Home East Coast Sea Angling - Wicklow to Blackwater

    East Coast Sea Angling – Wicklow to Blackwater

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    On the northeast side of Wicklow Head (1), a walk is required from the car park on the R750 to reach the available rock fishing below the golf course on Brides Head. Spinning there will produce mackerel (in summer) and pollack. Float fishing should turn up coalfish and wrasse. On the southern side at the “Long Rock” spinning will again account for mackerel and pollack. Fish baits will produce occasional conger while lures cast across the current will take bass. Best period for the latter species is on a dawn or dusk tide. Worm and crab baits cast over sandy patches turn up dabs and plaice in July and August.


    Wicklow is also a very busy charter boat fishing destination, with Wicklow Boat Charters running two boats from Wicklow Town year-round (weather permitting). The fishing off Wicklow has yielded numerous specimen fish over the years, with species such as smoothhound, spurdog, and tope, a regular feature in the Irish Specimen Fish Committee annual report.


    Bram Bokkers with a Wicklow Bay tope

    Some three miles (4.8km) south of Wicklow Head is the beautiful Silver Strand (2) where there is good surf fishing early in the year for bass, flounder, and dogfish. Night fishing turns up an occasional spurdog and some ray in the summer months.

    Rock and sand are interspersed in a cove between Silver Strand and Brittas Bay, known as Jack’s Hole (3). Beach and rock fishing produce bass, flounder, whiting and pollack in autumn while school bass have been noted there, in numbers, during the winter months. Access from the main road (R750) is difficult and care should be taken.

    Brittas Bay (4) is a popular bathing place, and for this reason, fishing is not usually carried out in daylight during the peak holiday months of July and August. Easterly gales however, are not uncommon at this time of year, and during these periods most holidaymakers will be discouraged from venturing onto the beach due to the high winds and rough seas which are invariably also accompanied by driving rain. Bass over the specimen weight of 10lbs (4.5kg) have been taken in these conditions and the angler prepared to persevere should be rewarded. At other times, night fishing will produce bass, flounder, smooth hound, whiting and dogfish. Sandeel and crab are regarded as the top baits on this beach. There are excellent facilities at Brittas and access to the beach is from the car parks on the R750, via one of the paths through the sand dunes.

    On its way south the R750 passes over the Redcross River by way of the quaintly named Pennycomequick Bridge. The river then enters the sea immediately to the east at Ennereilly Strand (5) which has become a very popular venue for fishing night matches due to the apparently ever-present dogfish. These appear to be well spread along the entire stretch.

    Beach fishing near the rocks to the south can yield bass, flounder, whiting, codling, dogfish and dab. One hour either side of high water provide the best chance of a fish.

    The town of Arklow (6) sits astride the Avoca River which enters the sea through a long, narrow harbour to the east of the N11. The first evidence of habitation in the area dates back to 6400BC, but it was probably the 2nd century before a settlement was established. The Vikings, who arrived some hundred years later, are responsible for giving the town its name.

    They called the locality “Arn-kell” after a local Norse chieftain and “lo” which meant a low-lying meadow near water. The Irish name “An T’inbhear Mor” means “the large inlet”.

    A marina, with first class berthing facilities is situated between the road bridge and the north pier. For further details contact +353 40239901.

    A fleet of commercial fishing vessels are housed in the main harbour on the southern shore. Dinghy or small boat fishing in the area is concentrated over the numerous offshore sand banks for dogfish, ray, codling, whiting and tope. The best sport is to be found in the summer months from early June to the end of August. Fishing should not be attempted in strong easterly winds as this causes the sea to break over the bar at the harbour mouth and boat owners should also note that there is a 3km speed limit within the harbour confines.

    Shore anglers are spoiled for choice, as there are several good fishing locations in the immediate vicinity of Arklow particularly at Ferrybank on the northern side and below the estuary mouth on south beach, where bass are fairly common at times. Although the average size is only around 3lbs (1.36kg), much larger fish, though infrequent, are taken annually. Small codling, whiting, flounder and dabs are all common at night particularly in autumn, while sole to over the specimen size of 2lbs (.91kg) have also been taken in the past. On the Roadstone Pier, south of the town, bottom fishing will produce, whiting, dabs, flounder, plaice, pouting and dogfish with night tides in autumn most productive. An Irish Record, three-bearded rockling of 3lbs 1oz (1.39kg) was also recorded there in 1990. The Roadstone Pier is privately owned, and permission must be obtained at the site office before fishing there. Due to the complex nature of the offshore banks and the geographical position of Arklow, the area experiences four tides each day. The main tide, however, is -2.5 hours on Dublin.

    Four miles south of Arklow is a small beach called Clogga (7) where dogfish, flounder and whiting are probable in winter. Kilmichael (8) is just inside the Wexford County boundary and is best accessed by turning southeast at the Scarnagh crossroads on the N11 and following the signposts. From the rocks below the old coastguard station, now well-appointed holiday homes, good sport is available for bass. Fish are generally caught there while float fishing or spinning either with a metal spinner or lure on a flood tide. Sea trout and mackerel will also be taken occasionally. The best period is when high tide coincides with dawn. Casting worm or crab baits out over sand, on the northern side of the point, produces flounder, dogfish and bass. Codling may put in an appearance in winter. The rocks on the southern side of the point are backed by clay cliffs, and from there, dogfish and flounder can be caught during daylight. Tope and bass are more liable to show on night tides particularly in spring and summer. Night fishing on the beach immediately below the point can be excellent in winter for dabs, whiting, codling and flounder. Spring and early summer sees good fishing for bass and smooth hound, but crab baits are essential at this time.

    Two miles south of Kilmichael, the Kilgorman River crosses the beach and enters the sea at Clones (9). This beach is a favourite of many anglers because it generates consistently good fishing in spring and autumn. After an easterly blow the beach provides excellent fishing for codling, bass and flounder. During calmer periods, at night, tope, smooth hound, dogfish, bull huss and ray are all possible.

    Clones is best approached from the N11, two miles south of Inch village, by taking the turn at Rogan’s Crossroads, signposted Castletown, then via the road north of the post office.

    At Ballymoney (10) there is some beach fishing in several little coves for flounder, whiting, dabs, coalfish and bass in autumn. Night fishing can produce good smooth hounds in July. Fishing in Tara Cove in particular can be very rewarding at night.

    Courtown (11) is a very popular holiday destination, particularly with Dubliners and there are a large number of holiday parks, containing thousands of mobile homes, in the surrounding area. In fine weather, the local beaches are a hive of activity and for this reason, fishing is virtually impossible. Night tides, however, are worth trying for dogfish, ray, smooth hound and tope. When surf is running the main target species is bass and big baits cast from the beach around the harbour mouth seem to attract the better fish. Indeed, the biggest fish ever taken there, which weighed in at 13lbs 12ozs (6.24kg) fell to a large mackerel fillet.

    Courtown Harbour is a well-known mullet fishing venue. Bread is the most widely used bait, but ground baiting the day before fishing takes place, usually gets fish feeding well. The local mallard population, however, can turn what should be a relaxing day into one of total frustration as they scoff every crumb that hits the water. This leaves the angler with no alternative but to pack up. Mallard are not as plentiful in early spring, prior to the nesting period or in autumn, when the year’s brood have fledged and moved on. These periods, therefore, would appear to offer best opportunities.

    Boat fishing locally is for ray, flatfish, tope, spurdog, bull huss, smooth hound, bass, gurnard and dogfish. Dinghies and small boats can be launched from the slipway on the eastern side of the harbour. At low water on spring tides, the harbour can almost dry out, so launches and retrievals should be calculated to take this into account. Easterly winds can also cause a heavy groundswell at the harbour mouth. Passage to sea should not be attempted in these conditions.

    As at Arklow, the tides at Courtown are affected by the alignment of the offshore banks. Tides are generally calculated as -3hrs 30min on Dublin.

    Courtown can be approached by taking the R742 from Gorey.

    Three miles (4.83km) south of Courtown, there is good general shore fishing at Pollshone (12). The best fishing is usually on evening and early morning tides from the rocks at the southern end of the beach, with spring and autumn being the best seasons. Species available include bass, flounder, dabs, dogfish and smooth hound. Fresh soft or peeler crab is by far the most successful bait in this area.

    Many bass, to 8lb or 9lb (3.63kg to 4.08kg) on a single tide were once possible off Roney Point and around the Roney Rock (13). Those days have sadly gone, but in the right conditions, bass can still be caught there in the run of tide between the headland and the rock. Spinning is a good tactic and using shallow diving lures, surface lures or soft plastics can produce results. There is also good smooth hound fishing to be had here in summer months.

    South of Roney Point a rough shingle beach terminates at Glascarrig Point (14). Fishing close to the rock in the sandy gullies on the northern side produces flounder to 2lb (.91kg) on crab baits. Dogfish and occasional bass are also taken. Bass fishing is usually best on a flooding tide at dawn, to the east of the point, where crab baits are also successful. Silver coloured lures worked slowly around the rocks can also be very effective.

    The small harbour and slipway at Cahore (15) are popular venues for small boats because they afford access to some of the best spring and summer fishing on the entire east coast. The maze of inshore sandbanks produces consistent fishing for tope to over 50lbs (22.68kg), bull huss and thornback ray to 15lbs (6.80kg), smooth hound and bass to 10lbs (4.54kg), painted ray, dogfish, whiting, tub gurnard and dabs. The parking of boat trailers can be something of a problem at weekends or periods of fine weather during the season, so intending visitors are advised to travel early to ensure a space near the harbour. The beach to the north of the harbour, particularly between the groynes and the pier, produces whiting and dabs in winter, while smooth hound, dogfish and bass can be expected in summer. Behind the castle on Cahore Point lies several rocky outcrops. A short cast will put baits over sand where small plaice, dab and flounder can be expected. The “hotspot” is in the south-eastern corner where the tide washes round the point causing a back eddy across the beach. Bass can be taken there also while spinning or bottom fishing, but dogfish can be a nuisance while employing the latter method. Lugworm is usually the best bait while shore fishing at Cahore in winter with ragworm and crab the top baits in summer. Night tides are generally best throughout the year. Cahore can be approached via the R742 at the signposted turn in Ballygarret village.

    To the south of Clonevin crossroads on the R742, a small road leads to the beach at an area known as Old Bawn (16). Bass fishing can be good here from May to July. This period also provides sport for dogfish, smooth hound, flounder, and spurdog as well as an occasional tope. Night tides are best.

    Shore Angling match on the Wexford Beaches

    The stretch of beach at Ballinoulart (17) some 2 miles (3.22km) further south has produced a few specimen bass over 10lbs (4.54kg). Usually, the best fishing is to be encountered when surf is running during, or immediately after, an easterly blow. The best periods are in May and early June or September and early October with crab, ragworm and sandeel being the most commonly used baits.

    Situated to the east of the holiday village of Kilmuckridge lies Morriscastle Strand (18) which is one of the most popular and productive early season beaches in Ireland. In good years, fishing can begin there in early April with the first inshore migration of the predatory species. A wide range of specimen fish have been recorded there including monkfish, thornback ray, painted ray, sting ray, tope, smooth hound, spurdog, bass, bull huss and dogfish. The consistently good quality of the fishing to be found at Morriscastle has seen the area develop as a popular match fishing venue with many important events being staged there. It is also the beach, which sets the standard, against which all other Wexford beaches are judged. If a tactic or bait works on Morriscastle, then it can be safely assumed that it will work on all the other local beaches. The best fishing is to be found during the hours of darkness with crab, sandeel, mackerel and ragworm being the most successful baits.

    Just south of Morriscastle, a maze of narrow roads leads off the R742 to an area of beach which is crossed by a stream at Tinnabearna (19). It was on this beach, in the late 1970’s, that the first Irish Record smooth hound was recorded. Up until then this species had not been “officially” recognised in Irish waters. Since that time, this beach, like Morriscastle, has produced a wide range of species, including tope, ray, spurdog and bass, and has become popular in spring. During May and June the area to the north of the stream is most productive. As the season wears on, the section of beach south of the stream, where the ground becomes rocky, appears to improve. Night fishing is essential for best results there, although the overcast days of autumn can be productive for bass and flatfish. At times distance casters too will have an advantage, as many of the banks which run parallel to the shore, are more than 100 yards (91.5m) offshore.

    About 2 miles (3.22km) further south on the R742, another small stream crosses the beach at Ballynamona (20). Just to the north of the stream, anglers can expect bass, flounder, dab, ray, smooth hound, spurdog and dogfish. Like all the other venues in this area, night tides in springtime are most productive.

    South of Ballynamona, the beach tends to become a little steeper and at Ballyvaldon (21) the water close to the shore is deeper than in the surrounding area. It is not, therefore, necessary to fish night tides exclusively and the ability to cast a bait a long way is not as important. The species of fish available are like those found elsewhere but anglers probably catch more bull huss there, than anywhere else on the east coast. Spring and autumn are the most popular periods.

    The village of Blackwater (22) lies at the junction of the R742 and R744 and is a good centre for exploring the local beaches, on either side of the river Blackwater, which enters the sea some two miles to the south-east. There is good spring and autumn fishing on the northern side at Ballyconniger for bass, flounder, eel, codling, dogfish, tope, ray, smooth hound and spurdog. Access to this area is not easy and invariably means a long walk. As a result, this section of beach sees very little angling pressure. Where the river crosses the beach, however, is very easy to reach and is much more popular with anglers. Good autumn fishing for bass and codling is possible on evening tides. Flounder, rockling, dogfish and occasional ray are also available there. The beach immediately to the south of the river is very broken and tackle losses are almost certain, but a mile (1.6km) further south at Ballynaclash, the conditions are much easier to cope with and when a surf is running the bass fishing there can be outstanding.