Sea trout at Jack's Hole.

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Intermediate/Advanced

Catalogue rank

Occasional

Why fish Sea trout at Jack's Hole

Mixed beach/rock cove south of Wicklow. Autumn night fishing for bass and pollack.

A mixed cove between Silver Strand and Brittas Bay offering both beach AND rock fishing, unusual on this coast.

Wrasse and pollack patrol the rock platforms; bass, flounder and the occasional pollack take baits and lures over the sand patches.

Regional sources also note occasional school bass outside the scored April to November window; treat winter reports as local colour, not the scored season.

Autumn night fishing is the documented best window.

Surf beaches and lagoon outlets where freshwater meets the sea, with fish running tide lines and current seams at dusk and after dark.

Mixed cove south of Wicklow town, autumn bass and pollack at night, check access and tide cut-off.

School bass appear in numbers in winter here, which the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board guide documents and most season charts miss.

Both beach and rock fishing produce, and most anglers commit to one or the other and miss half the productive ground.

The rock platform on the right (south) side is for wrasse, pollack and bass on lures over the colour change; the sand patches are for bass and flounder on bait.

Season and tide

At Jack's Hole, Sea trout is worth targeting in July to October. Coast-wide, Sea trout runs July to October (peaks August to September late summer and early autumn evenings).

Wider mark season: Wrasse: April to October (peaks May to August), Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the rocks April to November, peak Sep to Oct), Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Flounder: autumn to winter, Coalfish: October to February

Tide guidance here: Two hours either side of high water gives best access to the rock ledges and puts fish in range. At low water the ground is very rough and snaggy on the rock side. The flooding tide is best for wrasse and bass, fish the colour change where reef meets clean sand. Crab particularly good in autumn.

Late summer and early autumn evenings, work current seams and surf tables on the flood as light fades.

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

Tactics on this mark

Fish mobile with lures or fly along lagoon mouths and surf tables on evening floods, covering water and focusing on current seams where bait gathers.

Float rig (wrasse); Running ledger over sand patches; Texas-rigged soft plastics; Jig fishing (pollack)

Gear: rough rock. Facing ESE.

• Small spoons and spinners fished along current seams
• Shallow plugs and surface patterns where conditions allow
• Fly along surf tables where regulations and access permit
• Float rig (wrasse)
• Running ledger over sand patches
• Texas-rigged soft plastics
• Jig fishing (pollack)

Baits and lures

Sea trout baits and lures: Small spoons; Spinners; Surface and shallow-diving plugs; Fly patterns over the surf.

What this mark typically holds: Ragworm; Peeler crab (autumn, particularly effective); Sandeel; Mackerel strip.

Ragworm; Peeler crab (autumn, particularly effective); Sandeel; Mackerel strip

Access and ground

Direct road access has been closed off due to holiday-home development. Two access routes: opposite McDaniels pub via the caravan park (swipe-barrier access), or from the Wicklow side past the disused hotel and holiday homes (private property signage). Walk-in or coastal approach from Silver Strand or Brittas Bay is the alternative. Take the coastal road south from Wicklow town. Sturdy boots with ankle support essential. Not suitable for children or inexperienced anglers.

Parking: Parking at Jack's Hole is very limited with only a handful of spaces available near the access points. Arrive early especially at weekends as spaces fill quickly. If the small car park is full there are very few alternatives nearby so plan accordingly.

Safety: Slippery rock ledge with south-easterly swell wash. Non-slip footwear is essential. Check sea state before descending, budget for snag losses on the rock side, and never fish this mark alone.

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops, approximately 5 to 8km north. Stock up before leaving town.

Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Intermediate/Advanced.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 1 to 3 lb from surf and lagoon outlets. Specimen class: Larger fish to 5 to 6 lb possible in the right conditions.

Trout-like build with sea-run silver when fresh from salt; spots along the flank and adipose fin present. Often encountered where freshwater pushes into the surf table at lagoon outlets.

Tip: Sea trout sit in narrow windows where bait and current meet, cover water methodically and treat every fish as potentially regulated; when in doubt, release.

Irish shore context: record class around See IFI records, larger fish possible in good conditions.

Same-mark companions

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

Live ranked advice for Jack's Hole updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Sea trout species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Migratory salmonids are vulnerable; strict local regulations apply and catch and release is usually expected.

Guide conservation label: Highly Recommended C&R.

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

Other species at Jack's Hole

• Bass
• Wrasse
• Pollack
• Flounder
• Whiting
• Coalfish
• Mackerel
• Dogfish

Full mark guide lists all 11 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

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