Conger eel at Greystones Harbour & Pier.

Quick facts

Mark type

Pier

Skill

Beginner

Catalogue rank

Occasional

Why fish Conger eel at Greystones Harbour & Pier

Sheltered marina pier, ideal for families and beginners. Good wrasse, pollack, mackerel and an established autumn squid fishery.

The modern marina pier at Greystones, replacing the original Victorian harbour after the 2010s redevelopment.

One of the most accessible fishing marks in Co.

Wicklow and the home harbour of Greystones Ridge Angling Club.

The outer pier wall produces wrasse, pollack and mackerel in summer; the inner harbour holds flounder, codling and small coalfish through winter.

Rocky ground, pier pilings and harbour walls with crevices and snags where eels lair by day and hunt after dark. Greystones Harbour, Wicklow Town Pier, Jack's Hole and Wicklow Head Long Rock are the Wicklow marks where conger feature.

Sheltered pier. Ideal for families and beginners.

Sheltered marina pier, family friendly, mackerel in summer and a genuine autumn squid fishery on egi.

Two angler-validated tactical edges from local sources.

First, fish AT the harbour entrance, NOT against the blocks.

Multiple SAI session reports specify the entrance as the productive zone.

Season and tide

At Greystones Harbour & Pier, Conger eel is worth targeting in Year round. Coast-wide, Conger eel runs Year round (peaks June to October on night sessions over rough ground and harbour walls. Wicklow Head fishes best around October when the herring run is on, while Brides Head and Long Rock produce only the occasional conger on whole-fish baits.).

Wider mark season: Wrasse: April to October, Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the pier April to November), Mackerel: June to September, Bass: May to October, Garfish: June to September, Coalfish: October to February, Codling: October to February, Whiting: October to February (night), Flounder: October to March, Squid: September to December (eging at dusk into dark)

Tide guidance here: All states produce fish. Bites cluster in the hour either side of high water and on the tide turn. Eging for squid best at dusk into dark on slack water. High water brings fish right up to the pier wall for wrasse and pollack; low water concentrates flounder in the harbour channel.

After dark is essential, conger rarely feed in daylight. First two hours of darkness on a flooding tide consistently produce the best results. Summer and early autumn nights are most productive.

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

Tactics on this mark

Run heavy mono traces and large hooks straight down pier pilings or into cliff-base holes after dark. The first two hours of darkness on a flooding tide are the classic pier window, but Wicklow Head only fishes safely at slack water, so match your plan to the mark rather than a generic flood rule. At Long Rock, conger are under-targeted on a second bottom rod while most anglers spin for mackerel and pollack.

Float rig; Running ledger; 2 to 3 hook paternoster (size 1 to 1/0 Aberdeens); Mackerel feathers; Eging jigs (#3.0 autumn squid)

Gear: pier wall. Facing E.

• Heavy beachcaster or pier rod, 30 to 50 lb class
• Running ledger or simple paternoster, 50 to 80 lb mono trace
• Large strong hooks, size 6/0 to 10/0 depending on bait size
• Drop straight down beside pier pilings or into known snags
• Float rig
• Running ledger
• 2 to 3 hook paternoster (size 1 to 1/0 Aberdeens)
• Mackerel feathers
• Eging jigs (#3.0 autumn squid)

Baits and lures

Conger eel baits and lures: Whole or flapper mackerel; Herring; Squid; Small whiting or pouting (where legal).

What this mark typically holds: Ragworm; Lugworm; Mackerel strip; Sandeel; Squid; Peeler crab; Mussel (Greystones-specific local rated bait).

Ragworm; Lugworm; Mackerel strip; Sandeel; Squid; Peeler crab; Mussel (Greystones-specific local rated bait)

Access and ground

Directly off the R761 through Greystones town. The harbour is fully accessible on foot and by car. The head of the outer (west) pier has been designated an angling-only zone, almost unique in Ireland and a useful access protection for shore anglers.

Parking: Paid parking is available near the harbour. It is a short walk to the right hand pier from the car park.

Safety: Slippery algae on the lower pier steps and walls, use extra caution. Active boat traffic during summer mornings; stay clear of the slip and fairway. Strong undercurrents inside and outside the harbour mean grip leads are not optional. Keep children away from the outer pier edge. Rocks at the base are extremely dangerous, never turn your back on the sea, avoid the pier entirely in rough or swell conditions.

Nearest tackle: Tackle shop in Greystones town centre, approximately 5 minutes walk from the harbour. Good stock of sea fishing essentials.

Nearest town: Greystones. Skill level: Beginner.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 2 to 5 kg from deep pier walls and cliff-base rock. Specimen class: Double-figure conger are possible from Wicklow piers at night.

Long, thick, muscular eel body with no scales. Continuous dorsal, tail and anal fin running the full length. Grey-brown on top, pale grey-white beneath. Pectoral fins present (unlike common freshwater eels). Large mouth with strong blunt teeth.

Tip: Conger live in specific lairs and rarely travel far. Local knowledge of pier marks is invaluable, experienced anglers know exactly which piling or corner holds a big eel. Once hooked, a large conger will kite into the structure immediately. Apply maximum side pressure straight away to steer it clear. At the surface, support it in the water and remove the hook with a dehooker.

Irish shore context: record class around 47.49 kg (boat).

Same-mark companions

Other ranked targets on the same mark include Mackerel, Pollack, Coalfish, Codling, Wrasse, Dab. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.

Live ranked advice for Greystones Harbour & Pier updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Conger eel species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Slow-growing and late-maturing; all conger should be returned quickly and supported in the water during release.

Guide conservation label: Catch & Release Recommended.

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

Other species at Greystones Harbour & Pier

• Mackerel
• Pollack
• Coalfish
• Cod
• Wrasse
• Dab
• Flounder
• Pouting

Full mark guide lists all 19 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

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