Live score checked today
You can catch Pollack, Wrasse and Coalfish here. Bring sandeel or mackerel strip, and fish a float rig.
Cliff-base rocks beneath the Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Deep water close in, severe tide rip, very deep holes just off the steps. Pollack to specimen size on the wrecks offshore (Kit Dunne / Wicklow Boat Charters has multiple Irish Specimen Pollack recorded under 20nm), the shore mark connects to similar water but tide rip and depth holes make this an experienced-only venue. Tope and conger possible in October as herring shoals push into the bay with the first frosts.
The lighthouse rocks sit cliff-base beneath Wicklow Head Lighthouse with deep water close in, severe tide rip and very deep holes off the steps. The catalogue ties this mark to slack-water-only safety, an advanced-only skill rating, and an October window where herring and the first frosts bring tope and conger on whole-mackerel or fresh-herring baits.
TodayGO
WicklowModel
Mark · Excellent
Experienced anglers only
Bring
Sandeel · Float rig
ModelStill worth a look in the 11:00 PM to 12:00 AM window if the lead is crowded or wrong for your kit.
Session intelligence
One tap on how it went. Bait and a short note stay on this device; the outcome sharpens the forecast for Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks anonymously.
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Bait or method
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Hourly session fit with the Wicklow tide curve overlaid
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| 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 58 | 65 | 40 | 36 | 52 | 49 | 45 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 84 | 88 | 90 | 84 | 90 | 57 | 55 | 52 | 39 | 60 | 63 | 65 | 66 | 65 | 66 | 64 | 75 | 42 | 54 | 50 | 52 | 48 | 79 | 83 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 83 | 87 | 55 | 55 | 58 | 46 | 33 |
Scroll for all 48 hours
Species running this month on this mark
Also: Tope
Bass, Conger eel, Wrasse are peaking this month.
Peak and catchable months for every species listed at this mark.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Catchable | Aug: Catchable | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Off |
| Conger eel | Jan: Catchable | Feb: Catchable | Mar: Catchable | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Catchable | Dec: Catchable |
| Wrasse | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Catchable | Dec: Off |
| Coalfish | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Catchable | May: Catchable | Jun: Off | Jul: Off | Aug: Off | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| Mackerel | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Off | Jun: Catchable | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Off | Dec: Off |
| Pollack | Jan: Catchable | Feb: Catchable | Mar: Catchable | Apr: Catchable | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Catchable | Dec: Catchable |
| Tope | Jan: Off | Feb: Off | Mar: Off | Apr: Off | May: Off | Jun: Off | Jul: Off | Aug: Off | Sep: Catchable | Oct: Catchable | Nov: Peak | Dec: Catchable |
Table scrolls horizontally to show all twelve months.
What to bring, and the rig that matches conditions
Big bait and distance on Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks, so the pulley pennel protects the cast and presents cleanly on the drop. A light grip lead still casts clean on calm sand.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we've used or would genuinely buy ourselves.
Strong wire circles for pennel mounting of peeler crab and sandeel. Smoothhound and bass standard on Wicklow marks.
View on AmazonBreakaway grips for surf pulley fishing at distance on open Wicklow beaches.
View on AmazonRecommendations follow the same Wicklow-first editorial standards as the rest of the site.
Pack next
Today's conditions at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks suit a pulley pennel rig. A heavy-duty distance rig that protects large soft baits during the cast. The hooklink slides through a pulley swivel so bait and hooks lift on splash-down while the lead anchors.
Tide, tactics, and local read
If I were fishing here
If I were fishing Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks, I'd get settled before the best water arrives, keep a clean exit route, and fish pollack close to structure instead of punching unnecessary distance.
I'd skip when…
I'd skip when swell is up, the rock is greasy, or I'm fishing alone. Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks does not forgive a casual call.
When it fishes well
Slack water is the only safe and productive window, the tide runs very fast here. Lighthouse Rocks tide rip is described in SAI threads as 'lethal, your first accident could be your last'. October tide turn for the biggest pollack.
Lighthouse rocks with severe tide rip, expert rock anglers only, autumn herring can bring tope.
Baits
Methods
Access, parking, hazards, and getting back safe
Access
Approach via the lighthouse road from Wicklow Head; not far from the car. SAI threads note access is 'not too far from the car' but the descent to the rocks themselves is hazardous. Only attempt in calm dry weather; never alone.
Parking
At/near Wicklow Head Lighthouse.
Hazards
Statutory rules for the regulated species at this mark. Everything else here has no bag limit or closed season.
30 cm
Rules checked 29 June 2026Pollack Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 1028 of 2026, Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (SFPA MCRS list, Irish EEZ)
42 cm
Rules checked 29 June 2026Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007, Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249
Rules change. Check the linked authority before you keep a fish: see all size and bag limits.
Spots · 7 min read
Wicklow Head Fishing 2026: Pollack, Wrasse and Mackerel
Wicklow Head is the county's best rock mark: pollack, wrasse and mackerel from May to August. The three platforms, how to reach them, and what to throw.
Read guide →Species · 8 min read
Tope Fishing Ireland: Shore Marks, Baits and Night Tides
Land tope from the Irish shore: autumn beach marks, whole mackerel baits and night spring tides. Kilcoole to Wicklow tactics from late September through November.
Read guide →Beginners · 6 min read
Shore Fishing Safety Ireland: Rock, Beach and Night Sessions
The safety rules that keep Irish shore anglers alive: reading swell on rock marks, the night fishing checklist, and exactly what to do if someone goes in.
Read guide →Species, tactics, tides, and today's plan for this mark
Where to top up
Wicklow town tackle shops, short drive north.
Eric
Based in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, fishing the Irish coast since 2018
Good day or better. Email when conditions score well
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