Dogfish at Brittas Bay (South End).

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Intermediate

Catalogue rank

Secondary target

Why fish Dogfish at Brittas Bay (South End)

Premier Wicklow bass beach. Specimen bass in storm conditions; smoothhound and rays in summer.

One of the finest beach fishing marks in Leinster.

Brittas Bay offers a long, sandy beach with parallel gully and sandbar systems that hold bass, smoothhound and rays in summer.

The southern end, away from the main car park, is the most productive ground, cleaner sand, fewer crowds.

The beach has produced specimen bass over 10 lb in coloured rough water during easterly gales, the documented persistence-rewarded condition.

Clean sandy ground from shallow surf to deeper water, often around sandbars and gutters where food collects.

Premier beach mark. Specimen bass in autumn storms.

Premier Wicklow bass beach, smoothhound on summer crab baits, respect surf and undertow on big days.

Hardback green shore crab is the documented top smoothhound bait, modern UK/Irish consensus (Tronixpro, Talk Sea Fishing) is that peeler is attacked too quickly by lesser species like dogfish and pouting, while hardback lasts and selects properly for hounds.

Bait size discipline is critical: 2.5×1 inch sausage shape, bigger baits get picked up and dropped, which is the most common cause of dropped takes here.

The conditions tourists avoid (easterly gales with driving rain) are the conditions that produce specimen bass over 10 lb.

Season and tide

At Brittas Bay (South End), Dogfish is worth targeting in Year round. Coast-wide, Dogfish runs Year round (peaks November to December autumn through spring nights).

Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov; specimen window during E gales), Smoothhound: May to October (numbers build from late May spring tides), Thornback ray: May to October, Codling: October to February, Whiting: October to February, Flounder: October to March, Dab: October to February

Tide guidance here: Flooding tide is the productive window for hounds and rays through the gullies, particularly two hours before high water until the tide peaks. After a south-easterly blow the bass fishing can be exceptional for 2 to 3 days. Documented summer requirement: ~100m casts; after storm conditions, short casts adequate.

Most consistent at night on any stage of tide from autumn to spring. Summer evenings also produce regular fish. Rarely affected by tide state, present on the bottom and they will find the bait.

Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb, mid-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.

Tactics on this mark

Use simple two or three-hook bottom rigs with strips of fish or squid fished at short to medium range, especially at night on flooding and high water.

Pulley rig clipped down with 4/0 hook (smoothhound); Running ledger; Surface lures and weedless soft plastics (bass)

Gear: open beach. Facing ESE.

• Two or three hook paternoster with size 1/0 to 2/0 Aberdeen hooks
• Any simple bottom rig works
• Shorter snoods reduce tangles
• Pulley rig clipped down with 4/0 hook (smoothhound)
• Running ledger
• Surface lures and weedless soft plastics (bass)

Baits and lures

Dogfish baits and lures: Mackerel strip; Squid; Lugworm; Ragworm; Sandeel.

What this mark typically holds: Hardback green shore crab (the documented top hound bait, outlasts peeler against lesser species); Peeler crab (when bites are quick); Whole sandeel; Ragworm/squid cocktail (rays); Bait sized 2.5×1 inch sausage shape for hounds.

Hardback green shore crab (the documented top hound bait, outlasts peeler against lesser species); Peeler crab (when bites are quick); Whole sandeel; Ragworm/squid cocktail (rays); Bait sized 2.5×1 inch sausage shape for hounds

Access and ground

Take the R750 south from Wicklow town, turn east at the Brittas Bay signs. Pennycomequick Bridge over the Redcross River is the landmark on the way in. Walk south along the beach from the main car park, the further you walk, the better the fishing.

Parking: Paid parking is available at the beach. Brittas Bay is a popular destination especially in summer so arrive early to secure a space. The car park can fill quickly on fine weekends and bank holidays.

Safety: Strong longshore drift in heavy surf, be aware of your position and do not wade. Deep gullies can fill quickly on a flooding tide; mark your route back. Very busy with bathers in summer, fish the shoulders of the day (dawn and dusk).

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town (approximately 15km north) has the nearest tackle shops. Stock up before heading to Brittas Bay as there are no tackle supplies locally.

Nearest town: Brittas Bay. Skill level: Intermediate.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 400 to 800 g from Wicklow beaches. Specimen class: Fish over 1.2 kg are unusual from the shore.

Sandy brown with darker brown spots all over. Catlike eyes. Rough sandpaper skin. Long, slim body with a small mouth. First fish for many young anglers fishing the Wicklow coast.

Tip: Dogfish are great sport for beginners and their abundance makes the Murrough and Greystones South Beach ideal match venues. If you're blanking on everything else, mackerel strip on a simple ledger will usually find a dogfish. Return them carefully, they're an important part of the ecosystem.

Irish shore context: record class around 1.21 kg.

Same-mark companions

Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Smoothhound, Thornback ray, Codling, Whiting, Flounder. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.

Live ranked advice for Brittas Bay (South End) updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Dogfish species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Abundant; ideal for beginners to learn unhooking and handling skills.

Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.

Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Dogfish species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.

Other species at Brittas Bay (South End)

• Bass
• Smoothhound
• Thornback ray
• Cod
• Whiting
• Flounder
• Dab
• Mackerel

Full mark guide lists all 11 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

Related article: What's Biting Now: Wicklow Shore, September and October

Live ranked session advice for this mark sits on Today's plan. Rules and bag limits: learn / rules.