Turbot at Brittas Bay (South End).

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Intermediate

Catalogue rank

Occasional

Why fish Turbot 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 sand and mixed ground where turbot hunt sandeel and small flatfish. On this coast they are an occasional harbour and beach bonus, not a dedicated target.

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), Turbot is worth targeting in May to September. Coast-wide, Turbot runs May to September (peaks July to August summer after easterly colour on sand marks).

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.

Summer sand sessions after easterly colour. Treat as a bonus on Greystones and Brittas rather than a dedicated target.

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

Tactics on this mark

Fish sandeel on a running ledger or pulley when the water is coloured after an easterly. Treat turbot as a bonus on general summer sand sessions rather than building the day around them.

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

Gear: open beach. Facing ESE.

• Running ledger or pulley with live or dead sandeel
• Mackerel or flatfish strip on clean sand
• Pulley rig clipped down with 4/0 hook (smoothhound)
• Running ledger
• Surface lures and weedless soft plastics (bass)

Baits and lures

Turbot baits and lures: Live or dead sandeel; Mackerel strip; Small flatfish strip.

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: 1 to 3 kg from east-coast sand when they show. Specimen class: Larger fish are rare from Wicklow shore marks.

Left-eyed flatfish with a diamond-shaped body and bony tubercles on the eyed side. Larger and thicker than brill when mature.

Tip: Do not rebuild a Wicklow day around turbot. Fish sandeel when the water is coloured and accept them as a rare Greystones Harbour and sand-mark bonus.

Irish shore context: record class around Occasional east-coast shore fish; not a Wicklow staple.

Same-mark companions

Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Smoothhound, Thornback ray, Codling, Whiting, Dogfish. 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 Turbot species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Quality eating fish; keep only what you will use and return large breeding fish.

Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.

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

Other species at Brittas Bay (South End)

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

Full mark guide lists all 11 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

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