◀ Locations

Monkstown Pier (De Wall)

Cork Harbour · shore · ⭐ Beginner-friendly

Fish you'll catch here

Conger EelPollackBallan WrasseFlounderCodlingWhiting

How to fish it

Bottom FishingFloat Fishing

Gear & bait

Bass BeachcasterBeginner spinning setup Mackerel StripRagwormLugwormPeeler Crab

When to go

November–February for codling; May–October for conger and wrasse · Flooding tide; also productive at slack water

Monkstown Pier — known locally as De Wall — is one of Cork Harbour’s most reliable and accessible fishing marks. Its sheltered position within the harbour means it can be fished in almost any weather, and it produces a good variety of species throughout the year. For newer anglers, it offers a safe and manageable introduction to sea fishing.

Summer Fishing: Conger and Wrasse

From May through to October, De Wall is a productive mark for conger eel and ballan wrasse. Conger are best targeted on bottom gear — a stout beachcaster with a 6/0 or 8/0 hook and a large mackerel strip or whole small mackerel fished hard on the bottom. The deep water at the end of the pier holds good-sized conger, and night sessions from two hours before high water through to slack are most productive. Peeler crab fished on a running ledger will also account for the odd specimen conger.

Ballan wrasse are caught on float tackle fished alongside the pier walls and among the rocks at its base. Ragworm and peeler crab are the most reliable baits, worked slowly through the water column close to structure.

Winter Arrivals: Codling and Whiting

From November through to February, De Wall transforms into one of Cork Harbour’s better winter cod marks. Codling and whiting move into the harbour on the flood tide, and bottom-fished worm baits — lugworm and ragworm — account for the majority of fish. A simple two-hook paternoster rig baited with lugworm is a consistent producer. Night sessions tend to out-fish the daytime in winter, with the best sport often occurring in the hours around high water.

Flatfish on Worm Baits

Flounder and dabs are present throughout much of the year, responding to worm baits fished on the sandy bottom. A running ledger with ragworm or lugworm cast along the edges of the channel can produce flounder on most tides. They are not large fish by any measure, but they add variety and are a reliable species for newer anglers building confidence.

Fishing at Night

Night fishing from De Wall is rewarding but requires care. The pier drops directly into deep water — always be alert to the edge, use a head torch, and keep bags and equipment well back from the drop. Never fish with children or dogs unsupervised near the edge.

Where it is