Wexford, located in the sunny South-East, boasts some of the best fishing available in ireland!
Only 2 minutes off the Ferry at Rosslare Europort and you are on some of the finest fishing grounds available in the "Sunny South-East". From Gorey on the north coast, right down around to Arthurstown in the south - We have some of the most exciting fishing marks you are ever likely to encounter.
Only 2 minutes off the Ferry at Rosslare Europort and you are on some of the finest fishing grounds available in the "Sunny South-East". From Gorey on the north coast, right down around to Arthurstown in the south - We have some of the most exciting fishing marks you are ever likely to encounter.
Some species such as Bass can be caught all year round. "Bass-Alley" can be found to the south of the County - this is a narrow estuary where Bass can run on certain tides - it is a well-known fact that up to 15 Bass could be caught in a single 1hr session at this mark if conditions are right.
Co. Wexford beaches offer long sandy stretches with steep declines with gullies. Rocky terrain with rough ground is available also at a variety of marks, as are shale/shingle beaches. A nice surf is usually present along the south coast, due to our wind mainly being from the South-West. Likewise, a good Easterly blow stirrs up a nice surf along the East Coast, making it a fishing paradise with specimen fish regularly caught.
Species differ from venue to venue in Co. Wexford, as it does with the seasons - In the winter months along the East Coast, expect species such as Whiting, Coalies, Cod, Rockling, Flounder and Dabs. In the Summer, expect to catch Bass, Tope, Dogfish, Smoothies, Bullhuss, Spurdogs as well as the occasional Ray.
The South coast will produce huge Flounder in winter, along with Plaice, Codling, Bass, Coalies, Pollock and Whiting to name but a few. Summer brings Specimen-sized Bass, along with Wrasse (from the rocks), Dogfish, Ray, Mackrel, Dabs and Flounder.
Winter 2010 saw a huge welcome increase in the amount and size of Codling caught off the Co. Wexford coast (see picture above) - Cod, amongst bass, up to 8lb were reported, which is a promising outlook for the coming years.
One of the biggest advantages of fishing in Wexford, is the wide availability of fresh bait and equipment - Fresh Lug, Sandeel, Crab and Ragworm can all be dug/sourced locally and usually within a half-hours drive from any venue you intend to fish.
If your caught short on Mono or equipment, one of our tackle shops in Wexford Town will see you right - Des O'Neill (Menapia club-member) at Hayes Cycles (053-9122462) carries a good stock including Shakespear & Diawa.
Likewise, fresh bait is also plentiful - Joe Carley (also Menapia club member/South East bait Supplies) will always have top quality bait and up to date info on what marks are fishing best. Joe can always be contacted on +353 (0)87 9440945.
In September, heavy shoals of Mackrel grace our shores right along the coast - allowing one to gracefully 'restock their bait freezer' for the year.
"Mackrel-Bashing" is becoming a sport in itself in Co. Wexford every September, with up to 80 anglers in some places (young & old) lining the beaches for miles in the hope of landing some Macks....!
For the professional angler, the top baits at the majority of marks are Peeler crab and Lugworm. In addition to this, most marks along the coastline fish best after darkness and over the top of the tide. Sometimes the occasional Ragworm can be effective in daylight hours.
There is plenty of good accommodation available throughout the Wexford coastline, with many Guest-houses just minutes from most fishing marks. The advantage of Guest-house B&B's over hotels, is apart from feeling 'at home', you get all the local knowledge of where to fish and when. Information like this is priceless to a visitor and enables you to maximise your visit.
If you intend on trying out more than one mark during your visit, you can base yourself locally in Wexford town - Hotel rooms can be booked for as little as €49 pps and the furthest fishing marks in the county are always only just 20mins away in either direction.
If you wish to have a guide for your trip, please feel free to contact us and we can put you in touch with professional guides.
Bottom line is, Wexford has probably the best fishing in Ireland all-year around.
BUT, don't take OUR word for it! - have a look at this quote from 'Henry Gilby', a renowned UK angler and Author;
Ireland – their bass fishing. If you had asked me ten years ago whether I had any inkling that I would have succumbed to the charms of these spiky fish to the point of obsession and I might have looked at you rather strangely. And for a part of this addiction I am sorry to say that I must blame Ireland again, plus of course those fantastic people who “kindly ?” helped me ease into my addiction over there – and of course still enable this addict to get his fix as much as he can. Why can’t their bass fishing be garbage so that I don’t have to dream about going there as many times as I can each year ? Waking up every single morning at 3.30am for a week before going on a trip over there because you are so overexcited is not the behaviour of a grown man, but that is how much it gets to me – and I know plenty of anglers who feel the same way as me. Is it right to blame a country for being such a cool place ? Probably not, but then this is my blog and I reckon I can rant about what I want to !! Ireland has got to me in a way that I never envisaged, and for that I must say thank you and please help me in equal measures…….
