fishyfishy

2011-11-14T11:00:00.001Z

April sunshine, West Bay, Dorset

This site is built using a standard blogspot template, it is not ideal but it is easy to use and is free!
This blog carries some Google ads.... please feel free to click on any interesting ones to give me a few pence in the tip jar....

To navigate this site, please use the links to the right, scroll down for links to places to fish, listed under areas, tackle shop links etc. I am adding to the site on a regular basis.

an alphabetical list of links to all fishing spots described in this blog is here

Update History

updated September making lead weights added

updated July/August 2011. Fish Identification pages added
Gobies, Blennies, Wrasse.

Added info and photo to West Bay Harbour

link changed for The Aquarium Project site,
an excellent resource for fish identification

click for accessible venues

Pembrokeshire, Amroth Beach.

2011-10-07T10:23:00.011+01:00

Amroth, looking back towards Saundersfoot., the slip in the background

Amroth, Looking east, water just reaching the bank.

Amroth is just along the coast, to the east of Saundersfoot, it is a south-facing sandy beach and is noted for catches of flounder and bass. Approaching the village from the Saundersfoot direction you will drop down to the seafront and see, on the corner, free parking and a toilet block.

There is easy access from here down onto the sandy beach via a concrete slipway. The beach to the left has a bank of large stone 'shingle' which is not comfortable to either walk on, stand on, or climb...for that reason many will fish from the slip...or fish at low tide when fishing is more comfortably done standing on flat sand. Catches seem to be about the same at any state of the tide. If heading west, take care not to be cut off by the tide amongst the rocks.
The fish to be targeted here are flatfish and bass, mullet can be caught and according to season, smoothhound and gurnard put in an appearance. Dogfish are probably ever present.
Long casting is not required, fish can be very close in... when fishing a rising tide the water moves in rapidly on big tides so a short cast will soon be a long cast if you do not recast often. When fishing a dropping tide at night you can end up a way down the beach from your kit...some reflective tape on your kit can help in finding it again.............

Amroth, fishing from the shingle.

If fishing from the shingle bank a big bait dropped in close to where the sand meets the bank can pay off with a bass. If there are gar or mackerel about a pop-up rig* may catch them.

Best baits here are worms and fish-baits of various kinds; mackerel, gar, sandeel will all find fish... the beach is sometimes littered with razor shell so razorfish would seem to be a good bet.

Bait can be got in Saundersfoot, The Pembrokeshire Tackle Terminal sell ragworm and frozen baits at their shop in The High Street, Saundersfoot SA72 9EJ Tel 01834 811212... the shop is poorly signed but is opposite the Aussie bar which is easy to spot. Out of season it would be well to phone to check on availability or to order fresh bait.

There are shops pubs and cafés along the seafront within easy walking distance, there is a bigger car park a little further down the road if there is no room on the corner.

* a pop-up rig... a running leger trace perhaps 3 or 4 feet long with the addition of a small float ( usually a 12mm floating bead or two ) a few inches from the bait to 'pop-up' the bait into mid water and away from the crabs; this rig does not work well in strong tidal flows as the drag of the current forces the float down to the bottom.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES ................ Saundersfoot ....... Tenby

Approximate Tide Times for the next 7 days

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making lead weights the easy way

2011-09-06T11:06:00.015+01:00

The evolution of the process of making cheap leads, lots, quickly.

You can purchase aluminium moulds but they have limitations, they are expensive and generally produce one or two at a time, they make 'professional looking' weights but it takes forever to make a batch of several dozen

Leads are not to be judged on their aesthetic properties but on their ability to give enough weight to cast a baited trace and to hold it on the bottom... so home made, rough and ready....and cheap.... leads will do the job.

lead weights, cast in wooden moulds

Many years ago we decided to go fishing but had only a few weights and tackle shops were shut... so a quick think and the use of tools to hand resulted in the first 'cast in wood' weights.

Many people have told me that you cannot do this, 'the wood will catch fire', but you can.... and it doesn't. You will note in life that the 'you can't do that' types are the ones who haven't tried it.... and the 'yes you can' types are the ones who have.

A few minutes with a flat-bit in an electric drill drilling into pieces of timber, some copper wire stripped from an off-cut of electric cable and some lead melted in an aluminium milk saucepan with a blowlamp solved the problem. The holes were drilled with the wood on a concrete floor so the drill broke through the wood to give a small hole; twisted wires were put in the holes,the wood levelled up and the molten lead was poured into each hole. Some smoke ensued but no flames, so far, so good. When cool the wood was split open to reveal the leads, we made dozens of a three ounce version and they lasted us a good while, such is the nature of fishing that if you have plenty you seem to lose very few. Somewhere I have a photograph, will add it when I find it

Now that species hunting has taken over most of my fishing I am once again turning to this way of making leads. Leads are consumable items and, although small one (28g) and two ounce (56g) weights are relatively cheap the losses during a session fishing in weedy or rocky places can put a dent in your wallet.

So, back to the wood, drills and a bit of thinking. The destruction of the simple mould each time was no real problem...the wood used was off-cuts of no value and twenty or thirty leads were made from each piece. Experiments since have shown that when cool the wood can be whacked down hard and the leads will emerge from the hole.... obviously the smoother the hole the more easily the lead will come out....it turns out that the more leads you make the more the wood chars until a layer is built up, this makes the extraction of the leads far easier and a couple of whacks soon shifts them.

one ounce lead, mould drilled with 9mm twist drill

The next session was to make some ounce leads, a 9mm twist drill was used this time and the holes drilled into a pair of pieces of 2" x 1" timber so that instead of splitting the wood the mould could be parted along the centreline and the mould reused...this worked well and many 1 oz ( about 30g) leads were made.

coke bottle shaped leads

Having the need of heavier weights, but having no bigger twist drill, the mould was modified by wiggling the drill from side to side to enlarge the hole, this resulted in some interestingly shaped 'coke bottle' leads. This enabled the production of loads of larger weights, 45 g , but at the cost of ruining the mould for making the smaller weights. It is a bit of a fiddle inserting the wires each time and reassembling the mould.... also the enlargement of the wire hole by constant use increased the risk of the molten lead escaping through the bottom of the mould; with the right sized hole the lead 'freezes' on contact with the copper wire and prevents any run out although there are gaps around the wire.

So the next stage was a re-think... put the wire loop in from the top ?

putting loops in from the top

Two lengths of 2" x 1" planed timber were drilled with a 16mm flat-bit, the lead poured into the holes and the twisted wire dangled into the molten lead on an aluminium nail placed across the hole and resting on the wood.
This worked well and the resulting lead of about two ounces has a sharp edge that grips into the sand or silt, they grip surprisingly well if you tighten the line...and will roll in the current if you don't.
These weights are fine for smooth ground fishing but snag on rough ground, as they are cheap to make that is not such a problem when using a rotten bottom ( attaching the lead with a lighter breaking strain line than your main line so that the lead is lost when it breaks rather than the rig or the hook-length with the fish on it. )

So it was thinking cap on again to make a lead with a smoother 'nose end' that would pull through weed without too much snagging.

pictures tells it all

An impending species hunting visit to the species rich snag pit of Hobb's Point made it necessary to come up with a better way. To make a rounded nose the flat bit drill had to be made rounded, careful application of an angle grinder gave the required profile, the purchase of a pillar drill since making the other moulds gave the facility of drilling a smoother hole to an exact depth; the point of the drill could be brought to within a smidgeon of breaking though... a baiting needle the same diameter as the copper wire was pushed then through to make the final breakthrough.

16mm bit, 48g lead

12mm bit, 28g lead

Experience showed that the last holes were best not used as you need some spare at the end to whack onto a hard surface, as the copper wire is not doubled and twisted the leads come out fairly easily, and as said before, more use made for easier removal. The tails of copper wire are easily wrapped around a nail and trimmed with snips to make the loop ....although you will get sore fingers if you do 200 at a stretch....
The copper wire in this case is stripped from an old length of cooker wiring cable, scrounge some offcuts from an electrician or keep an eagle eye on builders skips.
The 12mm drill gave a weight of pretty near the ounce and the 16mm drill a weight of about an ounce and a half...

Trying to be clever........

I did take a tenon saw and chisel to pieces of wood to investigate making a tapered square section lead, it worked but I am unsure as to the benefits of that shape over the easier to produce round leads.... we will see............

The leads produced weighing 30g not bad for an estimate of 'about an ounce ( 28g)... good guesswork.

We will experiment further to see about making heavier weights at some time, obviously the bigger the lead the more heat has to be dissipated on cooling, this could mean the possibility of conflagration of the mould..... we will see...

Time for a disclaimer, we are sensible grown ups and suffered no death or even injury, we were careful to put plywood splash guards to protect against over enthusiastic filling, we had a bucket of water nearby to cool any burn sustained but kept all water away from the molten lead. We used an oven glove when holding the handle of the aluminium saucepan and added only dry lead to the melt..... and we worked outside in the fresh air to avoid being made crazy by the fumes from the lead.
I take no responsibility whatsoever for any harm that may befall you if you do something silly and hurt yourself or others after reading this. Safety glasses would be a good idea as well as having immediate access to a bag of frozen peas... a burn will be far less of a problem if the heat is removed quickly from the affected area, cold water immediately then a frozen pack against it to quicken the cooling, common sense works better as you don't get burnt in the first place.

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Fish Identification, Gobies.

2011-07-15T22:21:00.010+01:00

possibly the most difficult group of fish to identify...

starting with one of the easier...

The Rock Goby

Like all gobies the Rock Goby has two separate fins on top rather than the one continuous dorsal fin of the blennies. It is easy to identify by the cream coloured fringe to the first dorsal fin, ( we refer to them as custard tipped gobies, it seems a more accurate descriptor than rock )

Rock Goby ( Gobius paganellus )

I read that the female has a cream fringe and the male, orange. the sex of gobies is of interest to gobies but not to many anglers. Catch them in rocky or weedy places close to structures like piers and walls. A little section of worm on a size 4 hook fished close to the bottom or on the wall surface will do the job, but they will take about anything, they are not fussy eaters.
The 'pelvic' fins are very far forward underneath and form a sort of suction cup by which the goby will cling on to smooth surfaces. Most fish caught will be 12cm or less.

The Black Goby

Black Goby, (Gobius niger) showing the specialised pelvic fins.

The Black Goby is fairly easily identified in the breeding season; the last few rays of the first dorsal fin are very elongated, however the fin does not show this feature all year. The black refers to the dark blotches on the flanks of the fish, not the overall colour which can vary from sandy to dark brown, the breeding males can be almost black . The example shown was caught over eelgrass off The Pleasure Pier, Weymouth. It seems to prefer more silty and less rocky places than the Rock Goby.

for further reading, The Aquarium Project is a good reference site

This blog carries some Google ads.... please feel free to click on any interesting ones to give me a few pence in the tip jar....

to be continued.

Fish Identification, Blennies.

2011-07-15T14:53:00.015+01:00

The Tompot Blenny

Tompot Blenny

This fish is easily identified by the fleshy 'antlers' (tentacles/lappets ) above the eyes, when the fish is in water they are most obvious but tend to stick down to the fish when it is out of the water to give the appearance of an orange blob over each eye. No other blenny has this feature. The blennies have a continuous dorsal fin, ( the fin along its back ). They have a fine set of teeth and are not afraid to use them, many a man has yelled like a big girl when a blenny has decided to bite. The blennies can clamp their jaws with surprising strength, you may have to wait for it to open its mouth for you to extract the hook (or remove it from your flesh ). They will eat most things, worms or little pieces of fish strip, squid, sandeel or even bacon rind. Tiny hooks are not required, even the smallest will have a go at a size 4 hook and bait and this size is easier to grip to extract from the fish. The tompot is one of the bigger blennies and grows up to 20cm or more, normally you will catch them half this size.
Swanage Pier is a good place to catch one.

Tompot Blenny ( Parablennius gattorugine )

The Common Blenny or Shanny

Not as flashy as the Tompot, it has no fancy headgear, and is usually a more muted colour. They do not seem to grow quite so big but otherwise inhabit the same sort of ground and have the same habits and tastes as the Tompot.
They tend to have a greenish hue rather than the red-brown of the Tompot
In breeding condition, in early spring, the male Shanny turns almost black and has distinctive white lips.

The Common Blenny or Shanny ( Lipophrys pholis )

Like most fish that live in places where they can be left stranded by the tide, the blennies can clamp down their gills and survive out of water for a time.... however do please put them back as soon as you can...or equip yourself with a bucket of fresh seawater to keep them in while you look at them; they will be quite happy as long as you keep them out of the sunshine and refresh the water at intervals. It can be useful to see species side by side to spot the differences and learn to identify the fish correctly.

I have seen these fish stamped on by ignorant people who swear that they are poisonous....they are not...... and even if they were it is no excuse for such barbaric behaviour.

There is another blenny that I have caught.... the Viviparous Blenny or Eelpout , however that was many years ago when fishing the Humber estuary, I have yet to catch one anywhere in the south or west.

for further reading, The Aquarium Project is a good reference site

This blog carries some Google ads.... please feel free to click on any interesting ones to give me a few pence in the tip jar....

to be continued

Fish Identification, Wrasse.

2011-07-14T17:29:00.017+01:00

Wrasse are often wrongly identified, the following will help you identify what you have caught.
None of the wrasse are considered as a food fish so catch and release is the way to go.

The Goldsinny Wrasse

Goldsinny wrasse (Ctenolabrus rupestris)

The fish illustrated, which I caught from The Stone Pier at Weymouth, is particularly pale but illustrates well the distinguishing black spots....one at the top of the tail root and one at the beginning of the dorsal fin. They have thick lips compared to other wrasse species and have a shallow profile, the Ballan and Corkwing are much deeper in the belly. They do not grow very big, most of the fish caught will be 12cm or less. Best bait is a piece of ragworm fished near the bottom near weeds/rocks on a hook size 4 or smaller. Another Wrasse, the Corkwing, has a spot on the wrist of the tail but it is central, not on the top edge.

The Corkwing Wrasse

Corkwing wrasse indentifier

The easiest wrasse to identify if you know what to look for, behind the eye and in front of the gill cover you will see tiny serrations or grooves like the edge of a pound coin. No other common wrasse has this feature. The Baillon's Wrasse also has this feature but is not commonly caught.
There is confusion however because the male and female have different markings. The male is the more showy, having iridescent green and gold wavy lines on his head. They show especially well in sunlight.

Corkwing male Symphodus melops

The female is dowdier and has a cork-tile like colouration, the spot in the centre of the wrist of the tail is distinctive.

corkwing female

The Corkwing Wrasse can grow up to 25cm long but a fish of half that length would be more typical. Like all wrasse a piece of ragworm on a small hook will entice them, they can be caught in open water but are more likely to be caught near the shelter of rocks and weed. The dorsal fin contains spines which are not apparent until you grasp the fish.

You will learn to hold it from the underside.

The Ballan Wrasse

The largest of the British Wrasses the Ballan can show a bewildering range of colouration from lime green, through various shades of brown, to dark purple with white spots.

Ballan wrasse ( Labrus bergylta )

A juvenile Ballan WrasseBallan Wrasse showing typical spots

The Ballan grows to 60cm or more in length and is a bit of a thug when caught, it will head for the nearest weed and rocks and will often snag the line, it is a hard fighting fish and considerable pressure is needed to stop it heading snag-ward . If it is snagged then patience can help, leave it for a few minutes and it may well swim back out of the snag. If large wrasse are around it is best to hold your rod or prop it securely so that it is not pulled in.
It has spines in the dorsal fin so handle carefully. The British record for Ballan Wrasse fish stands at 9lb 1oz. Larger wrasse are quite happy to take fish strip, squid or sandeel, a livebait, or a lure, smaller fish tend to go for worm baits, especially ragworm.

The Cuckoo Wrasse

The most colourful of the British wrasses, it grows to about 35cm long and is found in the company of other wrasse species over rough weedy or rocky ground. The male and the female are quite different in colouration but have the same body shape, they are a leaner fish than the Ballan or Corkwing and have a pointed face. The colouration changes during the year, a breeding fish will have a different colour scheme to an immature non-breeding fish. The examples shown were caught at the same spot in Swanage Bay and are darker than fish caught further west along the coast where the female is more beige than copper coloured.

Cuckoo Wrasse female (Labrus mixtus)

The male has the iridescent wavy lines that are seen on the male Corkwing and the Rock Cook but the lines are distinctly blue and not the blue/green of the Corkwing; they extend right to the tail whereas the Corkwing shows mainly on the head and shoulders. The fringes of the fins are also distinctly coloured.

Cuckoo Wrasse male (Labrus mixtus)

The Cuckoo Wrasse is less likely to be caught from the shore unless fishing into deep water, it will take most baits but ragworm can be counted on to catch. Why it is called cuckoo is subject to speculation..... it shares no similarity with the bird but shares the sound of its name with the Rock Cook....which is also an odd name. My suspicion is that there was an old dialect/Cornish/Breton/Welsh word that was pronounced cook but meant neither a bird or a chef, but something quite different.

Baillon's Wrasse.

Baillon's Wrasse ( Crenilabrus bailloni.)

Baillon's Wrasse is one of the rarer species; the one illustrated above was caught in 120 feet of water off Swanage. It was 24cm long and weighed 200g and was caught using baited feathers fished on the bottom, ragworm proved its undoing as with the other wrasse species. They are occasionally caught from the pier at Swanage; they are most likely caught in many other locations but are disregarded having been thought to be just another corkwing wrasse. There are similarities, the mottled brown colouration is quite like the corkwing female but there is distinct banding on the Baillon's, there is some iridescent blue and yellow colouration about the head but it is not as pronounced as on the male corkwing. The front of the gill cover has the serrated edge as found on the corkwing.The defining feature of this wrasse is the colouration of the fins which are unmistakeably red.

Baillon's wrasse, showing serrations

Other wrasse include the Rock Cook and the Rainbow Wrasse to be added when ( if ? ) I catch them to photograph....

for further reading, The Aquarium Project is a good reference site

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Cuckoo Wrasse added 04/07/11
Baillon's Wrasse added 14/08/11

to be continued.

Rod licence scam.

2011-04-14T17:08:00.006+01:00

An advert appeared on this site from

http://www.fishingrodlicence.com/

this is a scam.... do not pay for anything via that site

A rod licence is not required for sea fishing unless you target sea trout or salmon within a few miles of the shore....

check with the real site if you need a game licence

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/fishing/31497.aspx

The Environment Agency used to run an ad here until I complained that they did not make it clear that a licence was not required for sea angling.
They said they would make it clear on their site...

have they ?....c'mon this is a government agency we are talking about....

when I figure out how to ban ads from this site I will stop the ad appearing,
it has been reported to the Environment Agency.

NOTE, IF YOU CLICK ON THAT AD IT WILL COST THEM MONEY... AND PUT SOME IN MY ACCOUNT.... ONLY A FEW PENCE PER CLICK BUT EVERY LITTLE HELPS.........

Tackle Shops, Weymouth

2011-04-14T13:18:00.008+01:00

Weymouth Angling Centre has moved from one side of the bridge to the other.... go over the bridge towards town, round the bend with the pedestrian crossing and it's just down the road on the right....although all you can see of it is the name painted on the balcony that projects over the pavement until you are quite close.

Weymouth Angling Centre, St. Edmund Street. Weymouth Tel. 01305 777771

Weymouth Angling Centre.

A new tackle shop has opened, filling the gap left by the demise of Dennings Tackle, which will be convenient for those heading towards Ferry Bridge, Chesil Cove or the Portland marks.

You will find it on the left as you drive out towards Portland, after the roundabout and after the Filling Station on Portland Road, there is very limited parking in front of shop but you can park on the roadside further down or in a side street.

Chesil Bait 'n' Tackle 77 Portland Road Wyke Regis Tel 01305 766222

Chesil Bait n Tackle, Wyke Regis.

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North Devon, Ilfracombe Harbour

2010-10-24T16:07:00.008+01:00

The top deck of the pier, note the tall post on the left on the lower deck.

Ilfracombe is on the north Devon coast, when you arrive you will note that the locals are not fond of direction signs.... there are small brown signs for The Aquarium and Harbour but they are easily missed. There is a large car park adjacent to the harbour wall so you can fish near to your car. There is a cheaper car park back at the head of the harbour.
There are toilets at the entrance to the car park and a tackle shop nearby, back up the road you came in on, follow the road round to the left and the shop is a short distance down that road on the right, (Variety Sports, 23 Broad Street, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9EE). Continue down the road and opposite the bus station you will find the Bus Stop Café for cheap and sustaining no frills meals.

The lower deck at low tide.

The tides here are typical of the area, big. The water comes up a long way and can catch out the unwary..... the weed growing on the wooden posts on the lower level is a clue to what happens later in the tide. You can only fish the lower section for a couple of hours before and after low tide, less or not at all in rough weather.

This is a venue that can be fished with light or heavy tackle, big baits cast out towards Wales from the end of the lower level can catch you a conger, more likely to catch a dogfish, but conger are regularly caught here. Fishing light close in can result in many species that are attracted by the cover provided by the pier structure and submerged obstructions, it is snaggy however and you will lose some gear. Fish with hook lengths and lead links of lesser breaking strain than the mainline so that you can pull clear of the snags, fine wire hooks that bend such as the Mustad Nordic Bend are good in these situations. Size four are about right for general species hunting close in. Ragworm is the most used bait but fish baits will catch as well.
Fishing further out puts your bait out onto a generally sandy bottom with some weed clumps and other snags, there is not much tidal flow so grip leads are not necessary to hold bottom.
Float fishing near to the pier can be productive, when last there ( Mid October ), there were gar, sand smelt, coalfish and a mullet caught on fish strips fished at depths of up to twelve feet or so. Fishing out onto the sand gave small whiting, sole and a small conger eel

Tide flooding the lower level.

The pool that is enclosed by the pier can be fished; an angler fishing here had a silver eel later in the tide.

Note the post referred to in the first picture caption !

Fishing from the rocks is possible at low tide but be very aware of the advancing tide, the rocks in the picture above offer no refuge from a swell or a bigger tide.

Tide times for the next seven days for Ilfracombe

Easy wheelchair access and no distance casting needed makes this a good venue for a disabled angler

easy level access to railed promenade on top level
sloping ramp to un-railed lower level.

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Bait, Salted Ragworm.

2010-08-24T10:53:00.009+01:00

salting ragworm

Getting bait can be a problem; often the times you want to fish do not coincide with the times the bait shops are open. It is useful to have standby baits if you can't get fresh, frozen mackerel, squid or sandeel is easily obtained and stored but worm baits present a problem. Because of their high water content normal freezing will result in breakdown of the cell structure of the worm as the ice crystals form and expand, leaving you with a mushy bait when it thaws. One of the oldest methods of food preservation is by salting, salt will remove the water from the worms, dry them out, and preserve them. The process is simple, put a half inch layer of salt in an old plastic container, add worms so that they don't touch, add more salt to cover them, add more worms and so on. The initial uptake of water from the worms is rapid and after a few hours the salt will have become very wet. Take the worms out, knock or brush the salt off the worms as best you can so that the next dry salt can reach the skin of the worms and not residual wet salt, repeat the salting with fresh salt in a dry container. Leave for a day or so, take the worms out, knock the salt off and repeat the process again. The salt can be dried out on a tray in a dry warm place and reused again and again, it will pick up a smell from the worms.... if that bothers you then salt is cheap in any case, 3kg for under £1. After another day or two the worms will be dried out and have a tough texture; they can then be stored, in a fridge or not, I've left my salted worms in a tackle box in the car for days and in a cupboard for weeks or months with no deterioration in the fish catching ability of the bait.
A plastic colander can be useful for sieving out the worms and bits of vermiculite or peat that the worms were sold with at the shop, don't use metal, damp salt is highly corrosive.

salted ragworm, after second day, ready to use or store

The salting process will shrink the worms, the two worms to the right of the coin were 6 to 8 inches long when they were alive. The worms are a tough hook bait and stay on the hook better than fresh worms, they will bulk up when they are in the sea as the water replaces that taken out by the salt.
I usually leave the worms in paper in the fridge until they are dead or dying... I'm sure the fish prefer the bait with a bit of smell to it, they certainly catch more than worms salted when still fresh.

these were salted months ago

I find that the salted bait is taken readily by all species of fish, it is an especially good bait for match fishing in early spring when catching rockling and other small species can mean a match win. I prefer the preserved bait to fresh, the catch rate is noticeably higher. It is satisfying to beat your fellow anglers with bait they have given you after the last matches.... at the end of a match I've been given scores of worms..... " because they won't keep "..... oh yes they will !

I was asked by one chap if the taste of salt puts the fish off , I did point out to him, as gently as I could, that the fish are quite used to the taste of salt..........

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Weymouth, Preston Beach.

2010-08-18T17:01:00.010+01:00

Preston Beach, looking back to the town beach

Preston Beach is the shingle beach that extends from Greenhill to Bowleaze Cove; the A353, signposted to Wareham, runs alongside the sea wall and beach. Parking is limited to the car parks at Greenhill , one about 400yds further on at the rear of the Sea Life Centre and then nowhere until you get to the cove. Here you may be lucky to park free on Bowleaze Coveway.

Weymouth charges heavily, day and night, for parking.... and enforce it rigorously, don't overstay.

Fresh water outlet

The beach is fine shingle and is sheltered from westerly storms, it is often used as an alternative venue for matches when Chesil is too dangerous to fish. The beach is gently sloping once you are over the man-made bank and the water is fairly shallow. The beach is generally clean ground and snag free. All manner of species show up here and it is a greatly underrated spot. Anything from smoothound to golden grey mullet can turn up. Ragworm is most widely used but mackerel, sandeel or squid can catch well. If you are after smoothound then hermit crab is reckoned to be the bait to use.

Bowleaze Cove end, notice the reef.

If you fish the Bowleaze Cove end of the beach, be aware that there is a reef close inshore, otherwise you will lose tackle to it. If you look back landwards and line up with the edge of the last building on the other side of the road you are at the end of the reef. If you are after bass then you may well want to fish the reef although this is best done early morning or late evening as when you venture into the cove you are into swimmer and jet-ski territory.

There is little lateral movement to the water so light tackle and plain leads can be used. Fish can be caught very close to shore so long casting is not a requirement.

There are two tackle shops in Weymouth, the nearest is the Weymouth Angling Centre by the Town Bridge where they stock good bait and Reels and Deals in St Thomas Street.

There are toilets at the Greenhill car park and at the junction of the main road and Bowleaze Coveway.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES Ringstead Bay Pleasure Pier

Tide times for Preston Beach for the next 7 days

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Poole Harbour, Baiter.

2010-08-18T16:30:00.005+01:00

Baiter, looking back towards the car park off Labrador Drive.

Baiter Park is an area of reclaimed land in Poole between the Quay and Poole Park. It was once the site of an isolation hospital built on a spit of land surrounded by water or salt flats. The remaining portion of the building can be seen in the picture above. The park is alongside Labrador Drive and Catalina Drive and has a large car park off each road and a toilet block between them.
This is a noted spot for flounder fishing, the venue is fishable over high tide from the comfort of a paved path and benches. There is a long section of water that fishes much the same over a large part of that length.... this makes it a popular site for matches so you may find it busy. The hot spot is said to be the area where the culvert allows water flow into the pond within Poole Park.

Baiter, looking towards Poole Park.

The bottom here is silt and mud with some weed patches. Flounders, eels and small bass are the most likely catch so use ragworm baits on smallish hooks. Distance casting is not required, fish can be very close in. Boats fishing just offshore catch black bream in late summer, and smoothound are said to turn up on occasion.

There is a public slipway off the car park which is very popular with the jet-ski users who in turn are not very popular with anglers. There is a dedicated area for them to play in over the water but many prefer to show off around the launch area.

There are no cafés nearby, you will need to go back to the Quay area or rely on a snack van that appears on occasion in the car park.
There is good level wheelchair access but some assistance to get fish back over the rock fringe may be required.

The nearest tackle shops for bait are Sea Fishing Poole at the eastern end of The Quay, then the Poole Sea Angling Centre near Poole Quay or The Wessex Angling Centre on Wimborne Road.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES Holes Bay Evening Hill

Tide times for Baiter for the next 7 days.

with assistance

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Pembrokeshire, Hobb's Point, Pembroke Dock.

2010-08-13T19:45:00.014+01:00

Hobb's Point showing the pontoon in place.

Hobb's Point is signposted once you get to Pembroke Dock, look for the brown tourist information signs. It is at the end of Pier Road, don't expect to find a pier, it is the ramp that was used by the car ferry service across the River Cleddau before the bridge was built.
Winter fishing is done from the railed section at the top of the ramp, during the summer a pontoon is erected which prevents the landing of any fish caught. Cod and whiting are targeted by putting large baits out more than eighty yards or so to clear the horrendous snags which result from cars off the old ferry, supermarket trolleys, benches, litter bins, paving slabs and any other rubbish the locals can find to lob in there. If you are prepared to risk losing tackle and fish rotten bottom rigs then conger can be caught here in the rough, close in. Dogfish are likely to put in an appearance at some stage, in the rough or out on the clean ground.

Hobb's Point, the ramp.

Fishing close in is a technique to increase your 'species caught' list if you fish the sloping ramp section. There are snags, kelp and other weed but the bottom is teeming with fish species, four types of wrasse, umpteen of gobies, butterfish, sand smelt, pollack, tiny codling, eels, and others. Use a light rod and small hooks. I use size four fine wire hooks that will bend out of snags under pressure tied to hook lengths about half the breaking strain of the main line, using one ounce leads keeps the cost of lost tackle down. Small pieces of ragworm, stale or dead and dying works better than fresh... or small slivers of fishbait or sandeel will work as well. Fish within a yard or so from the wall ....... and do not be too surprised if in August or September you catch one of these...especially around low slack water.

Trigger fish caught in September, Hobb's Point

Float fishing can reduce tackle loss and can result in pollack or bass, with mackerel in season. The area off the end of the ramp where the water swirls as the tide moves is favourite.
If you bottom fish parallel to the ramp out from the end towards the boat moorings you will be onto generally clean ground with clumps of weed you will pick up bigger wrasse and school bass. Cast over into the shallows to the right and mullet are possible; you can watch the swirls they make in the water as the tide advances over the mud, I'm told they will take ragworm but I haven't the patience for mullet fishing....

This venue has the advantage of being fishable at any state of the tide although heavy grip leads will be needed to hold in the tide if casting out to the main channel.

Be very wary of the green slime on the ramp, it is very slippery when wet... and the ramp drops off suddenly it does not taper gently down to the sea bad.... it was made for a car ferry, not little dinghies.

the ramp, the green bits are slippery !

There is ample parking at this venue, you can park at the top or on the ramp itself. There are toilets at the top of the ramp, food and drink can be got at Lidl or Asda which you will have passed to get there, both are within walking distance. There are several cafés a little further on in the town.

Local tackle and bait shops are

Pembroke Angling Address 31 Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock SA72 6AL 01646 622712.

Anglers Corner in Milford Haven

Unit 46, Honeyborough Business Park, Neyland SA73 1SE 01646 601300

OTHER LOCAL VENUES....... West Angle............ Brunel Quay

Tide times for Hobb's Point for the next 7 days

easy level access to railed promenade
and from the sloping ramp with a levelling device.

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Pembrokeshire, Porth Clais

2009-07-03T18:01:00.016+01:00

Porth Clais harbour, from the cliff path to the west of the inlet.

Porth Clais, sometimes written as Porthclais, is a picturesque inlet with harbour a short distance from St Davids. The road to Porth Clais is signposted from the main roundabout in the centre of the city (anywhere else I would have written village, such is the size of this city), turn down Goat Street.
There are two car parks at the head of the harbour, one owned by the Harbour Trust and one, adjoining but further away, owned by The National Trust*. For anyone used to parking charges in Southern England, £2 a day comes as a pleasant surprise. There are toilets in the National Trust car park and a kiosk that sells ice cream, drinks etc alongside NT souvenirs.

The Harbour wall at Porthclais.

There are rock ledges which offer access to deep water for float fishing for bass, wrasse and pollack; these are not for the faint hearted, take local advice before you venture down the cliffs; there are climbs well known to the keen rock-climber so the going is not likely to be easy.
Access to the harbour wall is to the eastern ( left ) side of the inlet along a well defined narow path that climbs up and along the top of the low cliffs and descends by a steep slope and steps onto the broad flat wall.
The water can be crystal clear, as can be seen in the photograph above, and the rock fringes to the inlet can be seen under the water, ideal territory for wrasse and pollack. There is little tidal flow within the inlet so float fishing is a leisurely affair,use a small strip of silver mackerel belly as bait, or a head hooked ragworm. Letting the float drift down the right hand side near the rocks should get results although you will need to look out for other harbour users, kayakers and small boat users have right of way through the entrance.
There are a great many small fish to be caught along the wall, drop a small hook baited with ragworm among the rocks and weed and very soon a blenny or small wrasse will be on it. Large wrasse can also be caught close in, along with small pollack. The ground further out seems to be mainly snag free sand and ideal ground for flatfish; after dark should see dogfish or maybe bull huss moving in. Some nice bass are caught here, try an early morning session when there are fewer people and boats to spook the fish. Light tackle can be used here, distance casting is not required and a light rod can be used for spinning, float fishing or legering.
The venue is safe for children above toddling age, there is no railing to the wall but the inner wall should provide plenty of crabbing opportunities to keep them occupied.

As with most fishing spots in West Wales, buying bait can be a problem; there is a tackle shop in Haverfordwest, County Sports at 3 Old Bridge, Haverfordwest SA61 2EZ, tel: 01437 763740. They have a range of frozen baits and stock live ragworm. It would be best to phone and order ragworm as supplies can be erratic.

There is a shop in Solva, just down the coast, ( Bay View Stores on the left as you go down the hill into Solva) that sells fishing tackle and frozen baits and is open until 7 or 8pm.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES ......Newgale.......Fishguard

Tide Times for the next seven days

* note, being in Wales you may not recognise the wording on the NT sign, luckily the NT Logo looks the same in Welsh, there is free parking for NT members

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Pembrokeshire, Neyland - Brunel Quay

2009-06-27T16:25:00.010+01:00

Low Tide, Hobb's Point across the water

Original Brunel railway lines make a handy rod rest

memorial to Brunel

Brunel Quay is an easy location to fish. Find it by heading for Neyland Marina which is well signposted; you will find the entrance to a large free car park among the trees on the bend in the road. The water retreats at low tide so fishing is only possible for a few hours either side of high water unless fishing from the beach. The venue is railed and is safe for children.
The picture taken at low tide shows the nature of the sea bed, it is generally quite clean but there is a large mussel bed running out from the corner; this can snag tackle but wrasse, bass, eels and several mini species can be found feeding here.
Target species here will be bass, wrasse and mackerel in summer and whiting and codling in the winter. Trigger fish can show up here on occasion in August and September.
Long casting is not necessary so light tackle can be used for summer fishing. The tide pulls hard on the ebb so grip leads will be required if you cast out into the main tide run. I have seen people fishing from the beach at low tide but I have taken the easy comfort option of fishing from the Quay.

Bait, ragworm, sandeel and mackerel can be got from Angler's Corner in Milford Haven ( Pill Rd, Milford, Haven, SA73 2NS tel.01646 698899 ) which is conveniently close to the back road from Milford Haven to Neyland and is easily spotted from the main road into Milford have, it is on the left to the side of a large garage/workshop. Recently we have been buying top quality ragworm from the newish tackle shop at Unit 46 on the Honeyborough trading estate, on the A477 roundabout north of Neyland, SA73 1SE tel 01646 601300 (they sell pine furniture and fireworks too, a strange combination.... )

There is a café/bar in the complex of buildings near the marina and shops back in the town. There are no public toilets nearby.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES......... Hobb's Point.............. Milford Haven

Tide Times for next seven days

easy level access to railed promenade

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Bait: Slipper Limpets

2009-03-03T19:50:00.008Z

Slipper Limpets, the larger ones are about the size of a man's thumb.

Slipper limpets can be bought shelled ready to use and frozen, these make a good bait but they are too fresh; a better bait is got by collecting your own after a storm has washed them up on a beach. Birds are quick to find them, shells on the promenade at Weymouth and crows on the beach were the sign that the bait in the photograph was there for collecting, thanks to a storm three or four days earlier.
Do not rush to freeze the bait, the slipper limpet works best when it is 'a bit ripe'. The meat of the limpet is quite easy to remove from the shell, a fairly blunt knife like the one in the photograph is used to twist under the shell to lever it from the one it is clinging to and then the tip is run around the edge of the orange 'foot' where it attaches to the shell; when this is loose the knife can be used to gently pull the dark body portion from under the white shell dividing section.
Slipper limpets are a very good bait to use for species that patrol the beach looking for such a bait, bass, flounders, sole and plaice are very keen on them, on their own or in a cocktail with lug or ragworm.If you are fishing from a pier, harbour wall or jetty you will find that most fish will readily take this bait.
The limpet flesh is soft and will not take hard casting, but then.... if you will realise the fish are coming in close to find just the bait you are offering, it would defeat the object of using it if you cast it a long distance. You can bind the bait on with bait elastic to stop it flying off or tiny fish pulling it from the hook.

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The Solent, Weston Shore.

2009-01-15T14:53:00.008Z

Weston Shore, morning sunshine and a rising tide

Netley Abbey is fairly well signposted on brown signs from the M27 exit at Burseldon via the A3397;Travelling from Netley back towards Southampton you come onto Weston Parade, a road that runs alongside the shingle beach. There are free car parks and additional parking on the road. There are toilets at the far end where the road swings sharply inland. West of this bend is the area known as The Rolling Mills section, the mills are long gone, they used to roll brass for shell cases for WWI. The area is now a grassed public area leading around to Woolston.

About half tide, water has reached the shingle

This is a fairly shallow venue, there are extensive mudflats at low tide where worms can be dug. The venue becomes fishable when the water reaches the shingle at about half tide. Species caught here are flounder, eels and bass all of which are quite happy to hunt in shallow water. Fish can be caught very close to shore so it is worth a cast of a five or ten yards if you are not catching further out.
Light tackle such as a carp rod set-up will work well here as heavy weights are not required to hold in the tide. At my last visit two ounces was enough to hold.... and a fish came at five yards.
Best baits here are worms or shellfish such as slipper limpet, razorfish or mussel. larger flounder and school bass will readily take fish or squid bait.
There is a tackle shop in Bridge Road, Woolston and another, coincidentally, in Bridge Road, Burseldon on the A27. There are some shops in Netley. A fairly child friendly venue, there is a playground half way along the road where it is possible to fish and keep an eye on the kids.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES.... Netley.....Magazine Lane

Approximate Tide Times for the next seven days

A short distance across loose shingle to fish at high tide

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updated 27 June 09 tide time link added
6th July note re. Rolling mills added

Poole Harbour, Redhorn Point.

2009-01-05T11:56:00.012Z

Waiting for a flounder, Redhorn Point

Redhorn Point, Witch Farm Oilfield across the water.

As you head from Studland towards the Ferry you will drive uphill around a long sweeping bend and then as the road levels, see a long straight; on your left about 200 yards on is a metal gate ( FP5 on a sign on the gate) with large a rock each side of the gateway. Coming from the ferry, if you've started going downhill and turning left.... you've missed it. Parking is available at the roadside but keep clear of the yellow line. A broad path leads down to the point it is an easy walk with a few muddy patches after rain. There are usually a few boats moored near the point which provide a visual marker to head for.

January day, with ice along the shoreline.

Fishing from the side of the point is onto silt and mud and a good pull on the line is needed to move the weight from the bottom, from the point casting out to the right of the green channel marker pole the sea bed is more sand and shingle. There are some weed patches to negotiate when reeling in to avoid snags.
You can fish this venue with light tackle as distance is not needed, ragworm, mussel or slipper limpets will catch the usual Poole harbour species.... flounder, school bass and eels.

There are no facilities nearby, there is a cafe and toilets back at Knoll Beach (NT) at Studland. Nearest bait and tackle shops are at Wareham, Swanage or Poole.

The venue is child friendly, there is a strip of sandy beach or a close cropped grass area for the ankle-biters to play on within sight of where you will be fishing.Like all fishing marks along this part of the harbour please observe the fire safety rules.... no fires or barbecues. Adders are quite common in heathland, leave them alone and they will not bother you; keep out of long vegetation, there are a great many deer here and they carry ticks which lurk on the long growth waiting for another host to brush against it.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES......Studland................Jerry's Point

Tide Times for the next seven days

updated 17th August 2010

Parking warning !

Parking Warning. The signs say 'no overnight parking'.... this means you may get a ticket for parking at any time during the 'night', even if you stay just a short time.
check the signs, I believe it is between 11pm and 06.30 am

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Pembrokeshire, Milford Haven.

2009-01-01T13:52:00.011Z

The Mackerel Landing

Milford Haven is on the north bank of a large natural harbour that serves the oil and gas industry. It is reached by the A4076 from Haverfordwest if travelling south or over the Cleddau Toll Bridge on the A477 from Pembroke Dock if heading west. The Marina is well signposted, at the bottom of a steepish hill you will need to turn back sharp left and follow that road until the junction where a right turn will get you onto the road along the containing wall of the dock. There is plenty of free parking alongside between the road and the wall.The venue is good for disabled access and fishing can be done from the back of a car along the sea wall or from a wheelchair on the Mackerel Landing ( so called as it was built to service the Russian ships that once worked the area hoovering up the shoals of fish).
There are signs saying no unauthorised access affixed to the landing, I have yet to see anyone take any notice of them.
.

Fishing from here is over fairly clean ground although you will lose some tackle to snags stones and seaweed. The yellow post with a cross on top, in the above picture under the middle of the sailing ship,marks a large cube of concrete ( 8' cube maybe ?) that will snag tackle. Legering fish or worm baits will get pout, codling, dogfish, eels, whiting, bass, pollack , wrasse and flatfish. In summer float fishing for mackerel and gar is the most popular method.

The sea wall provides a handy rod rest; although if you do this be aware that a bass is quite able to flip your rod over the wall. Fish can be caught right up to the wall so distance casting is not required.

The Lock Pit.

If there is no boat traffic you can fish into the lock pit for mini-species or if you are optimistic a conger eel. Bait and tackle can be obtained from Anglers Corner which is on Pill Road, on your left and visible from the main road if coming in from Haverfordwest. ( opposite junction with Coombs Drive...... tel 01645 698899).
There are no facilities at this venue, there is a Tesco supermarket not far from where you turned off the road to skirt around the marina and some bars and cafés have appeared in the new buildings that have sprung up around the marina.
If you are prepared to put in the effort, soft or peeler crabs can be found on the beach to the left, seek them out among the weed covered rocks but put the stones back how you found them if you move them.

Tides Times for the next seven days

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Tackle, Setting up a standard sliding float.

2008-09-22T17:08:00.018+01:00

A standard sliding float set-up

Fish will be caught at various depths and to catch them you will need to adjust the depth at which you present your bait. Trial and error will be needed so the length of line between the float and the bait needs to be adjustable.... hence the sliding float.

To set up the standard kit that you will get from the tackle shop put the parts on to your line in this order, bead, float (coloured end first ), ball weight, bead and then the swivel. Tie up a hook length, about 30 to 40 cm long and attach this to the lower eye of the swivel by putting the double overhand loop through the eye and then passing the hook back through the loop and pulling up tight.
The stop to prevent the bait and weight sinking right to the bottom is formed by the small elastic band you will find in the kit; put the band around the line above the float and put one end of the band through the other and pull up tight. If you have large eyes on your rod you can leave it like that.... if the band catches on its way through the eyes you will need to trim off the free end of the band.
You can now slide the band stop up the line to set the fishing depth.

stages in setting up the float stop.

Improved version.

The picture above shows an improvement to the basic set up. A problem with the standard set up is that the sharp edges of the ball weight wear the line away and eventually you will lose your float and weight..... and worst of all, your fish. This variation involves putting the bead and ball weight onto the loop in the hook length, this gives double the line to resist wear, but check frequently and discard and tie another hook length if you see any chafing of the line. You can make life easier for yourself by using a snap swivel ( like a safety pin clip ) instead of the swivel supplied.

Experience, or looking to see what other people have done when they catch a fish, will determine the depth you fish at: for mackerel and gar the books usually say about four feet and two feet, but I catch most of mine at a depth of about nine feet for both species. Pollack are found deeper while bass can show up any any depth.

For a cheaper and more versatile set up have a look at my rig here

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Cardiganshire, Gwbert, Cliff Hotel.

2008-05-16T18:27:00.014+01:00

From the town of Cardigan take the Gwbert Road, the A4548, along the north side of the Teifi Estuary, past The Patch Caravan Park, up the hill and along the flat towards the entrance of The Cliff Hotel.
On the left you will have great views of the Teifi Estuary and see why, with the incoming tide and banks and gullies, Poppit Sands can be a dangerous place to fish.
The road down to the hotel is private, the public road turns sharply to the right and you should be able to park on the left side of the road here. There is public access along the drive to the hotel, diagonally down across the car park and down alongside the fence to the golf course. Follow the path down to the cliff top.

Walk around the greens rather than straight across the playing surfaces if crossing the golf course. You will see, near the post on the point, a narrow path and steps down onto the rocks. There are places where you can safely stand to fish; you can either spin or float fish or cast out a bottom fished bait onto the sand beyond the rocks for a variety of different fish species.. There are gullies which hold wrasse , pollack and bass and mackerel are caught in numbers here in the summer.

Rock ledges under The Cliff Hotel.

This is not a mark for small children and can be dangerous for anyone when the sea is rough or when the rocks are wet after rain.

If bottom fishing in around the rocks you may lose tackle in the rocks or weed so take plenty of spare bits and pieces.
Bait can be a problem in West Wales. Mackerel or raw king prawns can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan, and there is a tackle shop in Cardigan ,Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row (01239 621856 ) which sells frozen bait and live ragworm. As you go through the High Street on the one-way system you will notice a small square to the right, immediately turn left down the hill, this is College Row, there is a car park about 50 yards further on. It is advisable to phone to check that they have live bait before travelling far as supply and demand in this area is erratic.

Tide Times for the next seven days

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Cardiganshire, Patch

2008-05-16T17:12:00.017+01:00

Hoping for a flounder at 'Patch'.

From the town of Cardigan take the Gwbert Road, the A4548, along the north side of the Teifi Estuary, the road drops down to run alongside the beach at Coronation Road; at the end of the flat as the road swings up and to the right there is a boatyard on the left and a narrow lane running down to the beach. To the other side of the lane is The Patch Caravan Park. The beach is firm enough to drive on but you should be aware of how high the tide might come up and park accordingly.

The seaward side of 'Patch'.

This venue is a ridge of stone and sand formed by strong currents in the estuary, the beach to the seaward side is scoured by the tide and is fairly rough ground so some tackle loss can be expected, the upside to this is that crabs hide under the rocks and soft or peeler crabs can be collected. If you do look for crabs make sure you replace the rocks carefully as you found them. Leaving the rocks turned over with weed trapped underneath means the habitat for the crabs is ruined. Fishing a legered bait of crab or worm will perhaps tempt a bass, flounder or pollack.

The landward side of 'Patch'

On the other side of the bank conditions are quite different, the current swirls back around and deposits sand which forms a large sandbank which is exposed at low tide. Lugworm can be dug on the bank if you are feeling fit. the inlet can be waded across without too much trouble or you can walk around dry-shod. The inlet here is prime hunting ground for flounder and the mullet which can be seen cruising in large shoals, legering works for flounder and maybe a bass but float fishing is the way to go for the mullet. Mullet fishing is a black art and possibly to succeed you must sell your soul or spend years learning the techniques for this most frustrating of all fish. Just ponder, they don't get that big or occur in such numbers by being caught!
From the end of the spit you can fish into the main channel, there is a strong current for most of the tide cycle so techniques have to be modified to suit, grip leads will be needed but if there is a lot of weed even these will be ineffective; you could try float-fishing a bait with the depth set to drag the bottom or try a spinner or plug.
This is a good safe place for kids, in summer there are pontoons where the kids can hand line for crabs or paddle and explore the sandbank at low tide.

pontoons at Patch.

Approximate tide Times for the next seven days

There are no facilities at all at this venue.

firm sand and shingle

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Poole Harbour, Bramble Bush Bay & Gravel Point

2008-05-14T21:37:00.009+01:00

Sunset over Jerry's Point, from Bramble Bush bay.

If you head towards the ferry from the Studland direction then Bramble Bush Bay and Gravel Point are on your left. If coming over on the ferry park soon after passing the toll booth and mini roundabout. There is parking at the side of the road, just be sure to keep clear of the yellow line. Parking is not permitted overnight, if you are fishing a night session use the car park near the toll booth. Walk along one of the many paths through the heather and gorse and you will come onto a narrow beach, well you will if it is not high tide; at big high tides the water will force you back up onto the bank. Make sure you have a line of escape back through the undergrowth or you may have to wait for the tide to drop or get wet feet. Tides are as other Poole harbour, double tides and hard to get your head around; fish most of the tide during neap tides but the water will go a way out on spring tide low. This venue is quite safe for children.... although adders sometimes can be seen in the heather, leave them alone and they will go away, they are unlikely to be found on the beach.

Houseboats at Bramble Bush Bay, Gravel Point behind.

You can use light tackle here as fish are caught very close in, sometimes within five yards. If you cast as far as the houseboats at high tide that will be far enough. Flounder and school bass are caught here on worm baits and worms can be dug in the bay if you are fit enough, otherwise buy them at The Poole Sea Angling Centre near Poole Quay , The Wessex Angling Centre on Wimborne Road in Poole, or at The Swanage Angling Centre

Please observe the fire safety rules, the gorse and heather are often tinder dry and fires here do great damage to the heathland ecosystem.

If the name Bramble Bush Bay seems familiar, it is the name of the chain ferry that works between here and Sandbanks.

Tide Times for the next seven days

Parking warning ! The signs say 'no overnight parking'.... this means you may get a ticket for parking at any time during the 'night', even if you stay just a short time.
Check the signs, I believe it is between 11pm and 06.30 am.

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Poole Harbour, Holes Bay

2008-05-14T17:21:00.010+01:00

Evening sun over Holes Bay

Holes Bay forms the inland extent of one of the arms of Poole Harbour; the venue is alongside the dual carriageway from the A35 into the town of Poole, the A350. The area is shown in detail here.zoom out and click on Bird's eye View. You can park on the grass verge at the side of the carriageway opposite the car dealership or the pub but there is some talk of police taking action against those who do, so perhaps it would be best to park in one of the side roads behind the car dealership or The Holes Bay pub. There are no facilities at Holes Bay apart from the pub or Macdonalds off Broadstone Way, a road leading from the roundabout between the venue and the A35.
There is access at various points to the footpath that skirts the bay so that the venue is suitable for wheelchair users if they are accompanied by someone able to cross the rock armour on the bank to retrieve rigs and/or fish. One huge drawback of this place is the constant traffic noise.

The rock armour and footpath.

Fishing is onto a muddy bottom and long casting is not required although a long cast will get you into deeper water of the channel where the boats are moored. The target species here is the flounder and some very big ones are caught each year. Bass are often caught but they are usually small and should be carefully unhooked and returned, eels are also caught. Best bait here is ragworm, lugworm or peeler crab. Crabs can be hyper-active here so reel in to check the bait at frequent intervals and if they are too much of a nuisance use a popped up bait, that is the addition of some floating beads threaded on the trace near the hook. The locals tend to use a two hook rig with short (30cm) hook lengths and with coloured beads in addition to the floating beads. The venue is fishable all through a small neap tide but the water shallows on a spring tide low., as a guide use easytide, if the height of water on the graph is above about 1.3 metres you should be fine.

looking back towards Poole.

The path is used by cyclists, look out for them (some don't bother with lights at night), keep the path clear and look behind when casting. Children are fairly safe here as long as they don't stray onto the road. The nearest tackle shop for bait is the Poole Sea Angling Centre near Poole Quay or The Wessex Angling Centre on Wimborne Road.

Tide Times for the next seven days

with assistance

Warning. The traffic lights at the Poole end of Holes Bay Road are equipped with speed cameras, they are not big and yellow, they pretend to be the type that catches people jumping the lights.... the limit has been reduced to 30 to make sure of revenue.... a while ago 50 was deemed to be safe.

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Lure fishing, spinning and feathering.

2008-05-12T17:46:00.004+01:00

a selection of lures.

When fishing with a lure the intention is to fool a predatory fish that your lure is a small fish, and therefore edible. Most lures have a bright reflective surface to flash in the water imitating the flash of light on a fishes scales, the lure is shaped to move about in the water on retrieve the motion giving vibrations that the predator will mistake for the movement of a prey fish.
Lure fishing is done with a lighter rod than that used for 'beachcasting' unless you count 'mackerel bashing' with feathers as fishing. Feathering refers to casting out a string (or set) of 'feathers'. Once they were white chicken feathers whipped onto a hook, now they are likely to be made up with metallic tinsel, beads or plastic mini-fish rather than feathers. The feathers are attached to the mainline, a suitable casting weight added to the end and the whole lot cast out toward the horizon. The feathers are then allowed to sink for a predetermined time and then retrieved using a 'sink and draw' action. Assuming you are facing the sea and your feathers are fluttering down though the sea, pull the rod around to the side causing the feathers to 'dash' towards you, let the feathers flutter down again as you move the rod back to point to the sea whilst winding in the slack caused by the pull you have just done........repeat until the feathers are back with you. Very often the fish will hit the feathers as they sink, not on the pull. repeat the exercise until bored, tired out or you have enough mackerel for your needs. There is a knack to the technique, sometimes the shoal is working near the surface and a quick retrieve is used to keep the feathers up near the surface, not allowing them to sink too far; at other times the fish may be deep hence the need to count down the initial drop time allowed so that you can replicate the cast if you hit the shoal and catch fish. The cunning angler will laze about until others start catching nearby, then leap into action having noted the distance and drop time used by his more energetic neighbour. If you catch mackerel keep them cool ! People catch dozens, scores, even hundreds, put them in a plastic bag in the sun and carry home mushy fish that have already started to decompose. Take a cool box or bag with freezer blocks or frozen plastic bottles of squash or fruit juice, (delicious and refreshing as they thaw out ). Take only as many as you realistically need. Please don't catch them just for fun, if you handle the mackerel to unhook it and throw it back it will probably die due to the damage your hand or cloth has done to its scales and skin.
Use a shock leader when feathering to prevent a snap-off and to avoid maiming those near you. A shock leader is a length of heavier line about 7 to 10 times the numbers of ounces of the weight you use in pounds breaking strain. For example 4oz weight, 30 to 40 lb line; the line should be long enough to give you say 8' hanging from the end of the rod and half a dozen turns around your reel.

If you need some fresh bait quickly then feathering has a place, it is not sporting. To enjoy catching mackerel, catch them one at a time; use a lighter rod an ounce or two of lead depending on the casting weight of your rod and a spinner, artificial eel or a wedge, (see illustration above.) The spinners and wedges come in various casting weights and sizes although you can use a light spinner on a three foot long trace and put a drilled bullet weight on your mainline to give you the required casting weight and therefore the range you need. The sink and draw technique can be used or a steady reel in, although when reeling changing the retrieve speed gives the impression of a wounded fish and can increase your success rate; keep working the lure right to the waters edge, the fish will chase the lure right to the beach and I have seen mackerel take a lure as it starts up the shingle, right out of the water.
Fish other than mackerel of course will take a lure, pollack, gar, scad, and bass are regularly taken by this technique, use small feathers and you may catch herring be aware that the line these are tied with is not suitable for hard casting, you will need to cut back on you casting weight..
Loosing spinners and wedges can be expensive, a cheap and effective method is to just use a strip of mackerel or gar, the shiny belly bits are best, hook it once through one end (or as shown here) and use it with a ball weight as described earlier. Sandeels can be fished this way although I find that whipping them on with bait elastic is worthwhile.

Feathering is quite rightly banned on most piers for safety reasons, spinning should only be done if you have sufficient space around you to safely cast. Many piers and structures are too high above the water to spin effectively as the angle of retrieve brings the lure to the surface too quickly.
In rocky weedy areas a spinner or wedge is an expensive way of finding the rocks or weeds, in these circumstances use a shallow acting popper lure and the help of someone with you to show you the technique as it can't really be learned from reading about it.

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Cornwall, Porthkerris.

2008-05-10T13:05:00.016+01:00

Spinning for mackerel or pollack, Porthallow in the distance

Porthkerris is a disused quarry site on the Lizard between Porthoustock and Porthallow, take the B3083 from Helston past RNAS Culdrose then onto the B3293, past the dishes of Goonhilly Down and then onto the B3294 down into the village of St Keverne, turn sharp left after the red telephone box, and head for Porthallow... look out for a sign for Porthkerris, it has a picture of a shark and a big black arrow on it. From here the road narrows, yes narrows even more!, proceed with extreme caution, there are few passing places and driving off the road is not an option. You have to pay to park and to fish here, currently £2 parking and £1 per person fishing.

Rock ledges, Porthkerris.

At the bottom of the hill there are toilets and, in season, a snack bar. You will need to pay here, or if you are an early riser, someone will find you as you fish and collect payment from you. There is a small beach here which is used for other pursuits such as diving and swimming, fishing is done from the rock ledges which are reached by driving out to the left. Fish from any of the accessible ledges but take care when the rocks are wet. this is not a venue for small children but should be suitable for sensible older children. The rocks give access to deep water close in. Mackerel are the main sport here, and the litter left by those 'anglers', whose experience is limited to the slaughter of these fish, spoils a picturesque spot.

The 'disabled' spot.

At the far end of the car park there is a disabled wheelchair sign painted onto a block. Disabled wheelchair users will however be disappointed, access down the slope and across the rocks to a small rough concrete flat area (located behind the concrete pump house*) is not suitable for even a rough terrain chair. It is possible for persons walking with the aid of sticks and or crutches to negotiate the distance by care and patience. This spot is about the only flat spot to stand on, most of the rocks are sloping giving rise to sore ankles by the end of the day. If you are on this spot and able-bodied please give it up to someone who needs it.
Float fished fish strip or sandeel will catch mackerel, gar, pollack, wrasse and maybe a bass; bottom fishing over the rough will get thousands of wrasse, blennies and other small species with a chance of dogfish or gurnard. Congers are sometimes caught on big fish baits at night.

*The pump house supplies sea water to the new building within the car park area which processes the water to get sea-salt for the food-faddist; all salt comes from the sea, the supposed inferior salt from Cheshire mines being from the sea millions of years before man polluted it.

For your bait, the nearest place is a large angling shop in Helston, Atlantic Fishing Tackle in Wendron Street (just by a car park), that sells bait including ragworm and lugworm. Tel 01326 561640.

Tide Times for the next seven days

from 'disabled spot', but not for wheelchair users

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Cornwall, Coverack Harbour

2008-05-10T11:48:00.014+01:00

Coverack Harbour

Coverack Harbour, early morning.

Coverack is a typical picturesque fishing village on the Lizard, take the B3083 from Helston past RNAS Culdrose then onto the B3293, past the dishes of Goonhilly Down and then onto the B3294 down into the village. There is parking on the right as you enter the village and a small car park just past the harbour entrance. There are small shops selling snacks and drinks nearby, and a few cafés within easy walking distance.... The disused Lifeboat House now serves as a restaurant that has a take-away fish and chips bar. There is a beach where bass can be targeted after an easterly blow, a tiny harbour with a convenient wall to sit or lean on and a small headland where you can fish from the rocks.

The disused lifeboat launch ramp.

The water is not very deep around the harbour, float fishing will get mackerel, gar and pollack, or if you fish a bit deeper, wrasse. Use mackerel strip for most species, after dark it may attract a conger or dogfish. Worm baits will pick up wrasse, and sole and red mullet are a possibility if you fish onto the sandier patches; this is a good location for a species hunt. Some of the ballan wrasse are big, don't leave the rod unattended they are powerful enough to flip it over the wall.... I talk from experience having to grab my flattie rod as it headed seawards.

The small headland viewed from the car park. ( spot the bear!)

Like all of the rocky parts of Cornwall the sea is brim full of wrasse, you will lose some tackle but you are almost certain to catch if you use worm baits. If you cannot catch four different species of wrasse in Cornwall you haven't really tried. ( they are corkwing, ballan, goldsinny and rock cook.)

The access to the harbour is steep but wheelchair access is possible, some help will be required landing fish over the wall.
There are toilets alongside the road above the harbour, the first photograph was taken across the road from them.

There are safe ways onto the rocks by the car park, best at low tide and be careful if the rocks are wet and slippery.
For bait, there is a large angling shop in Helston, Atlantic Fishing Tackle in Wendron Street (just by a car park), that sells bait including ragworm and lugworm. Tel 01326 561640.

Tide Times for the next seven days

from harbour

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A tip when using mackerel as bait.

2008-04-12T12:32:00.006+01:00

If you are using mackerel as bait, your carefully cut strip or fillet will not stay fishlike after you have cast it out. The fish bait tends to slide down the shank of the hook and lie, doubled over, in the bend of the hook..... not looking a bit like a fish but obscuring the hook point. To overcome this I tie a double overhand loop in the end of the line and put the hook on as shown below.

The piece of fish bait, I've used a piece of paper to demonstrate, is hooked through and back again and the small end put into the loop that holds the hook.

The loop is then pulled up tight trapping the small end and preventing the strip sliding down the hook. If you want to be doubly sure then a few winds of bait elastic around the small end and the hook eye will do the job.

The technique can also be used to keep sand eels on if you are float fishing or 'spinning' with them.

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Poole Harbour, Jerry's Point.

2007-08-16T11:45:00.004+01:00

Jerry's Point, looking west back towards Studland Village.

Jerry's Point is a promontory into Poole Harbour of the heathland that forms the Studland Peninsula. Access is via the road from Swanage to the Toll Ferry to Sandbanks. Look for a blue bus stop pole on the south side of the road about half a mile from the ferry; it has Jerry's Point listed as the stop name, opposite is a gated vehicle entrance with pedestrian access to the side. There is free parking alongside the road but keep inside the yellow line and do not park overnight or you will get a ticket. There are toilets back at the Ferry landing near the toll booth. There is a path that runs northwards to Jerry's Point which faces Brownsea Island, to the point is about a four hundred yard level walk but there may be muddy patches after rain . A few safety tips here, do not under any circumstances light a fire because of the risks to the heathland, the area has a big population of deer ( you can see there slot marks in the soil or in the sand on the beach ) so look out for ticks if you have brushed through the heather, also it is not uncommon to see adders here (best not to play with them). On the way out to the point you will pass a well defined path through the heather leading down into Bramble Bush Bay, you can fish along this beach out as far as the houseboats and Gravel Point. The water is shallow and bass and flounder are the targets here. Ragworm is the favoured bait but fish strips, sand eels or slipper limpets can account for the bigger fish.

Bramble Bush Bay with houseboats and Gravel Point in the background.

Fishing at the point is much like fishing other marks in the harbour. Shallow areas hold bass and flounder but little else. From the point you can cast into deeper water in the channel towards Brownsea Island, it is possible to wade out along the shingle spit to spin for bass in the deeper water or into the disturbed water that forms as the tide drops and increases the rate at which water flows around the point.
Generally the fishing is not great but this is compensated by the views and the solitude; it is not a busy mark usually although there are sometimes matches held here. A safe place for children to potter about on the narrow beaches or to paddle in shallow water.

Nearest tackle shops are Swanage Angling , Poole Sea Angling Centre or the shop in Wareham,
Purbeck Angling, 28 South St Wareham Dorset BH20 4LU

Tide Times for the next seven days

Parking warning ! The signs say 'no overnight parking'.... this means you may get a ticket for parking at any time during the 'night', even if you stay just a short time.
check the signs, I believe it is between 11pm and 06.30 am

updated 27:01:12 bus stop details updated

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Chesil, Ferry Bridge.

2007-08-15T12:05:00.004+01:00

Ferrybridge is the name given to several locations, there is a pub, The Ferrybridge Inn, on the right-hand side as you leave Wyke Regis towards Portland. You can get access behind the pub to fish The Fleet which is the area of water between Chesil Beach and the mainland. The main quarry here is bass although some fish the area for flounder.
The next Ferry Bridge is a concrete bridge carrying the road over the inlet to The Fleet from Portland Harbour. There are several places that you can access here to spin or float-fish with mackerel strip or sandeel for gar, mackerel, bass or pollack...... depending on season. The tide pulls strongly through here and fishing is best a couple of hours each side of high. You can bottom fish for the same species although small wrasse will feature most in your catch if you use ragworm.

Under the Ferry Bridge, spinning for bass

Be careful when walking on the sloping concrete apron, it is very slippery where it is covered by the tide and has weed or algae growing on it. The fringes of the water have weed patches so care is needed not to get snagged when retrieving a fish. This venue is quite safe for children and the bridge gives shelter if it rains.

Ferry Bridge, looking west back towards Weymouth.

Wheelchair access is possible to this area via the area to the rear of the pub or via a ramped access at the Portland side of the bridge.( I will have to check if there are any steps, I can't remember seeing any). Some people fish from the bridge itself, this brings the problem of catching the boats that pass in and out of The Fleet. Nearest facilities are at the Ferrybridge car park a few hundred yards east. Don't be tempted to park on the road or in the access roads or tracks. It is usual for a few vehicles to be parked on the grass verge though.

Chesil 'Ferrybridge', looking over The Fleet at low tide from the car park.

The next Ferrybridge location is the car park containing an Information Centre, a snack bar and toilets. The car park is an area levelled by US forces during WWII as part of the D-Day build up. It is now a race track for chavs in the evening and a source of revenue for the council. Pay especial attention to the charges board when you get a ticket.... charges are steep and apply 24 hours a day.
The best fishing spots are said to be to the right, in the above photo you can make out a small structure far to the left. Walk out to here, along the bank of the fleet is easiest ( at low tide you can take a short cut), and then up the bank near to the fenced off area. The fences are to keep people out from the bird nesting area. There are a few noted marks that are wrecks that can be reached by big casters who know where they are. The 'Landing Craft' and the 'Adelaide' are the search terms to use along with 'fishing' and 'chesil' to find them via google.
All manner of fish can be caught in season along this stretch, indeed it would be easier to list those that cannot be caught. Favourite baits, ragworm, mackerel, squid and sandeels. Most likely catch... dogfish.
The area is very popular with holiday-makers bashing out mackerel during the summer and by cod hunters in the winter.

The nearest tackle shop is Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge.

Approximate Tide Times for the next seven days

on and under bridge only.

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2007-07-05T00:56:00.000+01:00

The Solent, Taddiford Gap.

2007-06-11T11:17:00.003+01:00

Taddiford Gap, view from the top of the cliff.

Taddiford Gap is a location reached via the A3058 between New Milton and Milford on Sea. There is a pay and display car park in a small valley on the seaward side of the road, it is easy to miss. There is a lay-by towards Milford where you could park for free but there is already quite a walk (about 400 yards) along a level path to the beach from the car park. There are no toilets of any other facilities nearby.
There is a climb down to the beach which is easy enough when the ground is dry. Do not even think about climbing down during or after periods of heavy rain....

Taddiford Gap, dangerous unstable soil slips.

As can be seen from the picture above the soil is clay and sand and is soft and unstable after heavy rain; sections slump and ooze onto the shingle beach. A further feature that may be off-putting is the fact that the area to the west of the access point is much favoured by nudists, especially gay nudists.
The beach is sheltered from northerly winds and is pleasant to fish, looking as it does out across to The Needles. The ground is generally clean sand and shingle. Species caught here are the usual for this stretch of coast, sole and small turbot are quite commonly caught here along with smoothound at times. Mackerel and gar show up on some tides and it is always worth casting a large bait in close for a bass. Light gear can be used as casting distance is not really important, ragworm, squid, sandeels and mackerel all catch fish here.
The nearest tackle and bait shop is Loni's Angling Centre at 119-123 Old Milton Road which is off the A337 towards New Milton or if travelling via Christchurch, Davis Tackle at Bargates.

Tide Times for the next seven days

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The Purbecks.

2007-06-04T11:42:00.003+01:00

Durlston Bay, looking west; the start of the Purbecks

The Purbecks is the name given to the area of Dorset from Swanage towards Weymouth. The marks along this stretch of coast are characterised by two things, rocky rough ground and long walks. The scenery and quiet solitude of the marks make the walks worthwhile.
Marks along this stretch are Durlston Bay, Tillywhim Caves, Dancing Ledge, Chapmans Pool, Warbarrow Bay, Kimmeridge Bay and Lulworth Cove.

Warbarrow Bay.

Sections of the coast fall within the military firing ranges. Be aware of the danger, notices and red flags indicate the danger area and firing times. Climbing down to the sea is not a good idea unless you are properly equipped for the task, a great many of call-outs for the Swanage Lifeboat crew are to rescue walkers, climbers and anglers trapped at the cliff base.
Few of the marks along this stretch of coast are suitable for young children, Worbarrow is fine, but others require long walks and often,when you get there slippery rocks high above other rocks or water; these are seldom good places for children.
I do not do long walks or rock fishing so any advice on the rocky marks, if added, will be second-hand information.

Approximate Tide Times for this section of coast.

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The Purbecks, Worbarrow Bay.

2007-06-04T10:49:00.003+01:00

Worbarrow Tout, tout is an old word for a lookout point

Worbarrow Bay is south west of Wareham and west of Swanage, it is within a military firing range area and entry times are dependent on range use. The access is usually given at weekends and bank holidays. Notices giving information are on the approach roads along with closing times for car parks. The area was requisitioned during WWII and has changed little since then so there is little or no new building and the area is farmed much as it was in the 1940s; it is a beautiful piece of countryside. Paths are marked by yellow topped posts.... stay on the paths !... if you are stupid enough to leave the paths, the metal objects looking like shells or bombs probably are and will cause you no good at all if they are poked or prodded.
There is a large car park, open from about 6am to 10pm, for which there is a charge of £2 (I think) to be paid into the honesty box. There are toilets on the left after the bridge over a small stream as you turn right to begin the long walk down to the bay. The walk down between trees and grassland is gently sloping until you reach the low cliff by the Tout where it becomes steep. The first part of the beach is sandy and you will be casting onto rough ground for wrasse bass or pollack. If spinning is you preferred method or fishing then make your way left out around the rocky area below the Tout.

Warbarrow Bay, looking west.

To the west the shingle beach becomes steeper and gives way to much deeper water and a cleaner bottom. Flatfish, rays, eels and other bottom feeding fish can be targeted here along with pollack, mackerel, gar and scad to float-fished sandeel or fish strip.. Ragworm will catch most fish here with mackerel or squid as backup or as a tipping bait.The sandy area is most crowded with other beach users so a walk out to the west is recommended to get away from the stone-chuckers, moored boats and swimmers.
The nearest tackle and bait shops are in Wareham, on the right just before the bridge over the River Frome as you leave the town towards Swanage or at Swanage.

Tide Times for the next seven days

updated 28th June 09

Poole Harbour & Studland, Studland Beach

2007-05-15T10:27:00.009+01:00

Only Google knows why, when searching for fishing in Poole Harbour it dumps you here !
You need to be here, and click on the orange links to different venues

Studland, Knoll Beach looking east towards Poole and Bournemouth.

Studland Beach is one of the best bathing beaches in the country, it is usually crowded in good weather. To the left of Knoll Beach is a popular naturists' area. If you fish here it is best done out of season. Studland is a National Trust property and is reached either by the Sandbanks to Studland Ferry ,via Corfe Castle or Swanage.

Car parking is free to NT members but non-members will pay the attendant during the holiday season. The car parks are closed at night, check times before setting off to fish a late session ! There is a café and shop at The Knoll car park (on the Ferry side of Studland Village ).

looking east from South Beach, Studland.

There are other access points and car parks, South Beach is less popular and is reached by a pleasant walk down a shady wooded valley from the car park by the pub. There are toilets at the head of the valley path and a café/snack bar at the beach during the summer season.

South Beach Studland looking towards Old Harry Rocks.

There is another car park and café in the middle of the two mentioned beaches, named in a moment of inspiration... Middle Beach. A high spring tide will leave you little room, dog walkers can be especially troublesome, The National Trust guidelines state
In welcoming you and your dog to our beaches all we ask is that you keep your dog under control, observe local signs, notices and restrictions, and dispose of dog poo thoughtfully.
Neither the dog nor the owners will have read this and the owners think that a dog nosing in among your tackle and bait is perfectly normal behaviour..... the dog owners may often be seen studiously staring out to see whilst their dog empties itself... so mind where you tread.

Middle Beach, Studland..... High Tide

Fishing here is mainly for bass and flatfish with other fish such as smoothound, black and gilthead bream, gurnard or rays turning up from time to time., it is a gently shelving beach and the water is shallow for a long way out. The bottom is sandy but watch out for mooring ropes to the right of South Beach; more unusual hazards are kite surfers, kayakers and morons on jetskis. Wading and lure fishing using a spinner or plug can be effective in early morning or late evening.
Bait can be collected here on low spring tides, razor fish if you know how to get them, slipper limpets, cockles etc.... especially after rough weather. Any bait you discover on a beach will be the food being looked for by the fish so will usually bring results.

Bait and tackle can be bought at the angling shops in Poole, Wareham or Swanage.

OTHER LOCAL VENUES.....Redhorn Point......Swanage

Tide Times for the next seven days

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updated 14th Nov 11

Pembrokeshire, Newgale Beach.

2007-05-14T14:35:00.005+01:00

Newgale Beach, looking south.

Newgale Beach is alongside the A487, to the east of Solva and St Davids. There is a large beachside car park with toilets. There is a café, shops and a pub at the north end of the beach. The beach is made of stone and shingle and gives access to fairly deep water at high tide, you will be casting out onto clean sand. The beach provides sport with dogfish..... lots of dogfish, bait for dogfish? ... anything, fish bait, sand eel or worms.

Newgale, looking north as the light fades.

Bass also show along this beach when there is some surf, unfortunately surf also brings out the surfers. Flounders and other flatfish can be caught and shoals of mackerel sometimes put in an appearance to be caught with float fished baits or spinning.

Getting bait is a problem in West Wales, County Sports in Haverfordwest stock frozen baits and live ragworm.... but phone before travelling to check availability. They are at 3 Old Bridge, Haverfordwest SA61 2EZ Tel: 01437 763740.
A nearer source of frozen bait and a limited range of tackle is in Solva, Bay View Stores, up the hill towards St Davids on the right is open til 7 or 8pm.

Tide times for the next seven days.

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Pembrokeshire, Freshwater West.

2007-05-14T13:29:00.002+01:00

Freshwater West, access to beach from car park.

Freshwater West is an isolated sandy beach off the A4319 West of Pembroke. Nearby is the Castlemartin Range, the sound of gunfire from tanks may liven up your fishing. There is a car park with, well hidden, toilets about halfway along the beach. Bass and dogfish will be the mainstay of fishing here with flatfish and rays putting in an appearance. The ground in front of the car park and to the left is rocky and snaggy with cleaner ground to the right.

North end of Freshwater West beach.

There is a small car park with access to the beach at the northern end of the beach. The sand dunes show signs of severe erosion caused by foot traffic, don't add to it.... fish where there is easier and less damaging access.

Tide times for Freshwater West for the next 7 days,

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to be continued

Pembrokeshire, Stackpole Quay and Barafundle.

2007-05-14T13:00:00.002+01:00

Stackpole Quay at very low tide.

Stackpole Quay is a tiny picturesque inlet on the rocky coast south of Pembroke. It is reached via the A4319 and then narrow lanes, the Stackpole Estate is National Trust Property, there is a large car park with toilet facilities and a cafe/restuarant which is open during the summer season. NT members have free parking, others have to pay. Access to the Quay and rocks is along a winding path with a final descent over the rock platforms. There is a steel escape ladder structure in the corner of the inlet for those silly enough to get trapped by the tide.

From the cliff top to the left of the Quay.

As can be seen from the photographs, this is rocky, snaggy country ! Fishing is best done by float fishing fish strips or sand eel or spinning. Bottom fished baits close to the rocks will get wrasse and pollack. Most fishing is done in summertime for mackerel and bass.

Low tide, showing rocks that you will fish over at high.

Hardy and agile types can find rock ledges to fish from by exploring the cliffs from the path that leads from the right of the harbour. This is not to be advised for children at any time or anyone at all in rough weather. Bottom fishing from these ledges needs a good cast to clear the rock ledges and kelp which eat tackle, bull huss are the prime target.
Those of more lazy disposition will find the beach at Barafundle more to their taste. A short walk and steepish climb down from the cliff path. Fishing here is mainly done from the rock fringes of the beach.

Tide times for Stackpole Quay for the next 7 days, .

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to be continued.

Pembrokeshire, Freshwater East.

2007-05-14T12:18:00.002+01:00

Freshwater East, looking eastwards.

Freshwater East is reached via the A4139 and B4584 south east of Pembroke. There is a large pay and display car park a short walk from the beach with toilets on the route to the beach. The best fishing area is said to be far to the left of the bay although fish are caught for the whole length.
Dogfish will be the most common fish caught here with pollack and pouting showing up also, in season smoothound are a possibility. The ground is generally quite clean and tackle loss should be minimal.

Freshwater East, with freshwater stream at the right of the beach.

The beach is popular with other holiday makers so early mornings or late evenings will be the times to fish. Expect the occasional bass, ray, plaice, turbot, flounder or whiting to turn up; use ragworm, sand eel or fish baits. Many of these fish favour places where a freshwater stream brings food items into the sea.

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to be continued.

Cornwall, Praa Sands.

2007-05-03T08:27:00.003+01:00

Praa Sands, western end.

Praa Sands is a long sandy beach to the south of the A394 road from Helston to Penzance. There is a pay and display car park at the western end of the beach, (with most attentive clampers employed, be careful). There is a café and toilets near the car park.The beach is used by general holiday makers and surfers during the day so fishing is best done after dark or early morning. The ground in front of the car park is generally clean although there are some rock and weed patches in which to lose tackle. The beach is mostly fished for bass so long distance casting will not be required. Turbot show up on this beach and tend to favour fish bait or sand eel, other fish can be caught, try lug or rag worm on a running leger with a smooth weight.

Praa Sands, looking east.

To get access to the eastern end of the beach drive to the village of Ashton back towards Helston and drive down Hendra Lane, it is narrow but there are a few places to park before you get to the beach. The fishing is generally reckoned to be better at this end of the beach. The ground gets rockier and more snaggy as you move towards the headland.
There are tackle and bait shops in Penzance and Helston, but the nearest is Newton Angling on the A394 in Newtown (just outside Praa Sands on the A 394 tel 01736 763721), this is a large shop selling everything you need, and a lot more. They sell a large selection of fresh and frozen bait.

Approximate Tide Times for Praa Sands for the next 7 days.

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Cornwall, Mousehole Harbour.

2007-05-02T20:37:00.002+01:00

Mousehole Harbour, low tide.

Mousehole is a quaint little harbour west of Penzance. Parking is very close to the harbour and there is a toilet block between the car park and the harbour wall. The harbour can be best fished for say three hours each side of high tide. Like all harbours, give way to boat traffic and try not to kill the children who will annoy you by jumping into the harbour near the signs saying that jumping is forbidden. Float fishing will get small pollock and mackerel, gar and scad in season. Bottom fishing will get the usual wrasse and small species near the rough ground, flounders are caught in the harbour entrance and on the clean ground. The sea is usually clear enough to see the snaggy and clean areas.

Mousehole Harbour, from the car park.

There is easy access onto the harbour arms for wheelchair users but space at areas without a high wall is limited. Bait can be got from the tackle shops in Penzance, you will pass one as you drive out from the town to Mousehole. There are toilets close by and several cafés within easy walking distance.

Tide times for the next 7 days

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Cornwall, Portreath.

2007-05-02T20:16:00.001+01:00

Portreath Beach, north coast.

Portreath is north of Camborne on the B3301 and B3300, it is a sandy beach which is popular with holiday makers and surfers, You will be restricted to fishing early or late when you will have the beach to yourself. There is a pay and display car park right against the beach with toilets, shops and cafes are a short walk away.
Fishing here is not great but good bass are caught on occasion, dogfish seem to turn up everywhere so one of these is on the cards.. The beach is sandy and snag free in the centre and quite rough ground near the harbour wall. The left hand side of the beach near the rocks is generally snag free.
There is a pier/ harbour arm here but it is closed to fishing; it is possible to fish parts of the harbour that can be reached.
There is a tackle shop in Fore Street, Redruth and one in Camborne,County Angler in Cross St ; Tel 01209 718490.

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Cornwall, Godrevy Point.

2007-05-02T18:52:00.001+01:00

Gwithian Sands and Godrevy Point, north coast.

You will find this venue off the B3301 from Hayle to Portreath, Gwithian Sands can be fished but it is usually swarming with surfers; head east from Gwithian and you will find the entrance to The National Trust property of Godrevy. If you are a member you can park here free, otherwise pay the man on the gate. The car parks are closed at night so check the closing times before heading off. The cars parked in this car park can be seen as white specks above the white building in the middle distance in the photo above. There is a cafe at the entrance and toilets at the car park.

Float fishing from the rocks at Godrevy Point.

You can fish from the beach which should be surfer-free at this point, fishing worm, sandeel or fish baits will give you a chance of bass, rays, turbot, plaice or flounders, closer to the rocks or bottom fishing from the rocks, will get wrasse or pollock. Spinning is another tactic which can work for big pollock.The ground here is sandy when clear of the rocks.

The rocks at Godrevy, looking towards Godrevy Island.

Float fishing from the rocks will get mackerel gar and scad in season, along with pollock, bass and wrasse. The rock platform is fairly easy to negotiate and is safe, in calm weather, for sensible children... but toddler type kids on the beach only. Do not fish here in rough weather, even in calm weather keep an eye out for the swells which can take you unawares especially near high tide.... retreat to a higher perch or to the beach, no fish is worth the risk of being swept away and drowned.
There are tackle shops in Hayle, one is in a market building near where the road doubles back under the railway bridge, near Foundry Square car park, the other in Fore Street as you pass through the town heading eastwards. Look for their sign on the roadside.

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Cornwall, Porthleven Harbour.

2007-05-02T17:50:00.001+01:00

Porthleven Harbour, lots of walls to fish from.

Porthleven is just west of Helston on the B3304, it is a convenient fishing spot for children and wheelchair users with easy access to many walls for fishing into the harbour. Fishing is best for three hours over high tide for the inner part of the harbour although you can fish from the long pier on the left at low tide, fishing into the harbour entrance. Parking is free alongside the harbour if you can find a spot, there is also a pay and display car park. There is a tackle shop at the head of the harbour near the car park, Porthleven Angling Centre, tel 01326 561885, which sells bait including ragworm and lugworm. Toilets are up a side road to your left as you walk as you walk along the village side of the harbour passing shops,a pub and cafes.

Porthleven, the inner harbour.

Float fishing along the weedy and rocky fringes of the harbour walls will get you wrasse, there are some big wrasse in here especially from the end of the long pier. Wrasse are thugs, they are strong fighters and will dive for cover when hooked, if they get into the rocks and weed you will most likely lose them.... so hold onto the rod at all times and get ready to keep the fishes head up out of the rough. If they get jammed in the rough it is worthwhile giving them a bit of slack line; they will sometimes swim out of the snag.
Small pollock are also caught, if you are prepared to lose a few weights, drop a bait straight down the wall on a simple paternoster rig, the hook length should be short and a foot or so above the weight to keep the bait up out of the weed. Keep hold of the rod ! Fish such as pout, scorpion fish and others skulk along the wall so keep your hooks small (size 2 or less) and see what is down there. Flatfish such as flounder and turbot can be caught by casting out onto the cleaner ground out in the harbour entrance. Baits are ragworm for the wrasse or flounder, fishbait of any kind seems to catch anything else. Float fishing for mackerel and gar in season is popular all around the harbour. Be aware of boat traffic, they have right of way so reel in when boats need to pass. The seaward side of the long arm is very rocky and is not good for fishing, leave that area for the kids who surf the breakers that form as the swell passes over the rock table here.

The long arm of the harbour wall at low tide, note the rocky weedy fringe.

There is a long beach to the left which runs to Loe Bar, bass are the quarry along this section but fishing is only possible when the other beach users leave in the evening. Loe Bar is a fishy spot but a cliff walk/scramble is required to get there.

not Loe Bar !

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Cornwall, Mullion Cove.

2007-05-02T16:34:00.003+01:00

Mullion Harbour, looking out to Mullion Island.

Mullion Cove is on the Lizard Peninsula, take the A3083 south from Helston. It is reached through the village of Mullion which has shops and places to eat. The Happy Shopper Store as you enter the village stocks some fishing equipment and frozen bait. Parking near the Harbour is possible out of season but from 1st June to 1st October you will have to use the car park and walk about six hundred yards. There are toilets on the route to the harbour, about two hundred yards away. There is a cafe at the head of the harbour. Opposite the cafe is a path down to the inner arm of the harbour wall. This offers comfortable fishing from a wide stone platform into a good depth of water at high tide, at low tide the rocks are exposed and fishing can be difficult; this venue is best fished about three hours each side of high tide. It is safe for older children but is unguarded. The rocky areas are visible in the clear water and, after the rocks there is clean ground until the taller rocks which are visible at high tide. Fishing on the bottom here produces bass, pollock, wrasse, turbot, dogfish, rockling and other bottom feeders. Float fishing will get mackerel, gar and scad in season, use a sandeel or strip of mackerel or squid. At night try float fishing with a starlight on a float or just hold the rod and feel for a bite from pollock which come close in to the wall. If you set the depth to just drag the bottom of the clean ground area you can catch turbot and other bottom feeders also. The path down is steep in parts and uneven but should be accessible to wheelchair users; access to the outer arm is more staightforward.

Mullion Harbour,The outer arm viewed from the comfort of the inner arm.

The outer arm of the harbour has a high wall which makes fishing impossible apart from a short section at the end. There are some steps at the start of the wall which allow access onto the broad sloping top of the wall from where you can cast out onto clean ground or fish the weedy gully; most definitely not for children or the faint-hearted.
Do not even consider fishing this harbour in bad weather, waves can break over the pier and recently two lives were lost to large waves. 'Freak waves' is a term used by reporters who know no better; large waves can, and do, spring up at any time in any weather, nothing freak about them at all. Be safe, be aware of danger. In storms it is known for waves to break right over Mullion Island.
There is a large angling shop in Helston, Atlantic Fishing Tackle in Wendron Street (just by a car park), that sells bait including ragworm and lugworm. Tel 01326 561640.

Tide Times for the next seven days

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Cardiganshire, Cardigan to Aberaeron.

2007-05-01T11:48:00.003+01:00

Low tide at The Patch, Cardigan.

This section of coast includes Cardigan Town, the northern side of the Tivy Estuary, The Patch, The Cliff Hotel at Gwbert , Mwnt, Aberporth, Tresaith, Llangranog, New Quay, Cei Bach and Aberaeron. There are plenty of other marks that can be found by hiking off along the coastal paths but these are, in the main, not suited to beginners or children. Rock marks, especially those to the north of the little bay at Mwnt, can be very dangerous places even for the experienced rock angler.

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Cornwall, Lizard to Portreath.

2007-05-01T11:36:00.004+01:00

Gwithian Beach, looking towards Godrevy.

Cornwall has a great many places to fish but many of them are on exposed rocky coasts and are dangerous places to be for novices and children. Many of the easy places to fish will be very crowded in the holiday season. Beaches are invaded by the surf gremmies during the day so beach angling is best done after dark.
In this section details are given for Porthkerris, Coverack Harbour, Mullion Cove, Porthleven Harbour, Praa Sands, Mousehole, Godrevy Point, and Portreath Beach, more will be added in due course after my next trip.

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Pembrokeshire, West Angle Beach.

2007-04-21T17:56:00.002+01:00

West Angle beach at low tide.

West Angle is as far as you can go west from Pembroke, follow the B4320 and go through the village of Angle, the beach is signposted with a brown information sign. At the end of the road there is a car park, a café which is open during the holiday season, and toilets. The beach is shallow and sandy with rock fringes and has rock-pools for the children to investigate.

Fishing from the rocks at low tide with plugs or spinners will sometimes get a bass and bottom fishing at higher tides will provide sport with dogfish and flatfish with bass and pollack a possibility.

At high tide the water reaches the shale and stone beach.Lugworm can be dug at low tide but it will be hard work, a flat tined potato fork is the best tool for the job. Bait, including ragworm, can be bought from Pembroke Angling in Meyrick Street in Pembroke Dock ( look for the shop painted tangerine !). The beach faces direct out onto the Atlantic so it will be rough here in a westerly blow

Approximate Tide Times at West Angle for the next 7 days

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Pembrokeshire, Solva

2007-04-21T17:20:00.003+01:00

Solva, rock mark.

Solva is a picturesque inlet on the A487 between Haverfordwest and St Davids. It is popular for boating and has a busy quay area. There is a free car park at the head of the inlet and coast paths lead out to rocky headlands on each side. There is a toilet block in the car park and another at the quay which is on the right hand side of the inlet along a level path, wheelchair access is as far as the Quay. Shops and cafés are a short walk away and there is a shop, Bay View Stores up the hill towards St Davids on the right, that sells fishing tackle and frozen baits and is open until 7 or 8pm.

Solva, at the seaward end of the mooring inlet.

Fishing near the moorings is difficult when there is boating activity and crabbing or fishing the fringes for flounder is about as much as is possible. Local children head out along the coast path to the right and a short way along there are paths down to rock ledges from which a few anglers can fish. There is rough ground so tackle loss may be expected. Restricted space for casting means scaling down to a spinning rod rather than a beachcaster, pollack and bass will take a spinner or plug worked along the creek edge or out into the deeper water. Float fishing can be employed for bass, wrasse, pollack, and mackerel in season.. Paths lead out to other rock marks on the headlands but this is not recommended for children or beginners.

Worms can be dug here at low tide but do not dig around the boat moorings and backfill any holes. Crabs can be found in the weed and under rocks, the small hard-backed crabs can be hooked through at the base of a leg and float fished for wrasse.

Tide times for Solva for the next 7 days.

as far as the Quay only

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Pembrokeshire, Saundersfoot Harbour

2007-04-21T11:33:00.005+01:00

Saundersfoot Harbour, Inner wall.

Saundersfoot ( pronounced Sandersfoot by the locals ) is to the north of Tenby, just off the A477/478 and the B4316.

It is a convenient spot for children and parts are accessible to wheelchair users. The harbour dries out at low tide so check tide times for fishing here. Parking is right alongside the harbour wall and toilets, shops and cafés are a short level walk away. The easiest fishing is from the inner wall casting onto clean sand. A long cast is not needed, fish come very close to the wall. Dogfish, flatfish, bass and other bottom feeding fish are caught along with mullet, mackerel and gar in season to float fished mackerel strip.

In the Autumn there are usually plenty of Tub Gurnard to be caught and sometimes smoothhounds although they are likely to be small pups.

Squid, mackerel or sandeel will take most fish. Baits, including live worms are available at the tackle shop which is within easy walking distance, in the High Street opposite the Aussie bar....tel 01834 811212.

Very light tackle and size 6 or smaller hooks dropped down the wall or by the rocks will get blennies, watch out with these they have sharp teeth and they are not averse to giving a nip as you get the hook out.

There is a wall dividing off a small section at the back of the harbour, this wall is usually crowded with people catching crabs.

Saundersfoot Harbour, the outer wall.

The outer wall has a stone and concrete apron which can make fishing from here difficult when retrieving tackle or landing a fish. At the end of the wall at the round section there is a vertical drop to the water which makes that section the favoured spot. Summer fishing spells mayhem here as people will come and fish from the apron under where you are trying to fish from the top. There is access at the start of the wall onto a small beach which can be fished on a rising tide although at high you will be forced back onto the steps.

At most times light tackle and smooth leads can be used, there is not much tidal current.

Razor fish and black lug can be got from this beach at low tide on spring tides by those who know how to get them.

updated Oct 2011

Tide times for the next 7 days

Inner wall only, see top photograph.

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Pembrokeshire, Tenby Harbour.

2007-04-20T14:30:00.005+01:00

Tenby Harbour, rising tide.

Tenby Harbour dries out at low tide so is fishable only a few hours either side of high tide. The venue is comfortable and easy to fish and would enable wheelchair users to access fairly deep water over a low wall. Parking is a long walk away, as you arrive at Tenby take the road out towards Saundersfoot, then take the road signposted North Beach and Hospital. There is a large car park signposted on the left at the bottom of a hill (Hospital sign is more visible.) You will have to walk along the top prom, down steps or slopes down to the lower prom and around to the Harbour. At high tide it is possible to fish from this prom, and, out of season from the beach. The beach is clean sand apart from a patch near the visible large rock. There is disabled parking near the harbour entrance.

Tenby Harbour, The low section of wall.

As with most working harbours you may not fish the inner harbour. Boats have right of way so do not cast from the end into the area used by boat traffic. Long casting is not required from here, the fish are as likely to be close to the wall as a long way from it; bottom fishing will get a variety of fish, dogfish, flounder, dab, whiting, bass, gurnard and other species. Summer season brings mackerel, garfish and the crowds. Float fishing is the most sporting way of catching mackerel, catch only as many as you need , mackerel die after being handled with dry hands or a cloth so if you have enough, stop fishing for them and go back to bottom fishing. This is a venue suitable for children although there is either a long drop to the water or deep water depending on the state of the tide. Crabbing can be done in the inner harbour. All the usual facilities, shops, cafés etc. are a short walk away.

Butlers Horse Rocks

If you walk around to the right as you walk down the slope towards the harbour wall, following the sign for The Lifeboat station, you will see some stone steps leading down to a small rock platform. This goes by the quaint local name of Butlers Horse. Why I don't know. There is only room for three or four people to fish from here and you will be fishing over clean sand for the same species as from the harbour wall.. The current can pull quite hard around this point so grip leads will be needed at some states of the tide.

Rocket Rocks or 'The Bandstand' at low tide.

Further around the headland, it's quicker to approach from the other side past the Museum and Gallery, you will come to 'The Bandstand' mark which the old local I was chatting to called Rocket Rock..... and just as he didn't know who Butler or his horse were, he didn't offer an explanation for this name. From the path you will need to carefully climb, slide, tumble or fall headlong onto the rocks below. Fishing is said to be good from here at night, I haven't personally fished here, I'm too old for this climb, slide, tumble or fall headlong business.

There is a tackle shop close to the harbour but locals advise the use of Tenby Angling within the Old Market Hall which is on the High Street which is only a short walk away from the pier. They sell ragworm and frozen baits.

Tide times for the next 7 days

Harbour Wall only

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Pembrokeshire, Newport, The Slipway

2007-04-20T14:00:00.002+01:00

The Slipway, at the old lifeboat house.

If you take the footpath from The Parrog car park, you can walk alongside the estuary in front of the cottages; if the tide is in you may have to take the upper path which is signposted where a detour is required. Eventually you will come to the little bay and the slipway, locally this is known as Cwm. Fishing here is onto fairly clean ground. The fishing is not great but the location is. Pollack, bass, whiting, eels or mini species are possible using worm or fish baits. Children like this spot as there are rock pools to explore at low tide; a toddler friendly spot.

The Steps, past the Slipway.

Past the slipway the coast path splits, take the lower route and you will come to some rocks with concrete steps. There is very limited room here so only a few people can fish. Spinning or float fishing may intercept fish moving in or out of the estuary. Pollack and wrasse lurk along the rocks edges among the weed and mackerel can come within range in summer. Not a place for toddler type children.

Rock ledge, room for three or four to fish here.

A little way further on from the steps there is fairly easy access down to a flat rock platform. A place to try to intercept fish as they move in or out with the tide, try spinning for bass or cast a big bait into the tideway; you will need a heavy grip weight at certain periods during the tide as the current will bestrong and sometimes there is a lot of weed in the water.

Approximate Tide Times for the next seven days

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Pembrokeshire, Newport, The Parrog

2007-04-20T13:48:00.002+01:00

Behind the Boat Club, on The Parrog.

This is a popular spot for crabbing from the wall; the car park and toilets are a short walk away. The tidal pull is very strong through here and it is fishable only at high slack water if using legering techniques. Spinning is possible, casting into the main tideway although weed in the water can make this method tiresome. Bass, mullet and flounder make their way in and out of the estuary through this narrow channel.

You can get frozen bait for crabbing from a shop by the garage workshop in the village. At low tide you may find peeler crabs in the weed at the base of the wall. Lugworm can be dug out on the flats but do not dig near boat moorings and backfill any holes.

.Evening on The Parrog with tide tide creeping in.

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Pembrokeshire, Fishguard Inner Breakwater.

2007-04-15T21:21:00.004+01:00

The inner Breakwater, Goodwick, Fishguard

If you drive along the M4 and then the A40 to the very end you will be at the Ireland ferry terminal at Goodwick but which is referred to as Fishguard. Pass the filling station and turn right at two mini roundabouts into the car park. There is a slip road that is marked no through road, slipway only, that takes you to a further parking area at the end of the breakwater. There is disabled parking here and there is a cafe and toilets in the large building adjacent, there are other toilets in the building at the top of the slipway.
The breakwater has rock armour to the sides which make retrieval of a fish difficult but the right hand side for the first third of the breakwater is steeper than the rest so is more fishable. On the left side there are several basic platform areas that make fishing easier. The end of the breakwater has concrete and stone aprons which makes for better access as it is possible to stand on these to spin for fish.

The end of the Inner Breakwater.

Fish caught here are dogfish, pouting, flatfish, whiting, wrasse, bass and mackerel in season. In autumn and winter cod are also taken. The water is fairly shallow until you reach the end, although this does not mean the fish are not there; flounders and bass do not mind shallow water; float fishing is possible from the end of the breakwater although keep an eye out for lobster pot markers and ropes. Worm is favourite bait if you can obtain any locally but squid or fishbait will take fish. Frozen bait is available at Goodwick Marine which is located just off the first exit from the roundabout after the Texaco garage and before the ferry terminal entrance, they also stock a quite reasonable range of fishing tackle.. There is a new tackle shop in Fishguard, near the entrance to the car park on West Street between a café and a budget goods warehouse, it has a basic selection of fishing tackle for sale and advertises fresh and frozen bait.

Lugworm can be dug at low tide, look for the worm casts; please backfill any holes you dig as they can be a danger to other beach users. On low spring tides you may be able to get some razorfish and it may be worth looking for peeler crabs among the weed and rocks at the south end of the beach, to the right of the breakwater.

In parts, with able-bodied help for retrieving.

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Pembrokeshire, St Dogmaels

2007-04-15T20:31:00.002+01:00

Teifi estuary, St Dogmaels low tide looking seaward.

Take the road from Cardigan to Poppit Sands, the B4536, in the village of St Dogmaels turn right and at the bottom of the hill there is a low sea wall. There is a small amount of roadside parking at the far end of the wall towards a new boat park. You can get access to the beach near the small pumping station or via the slipway further up the road. There are boat moorings here which make fishing difficult except at low tide, the beach here is muddy. Walk to the left towards the sea, past the boat moorings and where the estuary narrows a little and where the rocky bank starts, two channels of the estuary meet. The beach is firmer sandy silt here.This is a good mark for flounder fishing, my only ever near 3lb fish came from here to a soft crab bait tipped with mackerel. If you look you may find soft or peeler crab bait nearby although flounder will take fish baits, especially the larger fish. Locals used to use earthworms here with great success.
On big tides there is a lot of water moving in the estuary and the current is too strong for easy fishing at maximum flow, especially if the river is in spate. You will need to fish over low or high water slack times or when the flow abates. On very high tides it is possible to get cut off at this mark so consult tide tables before heading out there.
Bait is a problem in West Wales. Mackerel or frozen raw prawns can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan, there is a tackle shop in Cardigan (Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row 01239 621856 ) which sells frozen bait and very expensive farmed, boxed ragworm. As you go through the High Street on the one-way system you will notice a small square with what used to be Woolworths to the right, immediately turn left down the hill, this is College Row, there is a car park about 50 yards further on.

Approximate Tide Times at St Dogmaels for the next 7 days

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Pembrokeshire, Ceibwr, Moylegrove

2007-04-15T16:37:00.002+01:00

Ceibwr, looking east.

Ceibwr is a small bay and headland at Moylegrove which is signposted from Newport or Cardigan via St Dogmaels. It is a beautiful spot and the fishing can be good. There are no facilities at Ceibwr, there are toilets back in the village in the car park; the nearest place to eat and drink is the Pavilion Cafe at the garden centre, Penrallt Ceibwr, which is a turning on the left as you leave Moylegrove towards St Dogmaels up a very steep hill.

At Ceibwr you can walk along the rock ledges to find a spot; long casting is not required as the fish are in the gully between you and the rock reefs which rise only yards away. Float fishing is fun and wrasse, pollack and even dogfish can be caught this way. There is kelp in the gully so fish will try to dive into it to escape; keep hold of the rod and react quickly and you should not loose too much tackle. Bottom fishing picks up the same species plus some mini-species but tackle loss can be high. Use old nuts, bolts, spark plugs etc to keep costs down you will not need a lot of weight to find bottom.

Casting into the rough ground in the cove entrance can provide sport with dogfish, bull huss, conger eel or even tope on rare occasions.

Do not go down onto the ledges if there is rough weather or a big swell running, wear sensible footwear the rock edges are sharp and slanted. Barefoot or flip-flops are not an option.

Ceibwr, looking west low tide.

The water is usually much clearer than it is in this photograph. Spinning in the gulley can get pollack,bass and, in season, mackerel. Please keep this lovely spot clear of litter, old line and bait. There are no bins.... take it home.

Bait is a problem in West Wales. Mackerel can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan, there is a tackle shop in Cardigan (Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row 01239 621856 ) which sells frozen bait and ragworm, best to phone to check they have some in stock or to order some in advance. As you go through the High Street on the one-way system you will notice a small square with what was Woolworths to the right, immediately turn left down the hill, this is College Row, there is a car park about 50 yards further at the bottom of the hill. Soft or peeler crabs can be found at St Dogmaels along the waters edge where the boats are moored.

Approximate Tide Times for the next 7 days

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Pembrokeshire, Newport Bridge and Estuary.

2007-04-15T16:06:00.000+01:00

from the bridge looking seaward, low tide.

The estuary at Newport contains some large flounders that swim up into the estuary to feed on the mudflats. Bass, mullet, eels and sea trout (sewin) also can be caught although it is illegal to fish for sea trout or salmon without a license. The photograph shows the channels of deeper water. it is worth walking down the estuary on the eastern bank (golf course side) of the estuary to note the bends and gullies. At certain times during the flood or ebb tide there will be strong currents in the deep water channels and, if there has been rain recently, a lot of weed and debris in the water which will make fishing difficult. There is a spot just past the second white cottage, the one between the path and the water, which looks a good spot; I have not fished here though so cannot say what it fishes like. If I can get the time and worm or crab bait I will give it a go and edit this post accordingly.

Do not be tempted to walk far out onto the mudflats, it is gooey sticky (and deep) stuff. Peeler or soft crabs can be found in the intertidal zone if you are lucky.

Mullet can be targetted by float fishing bread or mackerel flesh at slack water over high tide or on the tide ebb tide when an overdepth set up can be trotted down the flow to target flounder and bass as well as the mullet. If you can get near the water level a spinner may take mullet bass or flounder.

Pembrokeshire, Cwm-yr-Eglwys

2007-04-15T10:45:00.009+01:00

Cwm-yr-Eglwys, view from churchyard wall

Cwm-yr-Eglwys is a tiny bay on the east side of Dinas which is between Fishguard and Newport on the A487. Turn left as you leave the village of Dinas Cross and follow the narrow lane down to the end. Parking is straight ahead and is 'pay the attendant' or use the honesty box, it is cheap, only a pound per day, so please play the game. There are toilets near the car park behind the boat park but no other facilities. You can fish from the beach but over high tide on bigger tides you will need to retreat to fish from the wall of the churchyard. The churchyard has the remains of the church, most of which was washed away in the great "Royal Charter Storm" in 1859.

On a sunny summer evening it would be difficult to imagine a nicer spot to fish, the fishing's not always good, the location makes up for it.

Dogfish roam the bay in large numbers at night along with some pollack, flatfish such as flounders, plaice and dabs are caught along with other species such as bass, gurnard, whiting and pouting. Squid and fish baits will catch most species here if you cannot get ragworm.

If you look carefully at the photograph above you will see a concrete platform that leads out onto flat topped rocks, there is space for a few people to fish from here either casting out diagonally into the centre of the bay or to use very light tackle to catch blennies and other small species that lurk under the rock ledges. If calm you could try float fishing for pollack,bass or mackerel in season.

Access to the rocks and concrete platform is cut off at high tide; there is a way back over both concrete areas and along a narrow path which is the top of the sea wall and can be seen below the white wall; cross over the stream and you will find a rough path leading back up to the lane.

the wall looking back from the concrete platform

Comfort indeed on the churchyard wall, benches to sit on, and all a short walk from the car park and the toilets. I noticed when I was last here ( in August 2010 ) there was an ice cream van, that also did hot and cold drinks, parked during the daytime in the entrance to the boat park between the car park and the churchyard.

The beach with the headland to the left.

On fine summer evenings you will see a procession of hopefuls negotiating the rocks to the left of the bay on their way out to the headland where deeper water means easy float fishing for mackerel, bass and pollack. Try mackerel strip or sandeel as bait but pollack are especially partial to a ragworm, hook it just once through the head. The access is rough and is not suitable for children.

If you fancy a pleasant walk you can head west along a level path around the back of "the Island" which takes you to Pwllgwaelod beach which is a sandy bay with rocky fringes. Pwllgwaelod gets very crowded, there is a pub/restaurant there.

The beach here gets very crowded during sunny summer days, leave the fishing until evening when the swimmers have left...... or get up early.

Frozen bait is available at Goodwick Marine which is located just off the first exit from the roundabout after the Texaco garage and before the ferry terminal entrance, they also stock a quite reasonable range of fishing tackle.. There is a new tackle shop in Fishguard, near the entrance to the car park on West Street between a café and a budget goods warehouse, it has a basic selection of fishing tackle for sale and advertises fresh and frozen bait. Ragworm is stocked sometimes, phone to check/order, by the shop in Cardigan (Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row 01239 621856 ); it is expensive farmed, boxed ragworm. Tesco in Cardigan sell mackerel and frozen raw prawns which make excellent bait.sliced into slivers on small hooks for smaller fish or used whole on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook for bass....or more likely a dogfish.

Tide Times for the next seven days

. from churchyard wall over high tide or, with a suitable wheelchair, from the firm sand beach.

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Pembrokeshire, Newport

2007-04-15T09:44:00.001+01:00

Newport is between Fishguard and Cardigan on the A487. Fishing marks here are Newport Beach, The Parrog, The Bridge and Estuary and The Slipway area.
Crabbing is popular with the ankle-biters along the wall behind the Boat Club at high tide.

Bait is a problem in West Wales. Frozen bait is sold at the garage in Newport. Mackerel can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan and there is a tackle shop in Cardigan (Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row 01239 621856 ) which sells frozen bait and very expensive farmed, boxed ragworm. As you go through the High Street on the one-way system you will notice a small square with Woolworths to the right, immediately turn left down the hill, this is College Row, there is a car park about 50 yards further on.
Bait can be collected in the estuary at The Parrog; soft or peeler crabs will be lurking under weed and rocks, mussels and limpets on the rocks and lugworm can be found in the sand/mudflats behind the boat club building but there are not found in great numbers and it is hard work to get enough for a session. If you look for crabs please put the stones back exactly as you find them, if you rolll the stones over trapping the weed underneath you do great harm to the marine environment and spoil the chances of anyone else finding bait.

Call in at The Fronlas Cafe in Newport and say Hi to Joy, Kate or Russell, mention this site and you may, perhaps, get a complimentary cup of tea or coffee with your order!

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Pembrokeshire, Newport Beach

2007-04-15T08:50:00.002+01:00

Newport Beach, mid tide looking north.

Newport is east of Fishguard on the A487, the beach is reached by car by turning off as you are leaving the village on the Cardigan side. The turn is signposted Moylegrove and Golf Course. You will cross the river and head uphill, left turn at a cottage and follow the golf course signs, you will find the car park just past the Golf Club. Pay the attendants in season, free out of season. There is a snack bar/shop in season and toilets nearby.

This is a venue where you can take your vehicle down onto the firm sand beach. Be aware of the tides if you do go onto the sand make sure you have a look at the "strand line" which will show where the last tide reached.The beach is shallow and the tide races in. Species that are caught here are dogfish, bass, flatfish and rays. Other species turn up but bass and dogfish are the usual catch. A cast of fifty yards or so will get fish, sometimes less. Worm baits will catch most fish but squid, sandeel and mackerel will take fish and are cheap and easily obtained. Wading here will enable you to get your baits further out.

The beach is popular with tourists so most angling is done to the left in front of the rocks, check tide times and make sure you are not cut off, otherwise you may have a long wait to get back. The other spot to fish is the end of the spit at the river entrance, this is a spot for light tackle fishing on the move because you will need to move frequently as the tide changes. You can reach the main beach by paddling/wading across the river at low tide but you will have a long walk around the estuary footpath if you get your timings wrong.

Bait is a problem in West Wales. Frozen bait is sold at the garage in Newport. Mackerel can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan and there is a tackle shop in Cardigan (Castaway Tackle Shop in College Row 01239 621856 ) which sells frozen bait and very expensive farmed, boxed ragworm. As you go through the High Street on the one-way system you will notice a small square with Woolworths to the right, immediately turn left down the hill, this is College Row, there is a car park about 50 yards further on.

Bait can be collected in the estuary at The Parrog; soft or peeler crabs will be lurking under weed and rocks, mussels and limpets on the rocks and lugworm can be found in the sand/mudflats behind the boat club building but they are not found in great numbers and it is hard work to get enough for a session. If you look for crabs please put the stones back exactly as you find them, if you roll the stones over trapping the weed underneath you do great harm to the marine environment and spoil the chances of anyone else finding bait.

Oddities are washed up onto the beach, dead whales have been found and recently a dead trigger fish.

Dolphins and porpoises can be seen from here quite often in summer.

Tide Times for the next 7 days

Park on beach, sand firm when damp.

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Bristol Channel, Blue Anchor.

2007-04-10T14:16:00.006+01:00

Blue Anchor, Looking east.

The area known as Blue Anchor takes its quaint name from the pub at the Watchet end of the beach. It is a high tide mark and can be found on the back road from Watchet to Minehead. It is fishable for a few hours either side of high water from the sea wall or the beach to the west. There is car parking on the landward side of the road or alongside the seaward side of the road for much of the venue. There are only a few places where there is access to the beach so fish have to be retrieved by use of a drop net, risking a loss by lifting the fish up by hand-lining or 'walking' the fish along the wall to an access spot. A large portion of the wall is unfishable due to the rock armour placed under the wall, this makes it next to impossible to land a fish.

Blue Anchor Beach, east towards 'Broken Wall'

A good selection of species can be caught from the wall or from the beach. Dogfish seem to be ever present with cod and whiting in the winter. Large conger eels are quite common; also taken are pouting, thornback rays, small eyed rays, bass and rockling. Small turbot sometimes put in an appearance. Baits used here are ragworm or lugworm , squid and fishbaits, ( if you are feeling energetic it is possible to dig lugworm from the beach ), sensible people buy them from Westcoast Angling in Watchet, ( 53 Swain Street TA23 0AG Tel: 01984 634807) or Minehead ( a kiosk on the harbour wall ) . There is a shop and café just inside the entrance to the caravan park which sells frozen bait and has a selection of basic tackle bits and pieces.
There is a toilet block about halfway along the bay and a café at the western end where there is also a station serving the steam railway.
At the eastern end of the beach there are some reefs which are exposed at low water; the locals who are aware of the dangers, local weather conditions and tides fish these reefs. Do not attempt to fish here, there is a real danger of drowning. Near the reefs are patches of soft sinking sand which are dangerous enough before you get out onto the rocks.

updated 17th August 2010

Tide times for Minehead/Blue Anchor for the next 7 days

from wall only

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Bristol Channel, Dunster Beach

2007-04-10T13:00:00.003+01:00

Dunster Beach, looking east towards Minehead, low tide.

Dunster Beach is reached by turning off the A39 to the east of Minehead, there are brown information signs that lead you through the village over the railway line to a large pay and display car park and picnic area. There is a kiosk selling drinks and snacks in season and there is a toilet block at the western end of the car park. This venue is a shallow water mark and can only be fished for, at the most, a couple of hours each side of high tide; best on the biggest tides. It produces the usual dogfish, rays, small conger along with the occasional bass with cod and whiting in winter.The ground is fairly clean shingle and sand so tackle losses should be minimal... in any case, if you wait an hour or two you can walk out to get it back.

Dunster Beach, looking west.

To the west there is a chalet park which is private, stay to the car park area or take the coast path if you want to fish further west. This is an area which can be surveyed at low tide to look for likely fish holding features like gullies or rough ground patches. The locals head off to the west of the car park to their favoured marks.

Nearest tackle shops are West Coast Angling at Minehead, 01643 705745 (a kiosk on the Harbour ) or in Swain Street, Watchet 01984 634807‎, there is a shop at the caravan park at Blue Anchor which stocks a small selection of tackle bits and pieces and frozen bait.

Tide times for Dunster for the next 7 days.

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Bristol Channel, Porlock

2007-04-10T11:44:00.002+01:00

Porlock Harbour, West Porlock, low tide.

Porlock Harbour is a quaint little harbour at West Porlock to the west of Minehead. Follow the brown information signs and just keep heading west until you run out of road. There is a pay and display car park with toilets and there are pubs and a shop at the harbour. To the east there is a long stone bank pushed up by the sea. This is rough ground fishing, the bottom is sand with rough patches. This venue can be fished at all states of the tide but you will need a long cast to get onto the sand at high tide. At low tide you will have to walk out onto the rocky and cobbled beach where getting a firm footing can be difficult, boots with ankle support are recommended.

looking east, the harbour entrance behind the wooden groyne.

To get to this beach walk over the footbridge that spans the harbour entrance, walk past the front of the cottages and over the stone bank onto the beach. The water here is bluer than at Minehead which indicates that the sea has deposited much of the silt it had been carrying further up the channel at Minehead and beyond. This means that fish that prefer clear water,such as mackerel and gar, are caught here by float fishing or spinning in the summer.

Porlock, looking west.

The anglers in the photographs are fishing a match and are from the Westcoast and Watchet club, they were busy catching dogfish when I was taking these photographs. Thanks to the guy, in the second pic with the yellow bag, for the local advice.
Many different species are possible here that are not often caught further up-channel, pollack and bass are regulars, bream sometimes and even trigger fish at times. The channel regulars, dogfish, thornback rays and congers are the staple species with cod and whiting in the winter.
At high tide mullet find their way into the harbour and frustrating hours can be spent trying to catch one.
Bait for general beach fishing can be ragworm, lugworm, squid and fish-baits, nearest tackle shop is back in Minehead; Westcoast Tackle on the Harbour or their other shop in Watchet.

Tide Times at Porlock for the next 7 days

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Weymouth, Ringstead Bay.

2007-03-23T11:58:00.003Z

Ringstead Bay, at low tide, showing reefs.

If you take the Wareham road from Weymouth, the A353, you will pass through Osmington; on the right is a 'drop away' turning just before the road goes up under some trees. Follow this narrow lane through a little village and as you go up a fairly steep hill you will see the turning to Ringstead Bay on your right. If you find a National trust car park, you have gone too far. Parking is in a field quite near the beach, it is free in winter but an attendant will take money from you in summertime. There is a cafe and shop which is open only during the holiday season and a toilet block, newly built, to the rear of the shop. Walk past the shop, the lane turns to the right and shortly after you will see a steepish ramp down to a shallow shingle beach. You will see from the photographs that there are reefs just out to sea. This affects the fishing in two ways, firstly the reefs hold wrasse, bass etc but are very snaggy; secondly the reefs make waves and waves attract surfers who will appear from nowhere to enjoy them. Fishing is best done to the west past where the reef ends, if walking along the access lane pass by the ramp and after the 'green' in front of a cottage you will see a rudimentary path, slippery, steep and uneven down to the beach. It is easier to walk along the beach from the ramped access.

Ringstead Bay, looking west from the 'green'

The rough ground here means that wrasse, dogfish, bass and bullhuss are possible along with the usual pout and other small species. In winter whiting and codling can be added to the list, and as near any reef or rough ground a conger eel is not out of the question.

Float fishing for gar, scad, mackerel and bass can be done here in the summer. Nearest tackle shop is the Weymouth Angling Centre.

Approximate Tide Times for the next 7 days

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Crabbing, Crab species.

2007-03-23T11:06:00.004Z

A common shore crab.

If you go crabbing then the shore crab is the crab you are most likely to catch, its colour varies from brown, green and sometimes orange or red. The crab changes its shell periodically as it grows; the shell does not grow so the crab sheds it and grows another. If the crab is just ready to pop off its old shell it is called a peeler crab ( because you can peel off the shell and the leg coverings). Peeler crabs make good bait for most species of fish, they usually hide under stones and weed at this stage as they are vulnerable to predators. When the shell comes off there is a short period before the new shell hardens, the crab is now a softy or jelly crab and is also excellent bait. You are not likely to catch peeler or soft crabs, you have to hunt them out at low tide. Wrasse and other fish will eat hardback crabs with no bother, some cod are found to be stuffed with them when gutted.

A Velvet Swimming Crab.

As you can see, the Velvet Swimming Crab is a much more handsome fellow than the shore crab. It is covered in a velvet coat that catches the sunlight to make varying colours. The legs are flattened as an adaption to help it swim in the water. These are not as common as the shore crab but they nip just as hard, and they are usually very aggressive...

Stage one in picking up a crab.

Use your index finger to press firmly enough on the crab to stop it scuttling away. Not too hard or you will damage the crab.

Stage two in picking up a crab.

Having got the crab pinned down, place your middle finger and thumb on opposite sides of the shell and pick the crab up. He cannot get at you; if you are a child you can now terrorise little sisters, mothers, grannies etc with the crab, but remember it is a living creature, not a toy. Don't harm it and put it in a bucket and/or put it back in the sea at the end of your crabbing expedition.

Spider crab

This spider crab is about 40cm across and they grow much bigger, you will need a big bucket to keep these in. This example has lost a claw, this is quite common, it will grow a new one eventually. Spider crabs are vey docile compared with other crabs. The shell is spikey and uncomfortable to hold. Spider crabs nip off hooks and make bottom fishing nearly impossible during the summer along large stretches of the south coast. They are edible, most are exported to the continent if caught commercially.

Squat Lobster (Munida rugosa)

You may find a funny looking crab-like creature with very long claws and long antennae, this is the squat lobster. These grow a body about 10cm long but you are likely to catch specimens very much smaller.

.Hermit Crab

The Hermit Crab does not bother to make a shell on its body, it makes a home in a suitably sized whelk shell or similar and must find a bigger shell at intervals as he grows out of each shell. The crab will draw himself right back into the shell using his armoured claws as a defence. This crab makes a top bait for many larger species of fish and for this purpose can be removed easily from its shell by immersing it in fresh water.

There is another common crab, the Edible crab, when I can catch one in a drop net I will post a photograph.

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Chesil Beach, Abbotsbury.

2007-03-21T17:52:00.004Z

Abbotsbury, looking east towards Portland.

The beach at Abbotsbury is a nationally recognised mark, all manner of fish are caught here and it can get crowded when there are cod around in winter or mackerel in the summer..
Turn off the coast road from Weymouth to Bridport ( B3157) on a bend at the bottom of a steep hill that is signposted to the Subtropical Gardens. Go past the gardens and car parks to the end of the lane, there is a car park on your left. An attendant will take money from you in the tourist season but not in winter. There is a toilet block in the car park. Access to the beach is made easier by the boarded walkway to the crest of the bank, after this it is loose shingle; the beach is quite steeply banked and gives access to deep water.

Abbotsbury Beach, looking west.

Experienced anglers tend to trudge off towards the cottages to the west or The Dragon's Teeth to the east. The dragons teeth are a line of shaped concrete anti-tank blocks that remain from WWII. Debate rages whether the fishing is much better but at least you do not have mackerel feathers, hooks and leads whizzing around. You will be fishing onto clean, mainly snag free ground and you can fish fairly light in summer.

The Dragon's Teeth are just visible above the trees in the right foreground.

Shops and cafés are about a mile along the road in the village of Abbotsbury, There is a Swannery to see at Abbotsbury if you get bored with fishing. The nearest tackle shop is Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge. If you are travelling here from the west then pick up bait in West Bay.
The usual Chesil comment applies here.....do not even think about going onto the beach to fish with a big sea running

Tide Times at Abbotsbury for the next 7 days

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Tackle, "Haddock's Rig"

2007-03-20T10:25:00.009Z

Component parts of Haddock's Rig.

If you have arrived here from a search site looking to set up a standard float rig then click here, this post concerns a cheaper home-made rig that you will no doubt try when you have lost a few shop bought rigs.

I found that when float fishing near to piers and rocks, you will almost always lose floats. The cost of a float is not a lot but alternatives to a shop-bought rig cost a few pence to make and, as it turned out, are more versatile. I quite often want to change from float fishing to bottom fishing and the rig shown allows this change to be made in seconds; unclip the float and put back in your tackle box, unclip the weight and re-clip to the snap swivel you have taken the float from and you have a simple running ledger. The float is made from one of the two foam packing pieces that comes with a cd-rom drive box. You can make four floats from one cd-rom packing kit, scrounge some from your local computer shop or passing techie geek. Use a sharp knife to cut off the two ends of the rectangle to give two pieces of foam the same length as the width of the cd drive, carve to an octagonal cross section, round the ends and insert a nylon cable tie, clip up the tie and trim off end. The float you have just made will take a standard one ounce weight. Obviously if you make the float longer and leave it almost square the float will take more weight, up to two ounces. The sequence for tackling up is bead, snap swivel, bead and tie on snap swivel. Float goes on the snap swivel that is free to run up and down the line and the weight and hook length loop go on the tied snap swivel.... easy peasy !

Another source of material is a foam kid's swimming aid, I picked up one for a couple of pounds from Lidl, it is about 5'6" long and nearly 3" diameter so there are lots of floats in that !

update: Even cheaper.... I notice Poundland are selling them, as you would expect, for a pound.

A rig set up for float fishing a sandeel.

The depth that the bait will be fished at is determined by the elastic band stop knot; just thread one end of the elastic band around the line, back through the band; pull up very tight and snip off ends,
like so..........

The float ( like a traditional a sliding float set-up) can then be set to fish at any depth. If I am fishing a regular spot I will tie a permanent knot as a stop at the known catching depth. Any minor adjustment, a foot or two, can be made simple by changing the hook length which is attached to the same snap swivel as the lead by a double overhand loop.

The cunning part of this setup comes when dark falls, snap a starlight ( a small chemical light stick) to activate it and just push it firmly through the foam at the top of the float . The light will protrude at either side of the float and give plenty of light to track your float in the dark. Pollack, bass, scad and mackerel can be taken after dark.

If you use this advice, and if you think it has saved you money, put a bit of that saved money into the RNLI collecting box as a thankyou.

revised Sept 2008

Weymouth, Church Ope Cove Portland

2007-03-19T16:27:00.001Z

Church Ope Cove, Portland

Portland has a rugged coastline and there are not many marks that can be recommended for beginners or children, access can be difficult and rock marks can prove fatal for those not familiar with the dangers. There is one mark with safe but strenuous access; Church Ope Cove is reached from the village of Easton on the top of the Island, take the A354 and at the exit from the village you will see a stone arch ahead as the roads swings right. There is car park parking at the roadside near The Mermaid or a car park around the corner. Walk towards the stone arch and take the lane to the left which is signposted coast path and Church Ope.There are 153 steps down to the beach and it seems like many more on the way back; travel light but take drinks etc with you, there will not be any "running back to the car" from here! Small children of the ankle-biter kind will not find the going very easy. The beach is safe enough when you get there. Fishing is varied, sandy clean ground in the centre giving way to rocky ground at the edges. Be careful when fishing from the rocks, the walk back up is bad enough without sprained limbs.Many species of fish can be caught here with flatfish, pouting and dogfish providing most of the sport. Wrasse can be caught from the rockier fringes and float-fishing a mackerel strip can catch gar, mackerel, scad and pollock, sole are caught here in the autumn to ragworm bait.
Fishing at night can be interesting, flies hatching out from eggs laid in seaweed on the beech are attracted to the light you need for fishing; bats which live in vast numbers in the old quarries and caves come to feast on the flies.
Portland is a good place for birdwatching as migrating birds stop off for a rest here.

The nearest tackle shop is Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge

There are toilets on the beach but little else.

For more on fishing Portland have a look at this site.

The Solent, Eastney Beach

2007-03-19T13:23:00.001Z

Eastney Beach, looking west to Southsea.

Eastney Beach is in the Eastern Solent and lies to the east of the South Parade Pier at Southsea and is reached via The Esplanade. The mark is popular in the spring as plaice tend to come inshore to feed up after spawning. The favoured spot seems to be in front of the yellow bus shelter near the St Georges Road junction but fish are caught from the whole length of the beach. This spot is probably favoured as it is easily found and there are toilets across the road by the junction and there is a matted wheelchair access strip over the shingle which makes for easy walking onto the firm shingle and sand of the inter-tidal part of the beach. There is plenty of (expensive) roadside parking and a car park about three hundred yards to the east of the yellow shelter.

Eastney Beach, looking east, low tide.

This venue can be fished at any state of the tide.In addition to the plaice, other flat fish such as flounder and dabs are caught along with the usual small species with rarer species such as gurnard turning up in summer. The beach is gently sloping and you will be fishing into fairly shallow water. There is a small tackle and bait kiosk at the pier and several others nearby such as Allan's Marine and Lock, Stock and Tackle * in Portsmouth and Southsea.

for 'rough terrain' wheelchairs.

* website down Aug '08

Chesil Beach, Masonic Car Park

2007-03-17T18:25:00.001Z

Chesil Beach, looking west from Portland.

The 'Masonic' is a car park at the end of the causeway to the Isle of Portland. You will notice a blue painted shed which is the first building on the right hand side; go around both roundabouts and double back to get to the entrance. You will be confronted with a massive bank of shingle to climb up and over. If this looks bad just wait to you see it on the seaward side. The steep bank of rounded cobbles makes for an interesting lung bursting climb back up, taking one step forward and sliding half a step back. The beach profile changes after each big storm. Do not even think about going onto the beach with a big sea running, the waves sometimes overtop this bank. The nearest tackle shop is Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge.
Shops, cafe and toilets are just along the road in the village of Chiswell,

Chesil Beach, The Cove.

2007-03-14T23:47:00.002Z

Looking west from the Cove.

Chesil Cove is the easternmost fishing mark on Chesil Beach and is reached via the village of Chiswell. Do not take the road up the hill but take the next exit from the roundabout. There is a small road to the right, Brandy Row, where you can sometimes find a place to park. The area is popular with divers, you will have to take care ( they usually will not). The water here is deep and a short cast is sometimes all that is needed to catch. The bottom can be snaggy in places, getting more so as you move around to the left. Some hardy types hike off along this rocky shoreline to hunt big wrasse. There is a chance of almost any fish that swims in British waters here, trigger fish are not particularly rare here but expect to catch bass, pollack, dogfish and wrasse along with mackerel and gar in the summer. Best bait, ragworm, squid and fishbait. Access to the beach is easy but the beach is made up of potato sized cobbles which make walking tiring. There are shops and a café in the village, and a café, recently opened, at the Portland end of the promenade. Children cannot come to too much harm here if they are kept out of the water.

Rough ground at the end of Chesil, the start of The Isle of Portland.

The nearest tackle shops are Chesil Bait 'n' Tackle on Portland Road,
or Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge
see here

updated 14th April 2011