Mark × species · Occasional
Conger eel at Wicklow Head, Long Rock.
Conger eel is an occasional catch at Wicklow Head, Long Rock near Wicklow. Best window on this ground: Year round. Access from the southern side of Wicklow Head.
Quick facts
- Mark type
- Rock
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Catalogue rank
- Occasional
Why fish Conger eel at Wicklow Head, Long Rock
Southern Wicklow Head rock mark. Spinning for mackerel/pollack; bass on across-current lures at dawn/dusk.
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.
Short: Southern Wicklow Head rock mark.
Rocky ground, pier pilings and harbour walls with crevices and snags where eels lair by day and hunt after dark. Greystones Harbour, Wicklow Town Pier, Jack's Hole and Wicklow Head Long Rock are the Wicklow marks where conger feature.
Southern Head rock, lure fishing for mackerel and pollack, bass on across-current lures at dawn.
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.
Season and tide
At Wicklow Head, Long Rock, Conger eel is worth targeting in Year round. Coast-wide, Conger eel runs Year round (peaks June to October on night sessions over rough ground and harbour walls. Wicklow Head fishes best around October when the herring run is on, while Brides Head and Long Rock produce only the occasional conger on whole-fish baits.).
Wider mark season: Mackerel: June to September, Pollack: year-round (fishes best from the rocks April to November), Bass: April to November (peak autumn Sep to Nov; dawn/dusk lures), Wrasse: May to September, Coalfish: October to February
Tide guidance here: Across-current lure work for bass on the flooding tide at dawn or dusk is the documented prime window for the biggest fish.
After dark is essential, conger rarely feed in daylight. First two hours of darkness on a flooding tide consistently produce the best results. Summer and early autumn nights are most productive.
Fishable phases: first-flood, mid-flood, high, first-ebb. Peak: mid-flood, first-ebb.
Tactics on this mark
Run heavy mono traces and large hooks straight down pier pilings or into cliff-base holes after dark. The first two hours of darkness on a flooding tide are the classic pier window, but Wicklow Head only fishes safely at slack water, so match your plan to the mark rather than a generic flood rule. At Long Rock, conger are under-targeted on a second bottom rod while most anglers spin for mackerel and pollack.
Spinning; Lures cast across the current (bass); Float fishing; Fish-bait ledger (occasional conger)
Gear: rough rock. Facing SE.
- Heavy beachcaster or pier rod, 30 to 50 lb class
- Running ledger or simple paternoster, 50 to 80 lb mono trace
- Large strong hooks, size 6/0 to 10/0 depending on bait size
- Drop straight down beside pier pilings or into known snags
- Spinning
- Lures cast across the current (bass)
- Float fishing
- Fish-bait ledger (occasional conger)
Baits and lures
Conger eel baits and lures: Whole or flapper mackerel; Herring; Squid; Small whiting or pouting (where legal).
What this mark typically holds: Mackerel strip; Sandeel; Ragworm; Whole fish baits (conger).
Mackerel strip; Sandeel; Ragworm; Whole fish baits (conger)
Access and ground
Access from the southern side of Wicklow Head. Walk required. Rough terrain.
Parking: R750 car park area.
Safety: 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.
Nearest tackle: Wicklow town tackle shops.
Nearest town: Wicklow. Skill level: Intermediate.
Size and identification
Typical shore size: 2 to 5 kg from deep pier walls and cliff-base rock. Specimen class: Double-figure conger are possible from Wicklow piers at night.
Long, thick, muscular eel body with no scales. Continuous dorsal, tail and anal fin running the full length. Grey-brown on top, pale grey-white beneath. Pectoral fins present (unlike common freshwater eels). Large mouth with strong blunt teeth.
Tip: Conger live in specific lairs and rarely travel far. Local knowledge of pier marks is invaluable, experienced anglers know exactly which piling or corner holds a big eel. Once hooked, a large conger will kite into the structure immediately. Apply maximum side pressure straight away to steer it clear. At the surface, support it in the water and remove the hook with a dehooker.
Irish shore context: record class around 47.49 kg (boat).
Same-mark companions
Other ranked targets on the same mark include Mackerel, Pollack, Bass, Wrasse, Coalfish. Open those pair pages or the full mark guide when you want a multi-species session.
Live ranked advice for Wicklow Head, Long Rock updates on the daily plan. Pair this page with the Conger eel species guide for coast-wide season bars and conservation detail.
Conservation
Slow-growing and late-maturing; all conger should be returned quickly and supported in the water during release.
Guide conservation label: Catch & Release Recommended.
Confirm current bag limits and closures on the Conger eel species guide and /learn/rules before retaining fish.
Other species at Wicklow Head, Long Rock
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.