Pier Fishing Spots?

Just a quick question for anyone who is willing to help.
I've been course fishing for a few years and I've decided to give sea fishing a try. I tried it years ago when i was a kid but to be honest i can't remember any of it. I've just bought a 9ft pier rod and have a couple of decent reels with 6-10lb line on them. I've also bought a couple of float kits from the local tackle shop. Could anyone recommend a good spot that i could try out for mackerel or mullet or anything like that. Any other bits of tackle i should invest in? I'm living in Dublin and don't mind a bit of a trip so any ideas would help.

Thanks a lot

Hi John,

Have a look at the Dublin shore marks page:
http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/shor ... dublin.htm

For pier fishing do a search (See button above) on Dun Laoirie (spelling?).
Howth seems to be the hot spot in the Dublin area though.

Hi

Irrespective of which harbour you pick, make for the east pier!

At howth you should pick up pollack, wrasse, mackerel fishing off the rocks outside the east pier but it is very foul ground so most people float or spin.
The sand further out inside the harbour or at the mouth will produce dogfish, flatfish including the very odd plaice and mullet. Conger down the harbour walls - Howth has a resident monster, must be close ot the 50 lbs mark if it is still alive...

I'd give it a go - you can pick up shorthorn sculpin (evil looking but harmless fish) and other smaller species in the weed in the pilings and harbour arms.

A coming tide towards evening is ideal and don't leave it to the weekend unless you want to be swamped with people and light fingered children!

There is an excellent SAC (several members on the forum) on the west pier in Howth who doubtless will give you far more detailed information...

FWIW

Agree with Kieran, the east pier in Howth is the way to go. Even if you wanted to fish the near pier, you'd be lucky to find a spot, the place was packed with people fishing last night (note that I said "people fishing" rather than "anglers" - most of them were paying more attention to their six packs of Dutch Gold than their rods).

The far pier is a better bet, and it's even better again in August and September when most of the Mackerel bashers have given up. The rocks at the base of the small lighthouse will hold hundreds of pollack, and the best time to fish for them is at dusk. We caught over 60 between 2 of us last year in about 45 mins (no kidding). Float fishing will also pick up some very large mackerel at that time of year (much bigger than those caught on feathers). Mackerel Strip will sort out the better mackerel, with spinners, feathers and float fished worm, fish strip or sandeel taking the pollack, wrasse and pouting. If you are after mackerel, fish anywhere between 10-30 yards out, if it's pollack and wrasse you want, fish your float tight to the rocks (i.e. max 3 feet out).

This pier is great in that you don't know what will turn up. I know a 5 year old who took a 4lb cod on float gear fished only a couple of yards out!

Dun Laoghaire is another spot worth trying, and you could also try fishing from Coliemore and Bulloch harbour in Dalkey.