal and keeping pressure constant once hooked.
Bait at distance (north zone); Spinners/plugs/surface poppers/soft plastics/leadhead jigs (south rock platforms for bass); Bottom rigs for flatfish
Gear: general shore. Facing SE.
- Multi-hook feather or sabiki rigs, cast and retrieve at medium pace
- Small metal lures for sport fishing
- Float fishing a strip of mackerel for larger specimens
- Bait at distance (north zone)
- Spinners/plugs/surface poppers/soft plastics/leadhead jigs (south rock platforms for bass)
- Bottom rigs for flatfish
Baits and lures
Mackerel baits and lures: Feather rigs; Sabiki rigs; Metal slices; Small soft plastics.
What this mark typically holds: Lugworm; Ragworm; Crab (hounds); Lures (bass).
Lugworm; Ragworm; Crab (hounds); Lures (bass)
Access and ground
Car park at the strand; short walk to the beach. Two distinct fishing zones, deeper water to the LEFT (north), rock platforms to the RIGHT (south).
Parking: Free car park at the strand.
Safety: Standard beach safety. The south rocks have kelp and rock cover, hooked bass dive into it.
Nearest tackle: Arklow town tackle shops.
Nearest town: Arklow. Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate.
Size and identification
Typical shore size: 200 to 400 g from piers and headlands. Specimen class: Heavy “jumbo” mackerel 600 g+ arrive in late summer.
Unmistakable, iridescent blue-green back with dark wavy tiger stripes, silver-white belly. Streamlined torpedo shape built for speed. Bright eyes. One of the most beautiful fish in Irish waters.
Tip: When mackerel are showing at Greystones Harbour in July and August the whole pier can be alive with fish. The key is getting the depth right, mackerel often shoal at mid-water rather than the surface. If you're missing takes, count down further before retrieving. Fresh mackerel is outstanding eating, gut and ice immediately.
Irish shore context: record class around 1.36 kg.
Same-mark companions
Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Flounder, Smoothhound, Dogfish, Pollack, Dab. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.
Live ranked advice for Clogga Strand updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Mackerel species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.
Conservation
Highly perishable; gut and ice immediately and take only fish you will eat fresh, frozen mackerel is poor bait and eating quality.
Guide conservation label: Bag Limit Applies.
Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Mackerel species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.
Other species at Clogga Strand
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.