What fish can you catch at Wicklow Head, Long Rock?

Wicklow Head, Long Rock produces Mackerel, Pollack, Bass, Wrasse and Coalfish. Which of those are actually feeding depends on the month: the season grid on this page shows the peak and catchable months for every species listed here.

What bait works at Wicklow Head, Long Rock?

Mackerel strip, Sandeel, Ragworm and Whole fish baits (conger) are the baits that work at Wicklow Head, Long Rock, fished on spinning, lures cast across the current (bass) and float fishing.

Do I need a licence to fish at Wicklow Head, Long Rock, and what can I keep?

No State rod licence for ordinary sea angling. Salmon and sea trout need one. Retention rules do apply to some species here. Pollack: retention allowed, no statutory minimum and bass: retention allowed, 42 cm. Check the linked authority before keeping a fish.

Wicklow coast

Wicklow Head, Long Rock

Rock mark, Wicklow town. The usual tide here: the push of the flood into high water.

Mackerel
Pollack
Bass
Wrasse
Coalfish

Tomorrow 06:01 – 11:38

Too rough

The push of the flood into high water, light from 07:10. Yellow Small Craft warning. Yellow Gale warning covers some or all of this window.

Wind: S 48 km/hGusts 60 km/h
Waves: 1.6 mModerate surf, over the window
Tide: High 11:10Mon, 2.7 m

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland, in force. Read it in full
Serious hazard on record here: never fish alone, cut-off risk, swell wash, strong current. Read it in full

The coast’s call for these hours: effort from the wind, gusts and rain read at Greystones. Not a call on this mark, and whether the fish are there is not called.

Illustration, made with Adobe Firefly.

Sunrise, Mon07:10

Sunset, Mon17:05

Moon, calculatedFull moon (100%)

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland, in force for the Wicklow coast. Checked 22:54.Hazards not checked on site. Serious hazard: never fish alone, cut-off risk, swell wash, strong current. Tide now: falling, low water at 04:35 Mon, 0.3 m. On record as cutting off on the tide.

Next 24 hours at Wicklow town

Tide, light, wind and sea conditions for your session. The wind is read at Greystones; which way this mark faces is not verified yet, so it is not judged against its shore.

View detailed forecast

Sunrise 07:10 MonSunset 17:05 MonHigh 22:502.7 mHigh 11:10 Mon2.7 mNow

The next 24 hours: the next tide window 06:01 Mon to 11:38 Mon, Too rough; high water 22:50, 2.7 m; low water 04:35 Mon, 0.3 m; high water 11:10 Mon, 2.7 m; low water 17:00 Mon, 0.4 m; sunrise 07:10, sunset 17:05.

Wind, gusts and rain by the hour, read at Greystones
Hour	Wind km/h	Gusts km/h	Rain mm
22:00	21 from SSW	not given	0
23:00	21 from SW	26	0
00:00	21 from SW	27	0
01:00	17 from SSW	25	0
02:00	17 from SSW	22	0
03:00	19 from S	23	0
04:00	28 from S	28	0.4
05:00	40 from S	40	1.1
06:00	45 from S	49	1.3
07:00	47 from S	57	2.0
08:00	48 from S	60	1.2
09:00	41 from SSW	60	0.3
10:00	35 from SSW	55	0
11:00	37 from SSW	50	0
12:00	41 from SSW	53	0
13:00	45 from SSW	59	0.1
14:00	45 from SSW	64	0
15:00	46 from SSW	65	0
16:00	47 from SSW	66	0.1
17:00	48 from SSW	69	0.2
18:00	48 from SSW	73	0.2
19:00	52 from S	76	0.5
20:00	55 from S	80	1.1
21:00	57 from S	82	1.6

Wind and rain at Greystones: MET Norway. Gusts: Met Éireann. Tide: Marine Institute, predicted. Light from the sun’s position; the moon, full moon, about 100% lit, calculated.

The coast north to south

Check the latest wind at each stretch of the coast.

View all areas

Illustrations, made with Adobe Firefly.

Safety here

Rock marks today: Caution. A Met Éireann yellow warning covers this coast for the time judged. Waves 0.4 m. A rock mark is never clear until two wave models agree below the threshold: caution.

Not verified · no fact on this mark has a dated check yet

Hazards: not checked on site. Assume the worst footing and tide cut-off, and read the hazard notes below as a starting point.

Fishing permission: not checked. No bye-law, harbour rule or landowner permission has been read for this mark.

Serious hazard · record reviewed August 2026

Never fish alone
Cut-off risk
Swell wash
Strong current

Currents remain strong on this southern Wicklow Head rock mark. Do not fish it alone in any swell; keep to settled seas and leave a wide margin around the waterline.

Met Éireann warnings

Yellow Small Craft warning until 23:59 TueIssued in 2 parts

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland

Level: yellow
Event: Small Craft
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Onset: 00:00, Saturday 24 October
Expires: 23:59, Sunday 25 October
Issued: 06:47, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI811 (Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point)
EI822
EI817
EI806
EI812
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI807
EI808
EI810 (Howth Head to Wicklow Head)
EI805
EI813
EI814
EI815
EI816
EI818
EI809 (Carlingford Lough to Howth Head)

Storm Boelo: Westerly winds will reach force 6 or higher at times.

Small Craft warning for all coasts of Ireland

Level: yellow
Event: Small Craft
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 00:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 23:59, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 06:51, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI811 (Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point)
EI822
EI817
EI806
EI812
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI807
EI808
EI810 (Howth Head to Wicklow Head)
EI805
EI813
EI814
EI815
EI816
EI818
EI809 (Carlingford Lough to Howth Head)

Southerly winds will reach force 6 or higher, veering westerly on Tuesday.

Yellow Gale warning from 09:00 Mon to 02:00 Tue

Status Yellow - Marine Gale warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Gale
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 09:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 02:00, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 13:07, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI811 (Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point)
EI822
EI817
EI806
EI812
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI807
EI808
EI810 (Howth Head to Wicklow Head)
EI805
EI813
EI814
EI815
EI816
EI818
EI824
EI809 (Carlingford Lough to Howth Head)
EI823
EI825

Southerly winds, veering westerly on Tuesday, will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9.

Yellow Wind warning from 17:00 Mon to 23:59 Mon

Status Yellow - Wind warning for Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Wind
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 17:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 23:59, Monday 26 October
Issued: 11:39, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI01
EI10
EI20
EI03
EI11
EI30
EI06
EI04
EI13
EI31 (Wicklow)
EI27

Very strong and gusty south to southwest winds.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Debris, loose objects displaced
Difficult driving and cycling conditions
Large coastal waves
Some fallen trees, branches

Other warnings in Ireland

Met Éireann weather warnings for other parts of Ireland, as issued.

Status Yellow - Rain warning for Cork, Kerry

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Rain
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 01:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 09:00, Monday 26 October
Issued: 10:39, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI11
EI04

A spell of rain on Sunday night and Monday morning, turning heavy at times.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Difficult travelling conditions
Localised flooding possible
Outdoor events impacted

Status Yellow - Rain warning for Cork, Galway, Kerry, Mayo

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Rain
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 16:00, Monday 26 October
Expires: 22:00, Monday 26 October
Issued: 11:41, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI10
EI20
EI11
EI04

A spell of heavy rain.

Be aware of potential impacts:

Difficult travelling conditions
Localised flooding possible
Outdoor events impacted

Status Yellow - Marine Gale warning from Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough

Level: yellow
Event: Yellow Gale
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely

Not yet in force. Onset: 02:00, Tuesday 27 October
Expires: 10:00, Tuesday 27 October
Issued: 13:09, Sunday 25 October

Areas

EI822
EI806
EI819
EI820
EI821
EI805

Southwest to west winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9.

Checked at 22:54 today.

The usual tide here, the next three days

The push of the flood into high water, from the predicted highs and lows. Each with the coast’s call for those hours: how hard the wind, gusts and rain make fishing.

Yellow Small Craft warning, Yellow Gale warning covers this window.
Tomorrow06:01 to 11:38The push of the flood into high water in daylight., light from 07:10
Too rough
- South 48 km/h
- Gusts 60
- Some rain
- High 11:10, 2.7 m
S wind 48 km/h over tomorrow 06:01 – 11:38: too rough on sustained wind.
Yellow Small Craft warning, Yellow Gale warning, Yellow Wind warning covers this window.
Tomorrow18:24 to 23:53The push of the flood into high water after dark.
Too rough
- South-south-west 57 km/h
- Gusts 82
- Some rain
- High 23:25, 2.8 m
S wind 57 km/h over tomorrow 18:24 – 23:53: too rough on sustained wind.
Yellow Small Craft warning covers this window.
Tue06:40 to 12:12The push of the flood into high water in daylight., light from 07:12
Too rough
- South-west 45 km/h
- Gusts 68
- Dry
- High 11:45, 2.8 m
WSW wind 45 km/h over Tuesday 06:40 – 12:12: too rough on sustained wind.
Yellow Small Craft warning covers this window.
Tue18:58 to 00:37The push of the flood into high water after dark.
Hard work
- South-west 29 km/h
- Gusts 42
- Dry
- High 00:10, 2.8 m
A Status Yellow Met Éireann weather warning for the Wicklow coast covers this window, so the band is no better than hard work.
Wed07:21 to 12:57The push of the flood into high water in daylight.
Workable
- South-west 27 km/h
- Gusts 35
- Rain not given
- High 12:30, 2.8 m
Part of this window is read from six-hourly wind steps, so its wind is less exact.
Wed19:43 to 01:22The push of the flood into high water after dark.
No call yet
- The hourly forecast does not cover every hour of this window yet, so its wind is not given.
- Gusts at least 16
- Rain not given

Fishing it

The southern rock mark on Wicklow Head, named locally as 'Long Rock'. Spinning produces mackerel and pollack; lures cast across the current take bass with dawn or dusk being the documented prime window. Fish baits will produce occasional conger.

In season here this month

Basspeak month
Coalfishpeak month
Pollack
Wrasse
Mackerel

All the species recorded here: Mackerel, Pollack, Bass, Wrasse, Coalfish, Conger.

The law for its species

Pollack: Retention allowed. At most three pollack per 24 hours from 1 June 2026, then catch and release. Pollack under 30 cm go back as good practice, not by law: that EU minimum is set for commercial fishing, not for shore anglers. Rules checked 30 September 2026.
Bass: Retention allowed. At most two bass per 24 hours; the rest go back. Minimum size 42 cm for any bass kept. Rules checked 29 June 2026.

How it is fished

The tide. Across-current lure work for bass on the flooding tide at dawn or dusk is the documented prime window for the biggest fish.

Methods. Spinning; Lures cast across the current (bass); Float fishing; Fish-bait ledger (occasional conger).

Baits. Mackerel strip; Sandeel; Ragworm; Whole fish baits (conger).

Local knowledge. Long Rock is the southern counterpart to Brides Head and is the documented bass-on-lures mark of the three Wicklow Head sub-marks. Lures cast across the current at dawn or dusk is the explicit Eastern Regional Fisheries Board prescription, not a generalisation, a specific tactical instruction. Pollack and mackerel come on standard spinning gear; the bass need across-current presentation to work the tidal flow. Conger occasional on whole fish baits, under-targeted; most anglers fishing here are working for surface predators with lures and don't run a bottom rod. Worth one rod on the bottom if the gear is available.

From the mark’s guide, not checked on site.

Getting there

Access. Access from the southern side of Wicklow Head. Walk required. Rough terrain.

Parking. R750 car park area.

Nearest tackle. Wicklow town tackle shops.

Questions about Wicklow Head, Long Rock

What fish can you catch at Wicklow Head, Long Rock?: Wicklow Head, Long Rock produces Mackerel, Pollack, Bass, Wrasse and Coalfish. Which of those are actually feeding depends on the month: the season grid on this page shows the peak and catchable months for every species listed here.
What bait works at Wicklow Head, Long Rock?: Mackerel strip, Sandeel, Ragworm and Whole fish baits (conger) are the baits that work at Wicklow Head, Long Rock, fished on spinning, lures cast across the current (bass) and float fishing.
How do you get to Wicklow Head, Long Rock?: Access from the southern side of Wicklow Head. Walk required. Rough terrain.
What are the hazards at Wicklow Head, Long Rock?: Currents remain strong on this southern Wicklow Head rock mark. Do not fish it alone in any swell; keep to settled seas and leave a wide margin around the waterline.
Do I need a licence to fish at Wicklow Head, Long Rock, and what can I keep?: No State rod licence for ordinary sea angling. Salmon and sea trout need one. Retention rules do apply to some species here. Pollack: retention allowed, no statutory minimum and bass: retention allowed, 42 cm. Check the linked authority before keeping a fish.