Celtic & Irish Sea · fish in season in November
Peak season
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
Whiting
An autumn and winter fish; in Wales the first fish move inshore in October, with November–December the busiest period. In Ireland it is readily caught on beach marks in winter.
Where: Sandy beaches, steep shingle beaches and rocks; at night around high water.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
European flounder Platichthys flesus
Flounder
Caught all year and in best condition from late summer into autumn. In Wales large numbers arrive on surf beaches in February, and October–November is prime time for estuary fishing.
Where: Estuaries, tidal rivers and surf beaches; peeler crab or worm.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Peeler crab
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
Cod · Codling
Present all year; the best boat fishing is May–June and the best shore fishing December–January. Winter fishing on south-coast Irish marks can be excellent after a storm. In Wales January and February are known for big cod and December for the codling run.
Where: Reefs, wrecks, rocks and large estuaries; beaches after winter storms.
Jigging Bottom fishing Surfcasting Metal jig Soft plastic Jig head Peeler crab Lugworm Squid
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales
Common dab Limanda limanda
Dab
One of the commonest flatfish on beaches; winter dabs are abundant and popular in Wales in December. Spawns in spring.
Where: Sandy beaches and bays; small hooks and worm.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Ledgering Lugworm Ragworm Mackerel strip
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
In season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Bass
Ireland's most sought-after sport fish, most common on the south and south-west coasts. Caught all year in some places, with bait preferred in winter. In Wales May stands out and September–October is often best. Further north and in Scotland it is mostly a summer fish. Size limits, bag limits and catch-and-release periods differ between Ireland and the UK. Rules differ by jurisdiction (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Isle of Man); check with the relevant authority (e.g. Inland Fisheries Ireland, MMO, NRW). Not legal advice.
Where: Atlantic surf beaches, surf-washed rocky points and quiet estuary backwaters; rocky gullies when crabs are peeling.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales
Spurdog Squalus acanthias
Spurdog · Spur dog
PROTECTED
In Wales it is caught in huge numbers on deeper marks off Glamorgan and Gower in January–February and reappears in deeper water in December. A slow-breeding shark listed as Vulnerable (IUCN); most anglers release it. Mind the dorsal spines. Rules differ by jurisdiction (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Isle of Man); check with the relevant authority (e.g. Inland Fisheries Ireland, MMO, NRW). Not legal advice.
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Saithe Pollachius virens
Coalfish · Saithe · Coley
Caught all year in most areas where it occurs; moves offshore to spawn in spring. Readily caught on beach marks in winter too.
Where: Rocky shores and beaches; spinners, float or bottom baits.
Jigging Boat spinning Shore spinning Soft plastic Jig head Metal jig Mackerel strip Sand eel Ragworm
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Pouting Trisopterus luscus
Pouting · Bib
A non-migratory species that turns up regularly in winter catches too.
Where: Rocky and mixed ground, wrecks and harbour floors.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Mackerel strip
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
Ling Molva molva
Ling
Almost exclusively a boat-caught fish, especially for wreck and reef anglers. Spawns in spring and is less often caught then.
Where: Deep reefs and wrecks; from boats.
Bottom fishing Jigging Drifting Metal jig Soft plastic Fish strip Mackerel strip Squid
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · British Sea Fishing
European conger Conger conger
Conger · Conger eel
Caught all year; in Wales it is targeted from rock marks in winter too. In summer big fish come right inshore. Mainly nocturnal.
Where: Rock holes, harbour walls, under piers and wrecks; at night with fresh fish baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Drifting Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · Angling Times
Blonde ray Raja brachyura
Blonde ray
In Wales October is the absolute peak for rays, with increasing numbers of blonde ray off Glamorgan. It moves into rocky coastal waters to lay eggs in spring and early summer.
Where: Sand-to-rock transitions and tide-swept sandbanks; mostly from boats.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Sand eel Squid Mackerel strip
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula
Lesser-spotted dogfish · Dogfish
Caught all year and more numerous on southern and western coasts. In Wales it turns up on almost every rock and beach session, even in winter.
Where: Sandy and mixed ground.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Mackerel strip Squid Sand eel
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris
Bull huss · Nursehound
In Wales big bull huss are taken from rock marks in January, and the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula is a noted mark. Caught from boats and rocks through the rest of the year too. Found mainly on southern and western coasts.
Where: Deep, rocky ground; at night with fresh fish baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Occasional
Turbot Scophthalmus maximus
Turbot
Can be caught year-round on Irish beaches and is in best condition from late summer into autumn. Comes into shallower water in spring and early summer; the coldest winter months are hard.
Where: Sandy beaches and sandbanks; thin strips of sandeel.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Live bait Horse mackerel Fish strip Anchovy
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · British Sea Fishing
Thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus
Thick-lipped grey mullet
One of Ireland's most abundant inshore species, and one of the trickier to catch. Present all year; in Wales September is excellent for mullet.
Where: Estuaries, lagoons and harbours, plus many beach and rock marks.
Float fishing Ledgering Bottom fishing Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · Angling Times
Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tuna
CLOSED SEASON
Restricted species: recreational angling is not permitted in Ireland; only authorised charter skippers under Tuna CHART may catch, tag and release (2026: 1 July–12 November). In 2025 high numbers were tagged, particularly in September–October. In English waters (including north Cornwall and north Devon) only the MMO-permitted catch-and-release fishery runs; it is not open to anglers in Wales or Scotland. No fishing technique is shown. Rules differ by jurisdiction (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Isle of Man); check with the relevant authority (e.g. Inland Fisheries Ireland, MMO, NRW). Not legal advice.
Trolling Live bait Boat spinning Trolling lure Popper Stickbait Sardine Mackerel strip Small live fish
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Inland Fisheries Ireland · GOV.UK – Marine Management Organisation
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
Mackerel
Very common on all coasts in summer and most plentiful in late summer, bringing other predators with it. In Wales fresh mackerel are widely available by June.
Where: Harbour walls, piers and rocks with deep water close in; at high tide with feathers or spinners.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales
Thornback ray Raja clavata
Thornback ray
PROTECTED
Picks up in spring; in eastern Ireland rays are a summer catch from May to October. In Wales March is when ray fishing takes centre stage. Comes right inshore in summer.
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales
Blue shark Prionace glauca
Blue shark
PROTECTED
In Wales the shark season starts in July and peaks in September; some of the largest fish are caught offshore in October. Charter boats fish almost entirely catch-and-release.
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
Pollack Pollachius pollachius
Pollack · Pollock
Becomes much easier to catch inshore once the sea passes 10 °C, and thrives inshore from May to October. Larger fish spend winter deeper. A daily bag limit has been announced in the UK. Rules differ by jurisdiction (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Isle of Man); check with the relevant authority (e.g. Inland Fisheries Ireland, MMO, NRW). Not legal advice.
Where: Remote rock ledges, reefs, weedy shores and wrecks; soft plastics, spinners or live sandeel.
Shore spinning Boat spinning Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Sand eel Ragworm Mackerel strip
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Fishing in Wales · Angling Times
Ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta
Ballan wrasse
Very common around Ireland; starts showing in spring and becomes much easier to catch once the water passes 10 °C. Cold weather sends it deeper. Long-lived and slow to mature, so most anglers release it.
Where: Weed-covered rocky reefs and rough, rocky venues; hardback crab picks out bigger fish.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland · Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · British Sea Fishing
Starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias
Smoothhound · Starry smooth-hound
In Wales some of the year's biggest fish come in March (mostly pregnant females — release quickly); they become widespread in May. Arrives inshore in spring as crabs peel and peaks in summer. Almost all anglers release them.
Where: Sand, shingle and light mixed ground; at night with crab baits.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Ledgering Peeler crab Hardback crab Hermit crab
Source: Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (now Inland Fisheries Ireland) · Fishing in Wales · British Sea Fishing
This is the general seasonal pattern for the region, not live data. It can shift by a few weeks with water temperature, migration and the year.