Mark × species · Primary target
Dogfish at Silver Strand.
Dogfish is a primary target at Silver Strand near Wicklow. Best window on this ground: Year round. Follow the coastal road south from Wicklow town, signed from the R750.
Quick facts
- Mark type
- Beach
- Skill
- Beginner/Intermediate
- Catalogue rank
- Primary target
Why fish Dogfish at Silver Strand
Sheltered sandy cove. Spring/autumn surf bass and a rare-for-the-east-coast spurdog fishery on summer night tides.
A small, sheltered sandy cove tucked between rocky headlands south of Wicklow Head.
One of the cleaner sand beaches on the Wicklow coast and one of the few accessible east-coast marks for spurdog on summer night tides, under-known feature confirmed across regional sources.
Surf in spring and autumn at night is the classic productive window.
The sheltered position makes it a viable option in northerly or westerly winds when other marks are too rough.
Clean sandy ground from shallow surf to deeper water, often around sandbars and gutters where food collects.
Sheltered cove, spring bass and a rare east-coast spurdog chance on summer night tides.
You may see this beach listed as Furzeditch East, its townland name, but every fishing source calls it Silver Strand.
Spurdog on summer night tides is the species note worth knowing: these are not common at most east-coast beaches and Silver Strand is one of the few accessible marks for them in Wicklow.
Cut-off risk at high tide is the genuine safety story here, more than slippery rocks: the beach physically separates into coves and anglers have been caught out.
Season and tide
At Silver Strand, Dogfish is worth targeting in Year round. Coast-wide, Dogfish runs Year round (peaks November to December autumn through spring nights).
Wider mark season: Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Flounder: October to March, Dab: October to February, Plaice: May to September, Spurdog: summer (night tides), Mackerel: June to September, Thornback ray: occasional summer
Tide guidance here: High water and the two hours either side give the best fishing. The beach is relatively shallow and fish move in closest at the top of the tide. Flooding tide on a summer evening is the best time for bass along the shoreline. Spring/autumn surf at night for the bigger bass.
Most consistent at night on any stage of tide from autumn to spring. Summer evenings also produce regular fish. Rarely affected by tide state, present on the bottom and they will find the bait.
Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb, mid-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.
Tactics on this mark
Use simple two or three-hook bottom rigs with strips of fish or squid fished at short to medium range, especially at night on flooding and high water.
Two-hook flapper; Running ledger; Light spinning (bass); Pulley rig at distance (occasional ray, spurdog)
Gear: general shore. Facing ESE.
- Two or three hook paternoster with size 1/0 to 2/0 Aberdeen hooks
- Any simple bottom rig works
- Shorter snoods reduce tangles
- Two-hook flapper
- Running ledger
- Light spinning (bass)
- Pulley rig at distance (occasional ray, spurdog)
Baits and lures
Dogfish baits and lures: Mackerel strip; Squid; Lugworm; Ragworm; Sandeel.
What this mark typically holds: Ragworm; Lugworm; Sandeel; Squid for spurdog.
Ragworm; Lugworm; Sandeel; Squid for spurdog
Access and ground
Follow the coastal road south from Wicklow town, signed from the R750. Access through caravan parks. Short walk from the car park.
Parking: Small car park at the strand, fills quickly in summer. Seasonal charges may apply. Arrive early in July and August.
Safety: The beach separates into coves at high tide, creating a genuine cut-off risk. Mark your retreat route on arrival. Rocky approaches at low water require care; stick to sandy sections when moving along the beach.
Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops, a short drive north on the coastal road.
Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate.
Size and identification
Typical shore size: 400 to 800 g from Wicklow beaches. Specimen class: Fish over 1.2 kg are unusual from the shore.
Sandy brown with darker brown spots all over. Catlike eyes. Rough sandpaper skin. Long, slim body with a small mouth. First fish for many young anglers fishing the Wicklow coast.
Tip: Dogfish are great sport for beginners and their abundance makes the Murrough and Greystones South Beach ideal match venues. If you're blanking on everything else, mackerel strip on a simple ledger will usually find a dogfish. Return them carefully, they're an important part of the ecosystem.
Irish shore context: record class around 1.21 kg.
Same-mark companions
Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Flounder, Plaice, Dab. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.
Live ranked advice for Silver Strand updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Dogfish species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.
Conservation
Abundant; ideal for beginners to learn unhooking and handling skills.
Guide conservation label: No Restrictions.
Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Dogfish species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.
Other species at Silver Strand
Next steps
Related article: Dogfish Ireland: Shore Marks, Rigs and Night Baits
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.