Gunner Point

Gunner Point is a potentially productive Hampshire shore mark where a projecting beach/foreshore can put a bait or lure into moving Solent water rather than a sheltered backwater. It is best treated as a mobile, tide-led venue: conditions, access and the exact fishable edge can change markedly with wind, weed and the state of tide.

• Expect mixed ground rather than a uniform, manicured beach; find the firmer sand or shingle and the gullies, depressions and any clean patches before committing to a long session.
• It is principally a bait-fishing mark, but can be worthwhile for mobile lure fishing when bass, mackerel or garfish are moving close in.
• The point is exposed to passing craft wash, cross-tide and wind, so it rewards sensible tackle, a stable fishing position and regular observation of the sea state.

Gunner Point is approached as a coastal point-and-beach mark on the Hampshire Solent shore, with the fishable water generally being the open frontage and the tidal edges either side of the point. Use established public access routes and identify the safe, legal route to the shore before carrying tackle down.

• Parking and the final walk vary with the approach used; travel light initially, as shingle, soft foreshore and uneven paths can make a loaded barrow awkward.
• Do not assume that every track, gate or apparently open piece of foreshore is public access. Some nearby coastal land may be managed, private or subject to operational restrictions.
• A low-water reconnaissance is valuable: note gullies, firmer exits, weed beds, drainage channels and where the tide will cut off the route back.
• Avoid obstructing local residents, access roads, gates or emergency routes when parking.

Gunner Point can produce the usual mixed Solent shore species, with the best prospects dictated by season, water clarity and whether bait fish or food are moving through the tide. Summer and early autumn are often the more varied periods, while colder water usually concentrates attention on smaller winter species and flatfish.

• Bass are a principal target around moving water, especially where small fish, crabs or worms are being carried along a gully or tide line.
• Smooth-hound, rays and dogfish may feature in the warmer months where there is enough clean sand and a bait can be held in position.
• Flounder and, where suitable sand is present, other flatfish are realistic targets; a quiet, lightly fished bait close to a channel is often more useful than casting purely for distance.
• Mackerel, garfish and occasional other pelagic visitors can pass within lure or float range in clear, settled conditions.
• Pouting, whiting and other small mixed-ground species can provide sport after dark in the cooler part of the year; mullet may be present in calm, clear conditions but deserve a stealthy approach.

A simple two-rod approach works well: one bait placed in a productive near-to-mid-range feature, and one bait or lure used to search a different line. Do not automatically cast to the horizon, as fish often use the first discernible gutter or the seam created by the point.

• For bass, use a flowing or pulley-style bait rig with peeler crab, crab-based baits, ragworm, lugworm or a fish bait selected to suit the time of year and local bait availability.
• For smooth-hound and rays, use robust hooks, abrasion-resistant trace material and securely mounted crab, squid, fish or worm-and-squid cocktail baits; increase lead weight only enough to keep contact with the bottom.
• For flatfish, a light two-hook flapper or similar low-profile rig baited with small strips of worm, mussel or fish can be effective, particularly when fished steadily rather than repeatedly retrieved.
• When lure fishing, work soft plastics, shallow plugs or metals along current seams and across the face of the point. Keep moving, cast at different angles to the flow and stop if weed makes a safe, clean presentation impossible.
• Carry a selection of plain and grip leads. A grip lead may be needed in stronger flow, but release it carefully rather than dragging it through unknown rough ground.

The tide is the key variable at Gunner Point: the point can concentrate flow, but that same flow can make presentation difficult and can rapidly alter the safe area of beach. Fish the state of tide that lets you hold bottom cleanly and maintain a safe retreat, rather than relying on a fixed tide rule.

• Start by watching the water for a full tide cycle if possible; visible seams, coloured water, bird activity and bait fish are more useful indicators than a generic casting distance.
• The building and easing stages of a tide are commonly worth attention, particularly around gutters and the edges of cleaner water, but the productive window can change with wind direction and tidal height.
• A light onshore ripple can improve daytime confidence for bass and flatfish, whereas prolonged heavy surf, coloured weed or strong side-wind may make the mark unpleasant or unfishable.
• Calm, clearer water can favour lures, floats and mullet tactics, although it also makes fish more wary and exposes anglers to greater boat-wash awareness.
• Check the official local tide prediction and marine forecast before setting out; allow for weather-driven water-level changes and do not rely solely on a printed tide table.

This is not a mark to treat casually in darkness or rough weather, because rising water, slippery weed, shingle and a strong lateral pull can make the shoreline difficult to leave. A daylight visit before an evening session is strongly recommended.

• Wear footwear with grip and avoid standing on weed-covered rocks, unstable shingle lips or soft mud; a wading staff can be useful on uncertain ground, but do not wade into strong tidal water.
• Keep well back from the advancing tide, especially near gullies and around the point, and leave before your return route is narrowed or covered.
• Use a headtorch after dark, carry a charged phone in a waterproof case and tell somebody where you are fishing and when you expect to return.
• Give vessels a wide berth, do not cast into navigable channels, and be alert for wash that can arrive after a boat has passed.
• If red flags, warning lights, closed gates, range notices or staff instructions are present, do not enter or fish the affected area. Conditions around coastal operational land can change without notice.

Facilities should not be assumed at the point itself, so regard it as a self-sufficient shore session rather than a promenade venue. Sort bait, food, water, lighting and waste storage before reaching the beach.

• Take drinking water, warm and waterproof layers, a first-aid kit and a means of carrying all litter away.
• Public toilets, shops and tackle supplies, where available, are generally better sought in the surrounding settlements before the session rather than relied upon at the shoreline.
• A compact tripod or low beach rest is often more practical than bulky equipment on uneven shingle.
• Keep bait packaging, discarded line and hooks secured; coastal birds and dogs are particularly vulnerable to lost tackle.

The anglers who do best here usually spend time reading the ground and adapting their casting line to the flow. A short move along the frontage can be more productive than repeatedly casting over a poor patch from the first convenient spot.

• Arrive early enough to watch the water and look for birds diving, bait spraying, cleaner lanes between weed and distinct changes in wave pattern.
• Begin with one bait at modest range before committing to a big cast; close gullies often hold food and can fish better than featureless distant water.
• Keep spare rigs ready, as mixed ground, weed and tidal movement can cost tackle. Use the lightest practical lead that retains contact.
• Fresh worm and crab baits are strong all-round options, while a small supply of squid or mackerel strip provides a durable alternative if crabs or small fish are stripping softer baits.
• Leave the mark cleaner than you found it and fill in any small bait-digging holes where digging is permitted.

Fishing is not treated here as clearly banned, but access and fishery rules must be checked on the day because local restrictions, land-management controls and temporary operational closures can apply. The absence of a visible sign is not proof that access or fishing is authorised.

• Observe all posted signs, gates, flags, notices and instructions from land managers, harbour authorities, coastguard personnel or site staff.
• Check the current national sea-fisheries rules for minimum sizes, catch limits, protected species and seasonal measures before retaining any fish; these rules can change.
• Check the relevant local authority, harbour authority and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority information for local byelaws, bait-collection controls, protected habitats and any area-specific restrictions.
• Do not fish within marked exclusion zones, interfere with navigation, collect bait from restricted ground or leave line, hooks or litter on the foreshore.
• If you are unsure whether the precise section of Gunner Point you intend to use is public and open, choose an unquestionably public alternative or obtain confirmation from the responsible land manager first.