Wrasse at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks.

Quick facts

Mark type

Rock

Skill

Advanced only

Catalogue rank

Primary target

Why fish Wrasse at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks

Lighthouse rocks at Wicklow Head. Deep water and severe tide rip, experienced rock anglers only. Autumn herring brings tope and conger.

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.

Rocky ground, kelp forest and reef structure where wrasse hold tight to cover and rarely move far from their home territory.

Lighthouse rocks with severe tide rip, expert rock anglers only, autumn herring can bring tope.

This is the Wicklow Head sub-mark that requires the explicit safety overlay.

SAI forum sources describe the tide rip as 'lethal' with multiple posters reinforcing that 'your first accident could well be your last'.

There are very deep holes just off the steps, known locally as a 'tackle graveyard'.

Season and tide

At Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks, Wrasse is worth targeting in May to September. Coast-wide, Wrasse runs April to November (peaks June to September on rock marks).

Wider mark season: Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the rocks April to November; biggest fish Sep to Nov on the tide turn), Wrasse: May to September, Coalfish: October to February, Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov), Tope/Conger expedition window: October (with the herring run as first frosts arrive)

Tide guidance here: 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.

Wrasse feed throughout the day from mid-May to October. Neap tides allow safer access to rock marks. Sunny calm days in summer produce consistent sport. Avoid big swell which makes wrasse rock marks extremely dangerous.

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

Tactics on this mark

Fish float or light ledger rigs tight to kelp and rock, setting baits just above the weed and applying immediate side strain when a wrasse dives for cover.

Float rig; Heavy ledger with sacrificial weak link to leads (tackle graveyard); Lure fishing (jigs, shads); Tope-rig with whole mackerel or fresh herring (October)

Gear: rough rock. Facing E.

• Float fishing, set the depth to just above the kelp canopy
• Sink and draw with a ragworm or crab bait through rock gullies
• Drop-shotting soft plastics around pier walls
• Short-range fishing, wrasse don't venture far from structure
• Float rig
• Heavy ledger with sacrificial weak link to leads (tackle graveyard)
• Lure fishing (jigs, shads)
• Tope-rig with whole mackerel or fresh herring (October)

Baits and lures

Wrasse baits and lures: Peeler crab; Ragworm; Harbour ragworm; Prawns; Soft plastic worms.

What this mark typically holds: Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Ragworm; Whole mackerel or fresh herring (autumn tope/conger).

Sandeel; Mackerel strip; Ragworm; Whole mackerel or fresh herring (autumn tope/conger)

Access and ground

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.

Safety: One of the most dangerous shore marks in the area: severe tide rip, deep holes off the steps, rockfall risk, and no margin in swell. Never fish alone, never in any swell, and only consider calm dry slack-water windows.

Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops, short drive north.

Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Advanced only.

Size and identification

Typical shore size: 300 g to 1 kg from shallow kelp-ledges. Specimen class: Ballan wrasse over 2 kg are realistic on deep rock marks.

Ballan Wrasse are the most common shore-caught species, heavily built with thick lips, a humped back and vivid mottled colouring ranging from brick red and orange through to deep green and brown. Males are often far more colourful than females. Corkwing Wrasse are smaller and more slender.

Tip: Wrasse fight ferociously and immediately dive for kelp when hooked, you need to apply hard side pressure immediately to steer them away from cover. Use a relatively strong fluorocarbon hooklink (12 to 15 lb) and a small hook (size 1 or 2) to present the bait naturally. Wicklow Head Long Rock is an outstanding open wrasse mark; fish with a partner and stay clear of swell.

Irish shore context: record class around 4.59 kg (Ballan Wrasse).

Same-mark companions

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

Live ranked advice for Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Wrasse species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.

Conservation

Highly recommended catch and release; long-lived and increasingly important as cleaner fish in aquaculture.

Guide conservation label: Highly Recommended C&R.

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

Other species at Wicklow Head, Lighthouse Rocks

• Pollack
• Coalfish
• Bass
• Tope
• Conger eel
• Mackerel

Next steps

Related article: Wicklow Head Fishing 2026: Pollack, Wrasse and Mackerel

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