What fish can you catch at Greystones South Beach?

Greystones South Beach produces Codling, Pollack, Dab, Coalfish and Plaice. Which of those are actually feeding depends on the month: the season grid on this page shows the peak and catchable months for every species listed here.

What bait works at Greystones South Beach?

Ragworm, Lugworm (winter), Peeler crab (summer) and Sandeel are the baits that work at Greystones South Beach, fished on running ledger, two-hook flapper and worm cocktail with spoon attractor (plaice).

Do I need a licence to fish at Greystones South Beach, and what can I keep?

No State rod licence for ordinary sea angling. Salmon and sea trout need one. Retention rules do apply to some species here. Pollack: retention allowed, no statutory minimum and bass: retention allowed, 42 cm. Check the linked authority before keeping a fish.

Wicklow coast

Greystones South Beach

Beach, Greystones. The usual tide here: the first of the ebb into the run of the ebb.

Codling
Pollack
Dab
Coalfish
Plaice

Now until 04:07

Hard work

The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb after dark. Yellow Small Craft warning covers some or all of this window.

Wind: SW 28 km/hGusts 28 km/h
Waves: 0.6 mLight surf, over the window
Tide: Low 04:350.3 m

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland, in force. Read it in full

The coast’s call for these hours: effort from the wind, gusts and rain read at Greystones. Not a call on this mark, and whether the fish are there is not called.

Illustration, made with Adobe Firefly.

Sunrise07:10

Sunset17:05

Moon, calculatedFull moon (100%)

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland, in force for the Wicklow coast. Checked 00:24.Hazards not checked on site. Moderate hazard: strong current. Tide now: falling, low water at 04:35, 0.3 m.

Next 24 hours at Greystones

Tide, light, wind and sea conditions for your session. The wind is read at Greystones; which way this mark faces is not verified yet, so it is not judged against its shore.

View detailed forecast

Sunrise 07:10Sunset 17:05High 11:102.7 mHigh 23:252.8 mNow

The next 24 hours: the next tide window 00:25 to 04:07, Hard work; low water 04:35, 0.3 m; high water 11:10, 2.7 m; low water 17:00, 0.4 m; high water 23:25, 2.8 m; sunrise 07:10, sunset 17:05.

Wind, gusts and rain by the hour, read at Greystones
Hour	Wind km/h	Gusts km/h	Rain mm
00:00	21 from SW	27	0
01:00	17 from SSW	25	0
02:00	17 from SSW	22	0
03:00	19 from S	23	0
04:00	28 from S	28	0.4
05:00	40 from S	40	1.1
06:00	45 from S	49	1.3
07:00	47 from S	57	2.0
08:00	48 from S	60	1.2
09:00	41 from SSW	60	0.3
10:00	35 from SSW	55	0
11:00	37 from SSW	50	0
12:00	41 from SSW	53	0
13:00	45 from SSW	59	0.1
14:00	45 from SSW	64	0
15:00	46 from SSW	65	0
16:00	47 from SSW	66	0.1
17:00	48 from SSW	69	0.2
18:00	48 from SSW	73	0.2
19:00	52 from S	76	0.5
20:00	55 from S	80	1.1
21:00	57 from S	82	1.6
22:00	56 from S	81	0.4
23:00	53 from SSW	78	0.3

Wind and rain at Greystones: MET Norway. Gusts: Met Éireann. Tide: Marine Institute, predicted. Light from the sun’s position; the moon, full moon, about 100% lit, calculated.

The coast north to south

Check the latest wind at each stretch of the coast.

View all areas

Illustrations, made with Adobe Firefly.

Safety here

Beaches today: Caution. A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.5 m, under the beach caution threshold.

Not verified · last checked 1 October 2026

Hazards: not checked on site. Assume the worst footing and tide cut-off, and read the hazard notes below as a starting point.

Read: Wicklow County Council, Greystones Municipal District, "Pay Parking".

Fishing permission: not checked. No bye-law, harbour rule or landowner permission has been read for this mark.

Moderate hazard

Strong current

Rocky outcrops at the southern end can be slippery at low water. Busy with swimmers and walkers in summer; fish dawn and dusk. Longshore drift can be strong after a south-easterly blow.

Met Éireann warnings

Yellow Small Craft warning until 23:59 Tue

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland

Level: yellow
Event: Small Craft
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Onset: 00:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 23:59, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 06:51, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI811 (Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point)
EI822
EI817
EI806
EI812
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI807
EI808
EI810 (Howth Head to Wicklow Head)
EI805
EI813
EI814
EI815
EI816
EI818
EI809 (Carlingford Lough to Howth Head)

Southerly winds will reach force 6 or higher, veering westerly on Tuesday.

Yellow Gale warning from 09:00 today to 02:00 Tue

Status Yellow - Marine Gale warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Gale
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 09:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 02:00, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 13:07, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI811 (Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point)
EI822
EI817
EI806
EI812
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI807
EI808
EI810 (Howth Head to Wicklow Head)
EI805
EI813
EI814
EI815
EI816
EI818
EI824
EI809 (Carlingford Lough to Howth Head)
EI823
EI825

Southerly winds, veering westerly on Tuesday, will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9.

Yellow Wind warning from 17:00 today to 23:59 today

Status Yellow - Wind warning for Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Wind
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 17:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 23:59, Monday 26 October
Issued: 11:39, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI01
EI10
EI20
EI03
EI11
EI30
EI06
EI04
EI13
EI31 (Wicklow)
EI27

Very strong and gusty south to southwest winds.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Debris, loose objects displaced
Difficult driving and cycling conditions
Large coastal waves
Some fallen trees, branches

Other warnings in Ireland

Met Éireann weather warnings for other parts of Ireland, as issued.

Status Yellow - Rain warning for Cork, Kerry

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Rain
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 01:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 09:00, Monday 26 October
Issued: 10:39, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI11
EI04

A spell of rain on Sunday night and Monday morning, turning heavy at times.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Difficult travelling conditions
Localised flooding possible
Outdoor events impacted

Status Yellow - Rain warning for Cork, Galway, Kerry, Mayo

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Rain
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 16:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 22:00, Monday 26 October
Issued: 11:41, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI10
EI20
EI11
EI04

A spell of heavy rain.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Difficult travelling conditions
Localised flooding possible
Outdoor events impacted

Status Yellow - Marine Gale warning from Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Gale
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 02:00, Tuesday 27 October
Expires: 10:00, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 13:09, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI822
EI806
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI805

Southwest to west winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9.

Checked at 00:24 today.

The usual tide here, the next three days

The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb, from the predicted highs and lows. Each with the coast’s call for those hours: how hard the wind, gusts and rain make fishing.

Yellow Small Craft warning covers this window.
Nowuntil 04:07The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb after dark.
Hard work
- South-west 28 km/h
- Gusts 28
- Some rain
A Status Yellow Met Éireann weather warning for the Wicklow coast covers this window, so the band is no better than hard work.
Yellow Small Craft warning, Yellow Gale warning covers this window.
Today11:38 to 16:32The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb in daylight.
Too rough
- South-south-west 47 km/h
- Gusts 66
- Some rain
SSW wind 47 km/h over 11:38 – 16:32: too rough on sustained wind.
Yellow Small Craft warning, Yellow Gale warning, Yellow Wind warning covers this window.
Tonight23:53 to 04:47The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb after dark.
Too rough
- South-south-west 53 km/h
- Gusts 78
- Some rain
SSW wind 53 km/h over 23:53 – tomorrow 04:47: too rough on sustained wind.
Yellow Small Craft warning covers this window.
Tomorrow12:12 to 17:02The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb in daylight.
Too rough
- West-south-west 37 km/h
- Gusts 59
- Some rain
WSW wind 37 km/h over tomorrow 12:12 – 17:02: hard work on sustained wind.
Wed00:37 to 05:27The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb after dark.
Hard work
- South-west 34 km/h
- Gusts 47
- Dry
Wed12:57 to 17:47The first of the ebb into the run of the ebb in daylight., dark from 17:01
Workable
- West-south-west 22 km/h
- Gusts 31
- Rain not given
Part of this window is read from six-hourly wind steps, so its wind is less exact.

Fishing it

A popular shingle/sand beach directly south of Greystones town with rock outcrops at the southern end and a council-installed boulder reinforcement at the Ballygannon section. Hosts SAI/Henry's Tackle competitions, competition-grade venue. Produces good autumn bass along the wave line, codling and coalfish through winter, and plaice close in during calm warm spells. The southern end and the named hotspots at Hungry Acre and the Ballygannon stream are the productive ground.

In season here this month

All the species recorded here: Codling, Pollack, Dab, Coalfish, Plaice, Dogfish, Bass, Flounder, Mackerel, Smoothhound, Whiting, Tope, Sea trout, Rockling, Turbot.

The law for its species

Pollack: Retention allowed. At most three pollack per 24 hours from 1 June 2026, then catch and release. Pollack under 30 cm go back as good practice, not by law: that EU minimum is set for commercial fishing, not for shore anglers. Rules checked 30 September 2026.
Bass: Retention allowed. At most two bass per 24 hours; the rest go back. Minimum size 42 cm for any bass kept. Rules checked 29 June 2026.

How it is fished

The tide. Falling tide is the documented productive window for the broader shingle belt this beach belongs to. The hour either side of high water remains the bite-cluster window for close-in flatfish. Strong undercurrents, grip leads (4 to 5oz breakaway) are essential at all states.

Methods. Running ledger; Two-hook flapper; Worm cocktail with spoon attractor (plaice); Lure fishing (bass).

Baits. Ragworm; Lugworm (winter); Peeler crab (summer); Sandeel; Mussel (cold months).

Local knowledge. Two named local hotspots that don't show on any map, opposite the outflow pipe at the Hungry Acre, and at the Ballygannon stream where the council placed boulders to slow erosion. Both work on the same principle: freshwater stir + structural break = flatfish concentration. The clear-and-calm-day rule is INVERTED from elsewhere on the coast, Sea Angler reports plaice moving as close as 30 yards from shore in warm settled conditions. Anglers who give up on Greystones in flat weather miss this window. Worm cocktail with a small spoon attractor is the established local plaice tactic. Crabs are the dominant nuisance, bait elastic, bigger baits, and floating beads are the local response. Shore-caught tope in October to November is now reported at this beach but remains uncommon enough to plan for as a bonus rather than a target. This is documented as one of the most famous Irish match-fishing stretches; the tactical playbook reflects competition-grade discipline (small hooks, fine wire, terminal tackle precision).

From the mark’s guide, not checked on site.

Getting there

Access. Walk south from Greystones harbour along the seafront path. The beach begins just past the harbour wall. Two named hotspots: opposite the outflow pipe at the Hungry Acre, and around the stream at Ballygannon (where county council reinforcement creates a structural break). The most productive ground is the southern 300m near the rocky outcrops.

Parking. Best option is the Park and Ride on the outskirts of Greystones, it is free. From there it is a reasonable walk to the beach so pack light and only bring what you need for the session. Avoid overloading yourself with gear.

Nearest tackle. Greystones town centre has a fishing tackle shop within a short walk of the harbour. Well stocked for sea fishing essentials.

Questions about Greystones South Beach

What fish can you catch at Greystones South Beach?: Greystones South Beach produces Codling, Pollack, Dab, Coalfish and Plaice. Which of those are actually feeding depends on the month: the season grid on this page shows the peak and catchable months for every species listed here.
What bait works at Greystones South Beach?: Ragworm, Lugworm (winter), Peeler crab (summer) and Sandeel are the baits that work at Greystones South Beach, fished on running ledger, two-hook flapper and worm cocktail with spoon attractor (plaice).
Where do you park for Greystones South Beach?: Best option is the Park and Ride on the outskirts of Greystones, it is free. From there it is a reasonable walk to the beach so pack light and only bring what you need for the session. Avoid overloading yourself with gear.
How do you get to Greystones South Beach?: Walk south from Greystones harbour along the seafront path. The beach begins just past the harbour wall. Two named hotspots: opposite the outflow pipe at the Hungry Acre, and around the stream at Ballygannon (where county council reinforcement creates a structural break). The most productive ground is the southern 300m near the rocky outcrops.
What are the hazards at Greystones South Beach?: Rocky outcrops at the southern end can be slippery at low water. Busy with swimmers and walkers in summer; fish dawn and dusk. Longshore drift can be strong after a south-easterly blow.
Do I need a licence to fish at Greystones South Beach, and what can I keep?: No State rod licence for ordinary sea angling. Salmon and sea trout need one. Retention rules do apply to some species here. Pollack: retention allowed, no statutory minimum and bass: retention allowed, 42 cm. Check the linked authority before keeping a fish.