Wicklow coast
Greystones is the most accessible town fishery on the east Wicklow coast. You get a long east-facing shingle beach south of the harbour and rock outcrops within a short walk of the DART.
Conditions check. A fishing call comes with the Session Engine, now in testing.
Hard work
Listed by type because no shore bearing is verified yet; shelter from the day’s wind is not claimed.
A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.5 m, under the beach caution threshold. Judged on forecast figures, evidence level 1: not checked on site.
A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.5 m, under the pier caution threshold. Judged on forecast figures, evidence level 1: not checked on site.
A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.5 m, under the beach caution threshold. Judged on forecast figures, evidence level 1: not checked on site.
A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Part of this ground is rock, so it is judged as rock. Waves 0.5 m. A rock mark is never clear until two wave models agree below the threshold: caution. Judged on forecast figures, evidence level 1: not checked on site.
A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.5 m. A rock mark is never clear until two wave models agree below the threshold: caution. Judged on forecast figures, evidence level 1: not checked on site.
Marks
From the shore
The beach produces codling and plaice in winter when the surf is manageable, with bass in the warmer months. Fishing from the harbour breakwaters is prohibited. Parking is easier from the Park and Ride than trying to squeeze at the harbour in peak season. South beach rewards anglers who read the tide: falling water and a bit of colour often beat a flat calm. Greystones is not a secret mark, but it is honest, well documented, and a sensible base if you live on the Dublin line.
Species calendar
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Possible | May: Good | Jun: Good | Jul: Good | Aug: Good | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Quiet |
| Coalfish | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Good | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Codling | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Quiet | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Dab | Jan: Good | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Dogfish | Jan: Good | Feb: Good | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Flounder | Jan: Good | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Possible | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Mackerel | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Good | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Possible | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Plaice | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Possible | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Good | Sep: Possible | Oct: Quiet | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Pollack | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Sea Trout | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Good | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Good | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Smoothhound | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Possible | Jun: Good | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Good | Oct: Possible | Nov: Quiet | Dec: Quiet |
| Tope | Jan: Quiet | Feb: Quiet | Mar: Quiet | Apr: Quiet | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Possible | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Good |
| Whiting | Jan: Possible | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Quiet | Jun: Quiet | Jul: Quiet | Aug: Quiet | Sep: Quiet | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
Access
Access note: Fishing from the breakwaters is prohibited (Greystones Harbour bye-laws 2014, 6.9). Where to fish: inside the harbour, not from the North Breakwater or South Breakwater, under bye-laws 2.4, 2.19, 6.2.12 and 6.12.
FAQ
Greystones South Beach is a well-known local mark: Town beach with real competition history, codling and plaice in winter, bass after colour in the water. Open the plan page for the conditions check for today.
No state licence is required for sea angling in Ireland. The state rod licence covers salmon and sea trout only. If you plan to target sea trout from the shore, a state licence is required.
Bass from late spring through autumn on the beach; winter codling and plaice.
From the shore
Next step
Check today's plan for marks, tides, and conditions on the Wicklow coast.
Where to fish in Greystones: South Beach and the rock marks. What each produces and how to fish them. Fishing from the harbour breakwaters is prohibited.
Read the full guide, 7 min readGreystones has a long fishing season: wrasse and pollack on the rocks from spring, and bass and smoothhound building on the beaches into June. Within a short walk of the town centre you have shingle beach and rock marks producing bass, pollack, wrasse and more. For north Wicklow and south Dublin anglers it remains an unbeatable local venue.
Greystones Harbour: Fishing from the breakwaters is prohibited (Greystones Harbour bye-laws 2014, 6.9). Where to fish: inside the harbour, not from the North Breakwater or South Breakwater, under bye-laws 2.4, 2.19, 6.2.12 and 6.12.
A serious bass mark in an easterly or southeasterly wind with 1 to 2 metres of surf running. The steep shingle shelf means fish feed close, bass are often within 20 to 30 metres of the stones. Fish a running ledger with peeler crab or whole sandeel on a 2/0 hook. Alternatively, lure fish with a 5-inch weedless soft plastic along the surf table. The ebb tide fishes better than the flood on this beach.
Rocky ground at the northern end of Greystones South Beach, one of the best marks in the area for pollack and wrasse from spring through autumn. Float fishing with ragworm or small sandeel produces wrasse consistently. Access at low tide only, wear studded boots and never fish alone in rough conditions.
Lure fishing for pollack from the rocks peaks from May through September.
Pollack building on the rocks. First bass from Greystones South Beach in May on peeler crab.
Bass on the beach in easterly conditions. Wrasse and pollack on rock marks at Jack's Hole.
Bass remain into October. Whiting arriving from October. Dogfish reliable after dark on all marks.
Whiting from the beach at night. Pollack on rock marks in coloured conditions.
Tides
Greystones uses the Wicklow tide station, about 18 minutes ahead of Dublin Port (same SoT as the rest of this coast).
Best tide (beach)
Greystones South Beach fishes best on the ebb, particularly 2 to 3 hours after high water
Access
No railway crossing for the main beach. Jack's Hole requires careful footing, low tide access only
Recommended gear
Recommended kit for a Greystones session in Wicklow.
Sidewinder Sandeel Pearl 4"
Proven sandeel profile for pollack, bass and coalfish on rock and beach marks at dawn and dusk. The go-to Greystones lure colour when stock allows.
See it in KitSF Pure Fluorocarbon Leader 20lb
Clear fluorocarbon leader between braid and lure, low visibility in Greystones' clear water where pollack and bass can be line shy. Tie 4 to 5 feet between braid and hook or lure.
See it in KitBD EYE UK Sea Fishing Rig Wallet (10 sleeves)
Ten clear zip sleeves keep pre-tied rigs separated and tangle-free. Pull a fresh rig out, clip it on, fish, instead of fighting knots in the wind on the shore. Slim enough for any tackle bag.
See it in KitDr.Fish pre-tied flapper rigs (6 pack)
Ready-to-fish flapper traces for when you do not want to tie rigs on the shore. Size match to Aberdeen hooks for ragworm and crab.
See it in KitBlack Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
400 lumens, IPX8 waterproof, red night-vision mode. Even summer evening sessions end after dark, and a reliable torch with a red mode keeps your night vision intact when unhooking fish or tying knots. Same torch we recommend for winter night sessions.
See it in KitPlan your next session
Mackerel are on through June. See the June peak guide for dawn beach tactics at Greystones.
Your marks
Pin a mark and it sits here on every page with today’s conditions check. Kept on this device.
Find one to pin: 20 Wicklow marks or 16 Dublin Bay marks