fishyfishy

2009-07-03T19:15:00.007Z

LAST UPDATED 3rd July 2009

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! 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.

Update History

click for accessible venues

Pembrokeshire, Porth Clais

2009-07-03T17:01:00.011Z

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 til 7 or 8pm.

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

Pembrokeshire, Neyland - Brunel Quay

2009-06-27T15:25:00.003Z

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. 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 summer.
Long casting is not necessary so light tackle can be used for summer fishing.
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.

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

Tide Times for next seven days

easy level access to railed promenade

updated 27 June 09

Bait: Slipper Limpets

2009-03-03T19:50:00.007Z

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.

The Solent, Weston Shore.

2009-01-15T14:53:00.006Z

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.

Approximate Tide Times for the next seven days

A short distance across loose shingle to fish at high tide

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

Poole Harbour, Redhorn Point.

2009-01-05T11:56:00.005Z

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 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 Knowle Beach (NT) at Studland. Nearest bait and tackle shops are at 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.

Tide Times for the next seven days

updated 27th June 09

Pembrokeshire, Milford Haven.

2009-01-01T13:52:00.007Z

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. 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 cafes 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

updated 27th June 09.

Tackle, Setting up a standard sliding float.

2008-09-22T16:08:00.015Z

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.

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

Cardiganshire, Gwbert, Cliff Hotel.

2008-05-16T17:27:00.011Z

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 can usually be bought from Tesco in Cardigan, there is a tackle shops 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

updated 27th June 09

Cardiganshire, Patch

2008-05-16T16:12:00.015Z

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 suceed 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 floatfishing 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

Poole Harbour, Bramble Bush Bay & Gravel Point

2008-05-14T20:37:00.007Z

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

Poole Harbour, Holes Bay

2008-05-14T16:21:00.008Z

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

Lure fishing, spinning and feathering.

2008-05-12T16:46:00.002Z

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.

Cornwall, Porthkerris.

2008-05-10T12:05:00.014Z

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

Cornwall, Coverack Harbour

2008-05-10T10:48:00.010Z

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. 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.

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 you haven't really tried. ( they are corkwing, ballan, goldsinny and rock cook.) There are safe ways onto the rocks, 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

A tip when using mackerel as bait.

2008-04-12T11:32:00.005Z

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.

Poole Harbour, Jerry's Point.

2007-08-16T10:45:00.002Z

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 red bus stop pole on the south side of the road about half a mile from the ferry; 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

Chesil, Ferry Bridge.

2007-08-15T11:05:00.001Z

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 floatfish 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 shops are Denning Tackle at Wyke Regis, on the road out from Weymouth, it is on the right by a pedestrian crossing and there is parking on the shop forecourt or in the sideroad (next left); or Weymouth Angling near the Town Bridge.

Approximate Tide Times for the next seven days

on and under bridge only.

The Solent, Taddiford Gap.

2007-06-11T10:17:00.002Z

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

The Purbecks.

2007-06-04T10:42:00.002Z

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.

updated 28th June 09

The Purbecks, Worbarrow Bay.

2007-06-04T09:49:00.002Z

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 countyside. 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

2007-05-15T09:27:00.003Z

Studland, Knoll Beach looking east towards Poole and Bournemouth.

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

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 cafe 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 cafe/snack bar at the beach during the summer season. There is another car park in the middle of the two mentioned beaches, named in a moment of inspiration... Middle Beach.

South Beach Studland looking towards Old Harry Rocks.

Fishing here is mainly for bass and flatfish with other fish such as smoothound, black 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.

Tide Times for the next seven days

note re google added 9 Oct 08
updated 28th June 09

Pembrokeshire, Newgale Beach.

2007-05-14T13:35:00.002Z

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 cafe, 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.

updated 28th June 09.

Pembrokeshire, Freshwater West.

2007-05-14T12:29:00.000Z

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 carpark 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.

to be continued

Pembrokeshire, Stackpole Quay and Barafundle.

2007-05-14T12:00:00.000Z

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 floatfishing 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.

to be continued.