Grey mullet at The Murrough.

Quick facts

Mark type

Beach

Skill

Intermediate

Catalogue rank

Secondary target

Why fish Grey mullet at The Murrough

Broad Lough / Murrough wild beach. Flounder-focused wetland shore; bass and occasional sea trout.

A wild, unspoiled stretch of steep-to shingle beach along the Murrough and Broad Lough coastal wetland (ERFB Site 28 Broadlough), south of Wicklow town.

Remote and often unfished.

The steep shingle profile means deeper water is reached with shorter casts.

Flounder and bass are the main shore targets; sea trout and occasional grey mullet appear in season.

Harbours, marinas, estuaries and tidal rivers with rich, slow-moving water and ample algae or detritus to graze.

Remote wild beach. Bass, mullet, grey mullet.

Wild lagoon beach, specialist mullet and sea trout potential, not a casual first-mark choice.

ERFB Site 28 Broadlough is a flounder-first Murrough shore: flatfish stack along the Broad Lough freshwater edge through winter, with bass on the steep-to surf table in season.

Sea trout and occasional mullet appear but this is not the published specimen-mullet channel: that is Kilcoole Breaches (Site 23) under the rail bridge, 12 km north.

The Greystones-to-Wicklow shingle belt fishes best on a falling tide per regional sources.

Season and tide

At The Murrough, Grey mullet is worth targeting in May to October (occasional). Coast-wide, Grey mullet runs May to October (peaks July to August in harbours and tidal rivers).

Wider mark season: Flounder: October to March (primary), Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Grey mullet: May to October (occasional), Sea trout: July to October, Dab: October to February, Coalfish: October to February

Tide guidance here: Multi-source consensus for the Greystones-to-Wicklow shingle belt is that these venues fish best on a falling tide (Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Planet Sea Fishing). Flounder concentrate at the Broad Lough freshwater interface; bass along the surf table at dawn/dusk.

Mullet feed throughout the tidal cycle but are most catchable on the flooding tide. Hot, calm summer days with the fish visible and actively feeding are the best conditions. They become more wary in cold or cloudy water.

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

Tactics on this mark

Prime marks with mashed bread and fish light float gear on small hooks, striking gently at dips as mullet sip baits among the loose feed.

Running ledger; Float-fished bread or flake (mullet, specialist fishery); Surface lures (bass at outlet); Single-handed fly (sea trout)

Gear: general shore. Facing E.

• Float fishing with a very light, sensitive float, mullet bites are gentle
• Size 8 to 12 fine-wire hook, mullet mouths are small and soft
• 6 to 8 lb low-diameter mainline and fluorocarbon hooklink
• Groundbaiting with liquidised bread or bran to create a feeding response
• Running ledger
• Float-fished bread or flake (mullet, specialist fishery)
• Surface lures (bass at outlet)
• Single-handed fly (sea trout)

Baits and lures

Grey mullet baits and lures: Bread flake; Bread punch; Maggots; Tiny harbour ragworm; Small mackerel cubes.

What this mark typically holds: Ragworm; Peeler crab; Bread/flake (mullet); Sandeels; Worm cocktail tipped with mackerel (summer).

Ragworm; Peeler crab; Bread/flake (mullet); Sandeels; Worm cocktail tipped with mackerel (summer)

Access and ground

Access from Wicklow town beach car park or pull-ins along the Murrough coastal road, then a walk of 1 to 4 km depending on where you start. No road on the beach itself. Productive ground is the Broad Lough / Murrough wetland edge (Site 28 Broadlough), not the Kilcoole Breaches rail-bridge outflow 12 km north (separate spot record).

Parking: Parking at The Murrough is limited and can be uncertain, options include small pull-ins along the coastal road but space is not guaranteed. Check conditions before travelling and be prepared to park further away and walk.

Safety: Very exposed to easterly winds, with patchy mobile coverage and a fast lagoon outlet at peak ebb. Never wade the outlet. Tell someone where you are going and your expected return time.

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops. Stock up before making the walk in.

Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Intermediate.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 1 to 2 kg from Wicklow harbours and river mouths. Specimen class: Irish specimen weight is 2.7 kg; fish over that are the prize at established mullet venues.

Thick-lipped Grey Mullet is the most common Irish species. Silver-grey body with distinct dark horizontal stripes along the flanks. Blunt rounded head with thick fleshy lips, the key identification feature. Two separate dorsal fins. Often seen in shoals near the surface in harbours.

Tip: Grey mullet have defeated more Wicklow anglers than any other species. The foundation of mullet fishing is the groundbait, mash bread or bran and introduce small amounts little and often to draw them into a feeding rhythm. Once they're actively consuming loose feed, introduce the hookbait among it. Use the lightest float that will cast, strike at the gentlest dip. Patience is everything.

Irish shore context: record class around 4.22 kg (Thick-lipped).

Same-mark companions

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

Live ranked advice for The Murrough updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Grey mullet species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Long-lived and slow-growing; full catch and release is strongly recommended for all shore-caught mullet.

Guide conservation label: Catch & Release Recommended.

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

Other species at The Murrough

• Flounder
• Bass
• Sea trout
• Dab
• Coalfish
• Whiting
• Rockling
• Mackerel

Full mark guide lists all 11 catalogue pair pages.

Next steps

Related article: Mullet Fishing Ireland: How to Catch the Uncatchable Fish

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