Mark × species · Seasonal
Spurdog at Silver Strand.
Spurdog is a seasonal target at Silver Strand near Wicklow. Best window on this ground: summer (night tides). Follow the coastal road south from Wicklow town, signed from the R750.
Quick facts
- Mark type
- Beach
- Skill
- Beginner/Intermediate
- Catalogue rank
- Seasonal
Why fish Spurdog 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.
Sandy and shingle beaches with deeper gutters close inshore. Silver Strand is one of the few accessible east-coast marks that produces spurdog on summer night tides.
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, Spurdog is worth targeting in summer (night tides). Coast-wide, Spurdog runs June to September (peaks August summer night tides. Silver Strand produces spurdog on warm summer nights, and Killoughter holds them as a seasonal dogfish-family predator alongside whiting.).
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.
Summer night tides on the marks that produce them. Silver Strand and Killoughter are the reliable ones; match your rigs to the mark.
Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb, mid-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.
Tactics on this mark
Fish night tides on the marks that produce them. Silver Strand fishes best on summer night sessions, while Killoughter wants evening and night predator tactics on the shingle belt. Match your rigs and casting distance to the mark rather than a single generic rule.
Two-hook flapper; Running ledger; Light spinning (bass); Pulley rig at distance (occasional ray, spurdog)
Gear: general shore. Facing ESE.
- Pulley or simple ledger rigs with squid or fish strip
- Fish after dark on summer night tides
- Use wire or heavy mono where dogfish-family taxa might appear together
- Two-hook flapper
- Running ledger
- Light spinning (bass)
- Pulley rig at distance (occasional ray, spurdog)
Baits and lures
Spurdog baits and lures: Squid; Mackerel strip; Fish baits on pulley or ledger rigs.
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: Typical shore fish run to a few kilograms on night-tide sessions, very much a specialist east-coast beach target.. Specimen class: Larger fish are possible on the accessible sand marks that produce them on summer night tides..
Slender small shark with white-edged dorsal spines and a pointed snout, often showing alongside other small sharks on summer night tides. Confirm the ID before retaining any shark.
Tip: Treat spurdog as a seasonal bonus rather than a guaranteed target, and read the Silver Strand and Killoughter safety and tide notes before settling on a flood-or-ebb plan.
Irish shore context: record class around See IFI records, shore fish typically modest weight but hard-fighting.
Same-mark companions
Other ranked targets on the same mark include Bass, Flounder, Dogfish, 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 Spurdog species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.
Conservation
Dogfish-family sharks, return quickly and avoid deep hooking where possible.
Guide conservation label: Catch & Release Recommended.
Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Spurdog species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.
Other species at Silver Strand
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.