◀ Locations

Trabolgan Strand

Cork Harbour (East) · shore · ⭐ Beginner-friendly

Fish you'll catch here

BassFlounderLesser-spotted Dogfish

How to fish it

Surf Fishing

Gear & bait

Bass BeachcasterBeginner spinning setup LugwormRagwormPeeler CrabMackerel Strip

When to go

Spring–autumn (April–November); summer evenings productive · Flooding tide and high water

Trabolgan Strand is a sandy surf beach on the outer eastern side of Cork Harbour, positioned to pick up Atlantic swell while remaining accessible from Cork city. The flooding tide is the key window for bass, which push in along the surf tables to feed on worm, crab, and sandeel washed from the sand — peeler crab on a single-hook trace is a reliable summer approach, while lugworm and ragworm on a two-hook paternoster account for flatfish. Flounder are common across the sandy bottom from the main beach and provide consistent sport for those willing to make the most of the quieter tides. Summer evenings tend to produce the best bass activity, particularly as light levels drop.

Lesser-spotted dogfish show reliably after dark from spring through autumn, taking mackerel strip fished hard on the bottom on the flooding tide and around high water. This is an uncomplicated, beginner-friendly mark requiring only standard beach tackle; a medium-action beachcaster and a fixed-spool reel loaded with 15 lb mainline will handle most situations. Always check surf conditions and weather forecasts before visiting — even a relatively sheltered eastern beach can experience significant swell and undertow, and surf conditions here can change quickly.

Where it is