Coalfish at Greystones South Beach.

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Beginner/Intermediate

Catalogue rank

Primary target

Why fish Coalfish at Greystones South Beach

Accessible competition-grade town beach with reliable winter codling and close-in plaice in calm weather.

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.

Harbour walls, pier mouths and rough ground where baitfish shoals run, especially in colder months when pollack fishing fades.

Falling tide after an easterly colours the shingle belt.

Town beach with real competition history, codling and plaice in winter, bass after colour in the water.

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.

Season and tide

At Greystones South Beach, Coalfish is worth targeting in October to February. Coast-wide, Coalfish runs September to May (peaks October to March autumn and winter from piers).

Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Codling: October to February, Coalfish: October to February, Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the rocks April to November), Plaice: May to September (calm), Dab: October to February, Smoothhound: May to October, Mackerel: June to September, Tope: October to November (recent shore catches reported, low frequency)

Tide guidance here: 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.

Moving water around piers and harbour mouths. Night tides in autumn and winter often produce the biggest fish. Coalfish are less structure-dependent than pollack and will chase prey across open ground.

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

Tactics on this mark

Fish small metals, feathers or natural baits in the flow around harbour mouths and deep pier edges, letting lures swing through the current in autumn and winter.

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

Gear: open beach. Facing E.

• Same methods as pollack, spinning, jigging, feathers
• More aggressive takes than pollack, heavier gear can be used
• Running ledger
• Two-hook flapper
• Worm cocktail with spoon attractor (plaice)
• Lure fishing (bass)

Baits and lures

Coalfish baits and lures: Feathers; Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Soft plastics; Metal jigs.

What this mark typically holds: Ragworm; Lugworm (winter); Peeler crab (summer); Sandeel; Mussel (cold months).

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

Access and ground

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.

Safety: 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.

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

Nearest town: Greystones. Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 300 g to 1.5 kg on harbour and rock marks. Specimen class: Larger coalfish over 2 kg possible in deep water channels.

Very similar to pollack but distinguished by a straight lateral line (not curved), a white lateral line, and a jaw that is roughly equal (not strongly protruding). Dark green-black back, pale flanks. Young coalfish (known as 'billets' or 'cuddies') are common from pier walls.

Tip: Coalfish and pollack are often caught together from the same marks. The autumn run of coalfish through Greystones Harbour can produce excellent sport, small shoals of 500 g to 1 kg fish attack feather rigs in the harbour mouth from September onwards.

Irish shore context: record class around 7.26 kg.

Same-mark companions

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

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

Conservation

No major concerns but keep only what you will eat fresh.

Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.

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

Other species at Greystones South Beach

• Cod
• Pollack
• Dab
• Plaice
• Dogfish
• Bass
• Flounder
• Mackerel

Full mark guide lists all 15 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

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