Bass at Ennereilly Strand South.

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Intermediate

Catalogue rank

Primary target

Why fish Bass at Ennereilly Strand South

Remote, sandy, southerly-facing beach. Bass April to November (peak Sep to Nov), smoothhound on evening crab baits May to October.

A wild, remote sandy shallow beach south of Brittas Bay, separated from Ennereilly Strand North by the Ennereilly River (sea trout run).

The lack of fishing pressure means the fish are less wary than at more popular marks.

Bass through April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov) is the documented core fishery; smoothhound on evening tides May to October on crab.

Set realistic expectations: bass average around 3 lb with occasional bigger fish, this is a numbers-of-quality-fish venue, not a specimen-bass venue.

Surf beaches, rocky headlands, harbour walls, estuaries and sandy gutters, most reliably in coloured, wind-driven surf and around tidal rips or white water.

Remote southerly beach, bass April to November (peak Sep to Nov), evening smoothhound on crab when the sea is settled.

First, lugworm is named as the best all-round bait here (Visit Arklow / regional guides), not the peeler-crab default many beach anglers reach for.

Crab specifically for hounds on evening tides; lug for everything else.

Second, Ennereilly South and Ennereilly North fish completely differently: South is shallow sand for bass and hounds, North is shingle with deeper water offshore for flatfish, dogfish and occasional ray.

Season and tide

At Ennereilly Strand South, Bass is worth targeting in April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov). Coast-wide, Bass runs April to November (peaks September to November autumn peak on Wicklow beaches).

Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Smoothhound: May to October (evening tides on crab baits), Thornback ray: May to October (occasional), Flounder: October to March, Dab: October to February, Codling: occasional in winter, Whiting: October to February

Tide guidance here: The hour either side of low and high water are the documented feeding times here, more specific than a generic flooding-tide window. Dawn sessions on a flooding spring tide in summer are the most productive. Baits fished close in catch the bass; baits at distance reach hounds and rays.

First two hours of the flooding tide in surf conditions. Dawn and dusk are most productive, bright midday sun switches them off. After a good easterly blow, any stage of tide can produce fish close in.

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

Tactics on this mark

Target the first two hours of flood on surf beaches, casting short into coloured water with crab baits or soft plastics; in calm clear conditions, switch to lures around rock edges and harbour walls at dawn and dusk.

Pulley rig (rays/hounds at distance); Running ledger close in (bass); Lures (bass close in)

Gear: open beach. Facing ESE.

• Running ledger, 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon hooklink, size 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook
• Pulley rig in heavy surf
• Soft plastics, paddle tails and shads on 10 to 20g jig heads
• Surface lures at dawn and dusk in calm conditions
• Pulley rig (rays/hounds at distance)
• Running ledger close in (bass)
• Lures (bass close in)

Baits and lures

Bass baits and lures: Peeler crab (spring and autumn); Sandeel; Ragworm; Soft plastic lures; Surface poppers and walkers.

What this mark typically holds: Lugworm (the documented best all-round bait here); Peeler crab (smoothhound on evening tides); Worm and fish baits for general species.

Lugworm (the documented best all-round bait here); Peeler crab (smoothhound on evening tides); Worm and fish baits for general species

Access and ground

Access from the Ennereilly area or by walking south from Brittas Bay, a significant walk of 2km or more. No direct road access to this section of beach. NOTE: Ennereilly North is a distinct mark (long shingle beach with deeper water offshore) and should not be confused with this entry, North requires a longer walk from limited roadside parking.

Parking: Very limited roadside parking only at Ennereilly South. Do not obstruct farm entrances or passing places. The walk in keeps this mark unfished and productive.

Safety: Very remote, carry a fully charged phone and tell someone your plans and expected return. No facilities of any kind. The coastline is exposed to easterly swells which can arrive quickly. Self-sufficient approach is essential.

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town is the nearest tackle option. Stock up well before the trip, there is nothing available locally.

Nearest town: Brittas Bay. Skill level: Intermediate.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 1 to 3 kg from the shore on Wicklow beaches. Specimen class: Irish specimen weight is 4.5 kg; a bass over that is a fish of the season, not a routine surf capture.

Silver flanks with a blue-grey back and white belly. Two dorsal fins, the first with sharp spines. Mouth large and slightly upturned. Young bass show faint lateral spots. Unmistakable once you've seen one.

Tip: Bass feed into the wind and surf, don't be put off by rough conditions. A short cast (30 to 50m) into coloured water consistently outperforms distance casting into the clean water beyond the surf. In calm clear conditions switch to lures and work the edges of kelp and rock.

Irish shore context: record class around 8.08 kg (17 lb 13 oz), Doughmore Strand, 2000.

Same-mark companions

Other ranked targets on the same mark include Smoothhound, Flounder, Dogfish, Dab. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.

Live ranked advice for Ennereilly Strand South updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Bass species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007 applies: two bass per angler per 24 hours at 42cm when retention is permitted, catch-and-release only 1 Feb to 31 Mar (Irish Sea / EU ICES 7a), no bass angling 15 May to 15 June. Most serious anglers practice full catch and release.

Guide conservation label: Bag Limit Applies.

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

Other species at Ennereilly Strand South

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

Next steps

Related article: Peeler Crab: The Complete Irish Shore Fishing Guide

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