Mark × species · Seasonal

European squid at Greystones Harbour & Pier.

European squid is a seasonal target at Greystones Harbour & Pier near Greystones. Best window on this ground: September to December (eging at dusk into dark). Directly off the R761 through Greystones town.

Full mark guide European squid species guide

Greystones Harbour & Pier, Wicklow shore fishing mark

Mark type: Pier
Skill: Beginner
Catalogue rank: Seasonal

Why fish European squid 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.

Mid-water to surface around lit harbour walls where baitfish concentrate under artificial light at night.

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, European squid is worth targeting in September to December (eging at dusk into dark). Coast-wide, European squid runs September to December (peaks October to November on calm, clear nights).

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.

Night fishing is essential, squid are strongly drawn to artificial light which concentrates baitfish beneath pier lights. The two hours around high water on calm, flat nights from October to November produce the best sport.

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

Tactics on this mark

Fish dedicated egi jigs beneath pier lights, working a dart-and-sink rhythm and counting down to find the exact depth where squid are holding.

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.

Eging, cast the jig, allow it to sink, then twitch and pause on a slow retrieve
Cast-and-retrieve with varied sink times to find the depth
Drop straight down under pier lights for hovering squid
Light spinning rod 2 to 4 lb, fluorocarbon leader, squid have excellent eyesight
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

European squid baits and lures: Egi squid jigs; Sabiki rigs with small fish strips; Live or dead baitfish under a float.

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: Mantle length 15 to 30 cm; 100 to 400 g. Specimen class: Larger squid appear sporadically under strong pier lighting.

Torpedo-shaped body (mantle) with two lateral fins running along the rear half. Eight short arms and two longer tentacles with suckers. Translucent pinkish-white with iridescent spots that flash colour when alive. Eyes are large and visible. Unmistakable once seen.

Tip: The key to squid from Irish piers is light. Position yourself beneath or as close as possible to a working pier light, the baitfish aggregate there and the squid follow. Fish the jig at different depths until you find them. When you feel the weight of a squid (not a sharp take, more a heaviness), keep winding steadily and don't jerk the rod or they'll release.

Irish shore context: record class around Not formally recorded under Irish records.

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 European squid species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Short-lived, fast-growing species; no formal limits but take only what you will eat fresh the same day.

Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.

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

Other species at Greystones Harbour & Pier

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.

NEXT STEP

Open the full mark or species guide.

Pair pages assemble mark and species catalogue facts for this ground. Depth sessions live on today's plan.