Nova Scotia Steps Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Nova Scotia Steps Fishing Map

Stone steps beside the Nova Scotia pub at Hotwells give access to the tidal River Avon/New Cut. An urban estuary mark that fishes best on the last two hours of the flood into the first hour of the ebb; expect strong currents, fast water level changes and mud at low tide. Summer to early autumn sees mullet in numbers; flounder, eels and small species hug the walls. Use a drop net for landing and keep well back from the slippery edge.

Ratings

⭐ 5.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Nova Scotia Steps

🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 9/10
🎯 Tip: Bread flake under a float along the wall; pre-bait with mash. Best in summer on neap tides, slack to first of flood around the steps.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work small soft plastics or shallow divers through eddies on the flood, dawn/dusk or after rain-coloured water; keep lures tight to the flow lines by the steps/locks.
🐟 Mullet (Thin-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Mepps-style spinner tipped with isome/rag in the flow on neap floods; long, fine leaders and slow retrieves past shoals in the Basin/New Cut.
🐟 Common Goby 6/10
🎯 Tip: Micro hooks (16–20) with tiny worm/shrimp, lowered tight to the steps at slack water; summer to early autumn.
🐟 European Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark with worm or fish strip cast downtide into the channel; hold the rod. Most active on warm summer floods.
🐟 Sand Goby 5/10
🎯 Tip: Mini rigs with size 16 hooks and small worm baits at the base of the steps over silt; fish slack water on neaps.
🐟 Shanny 5/10
🎯 Tip: Drop tiny pieces of rag/isome down the wall at low to mid tide; poke baits into crevices around the steps in warmer months.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Night sessions with mackerel/squid baits tight to structure; strong gear, abrasion-resistant trace. Top of the flood inside the harbour.
🐟 Flounder 4/10
🎯 Tip: Small rag/lug or maddies on a running ledger to channel edges; winter/spring, best on the ebb. Avoid snags near the steps.
🐟 European Smelt 4/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights under lights; tiny sabikis or size 14 hooks with slivers of fish, mid-water at top of tide.

Nova Scotia Steps Fishing

Summary

Nova Scotia Steps sits beside the Nova Scotia pub in Hotwells, on the edge of Bristol’s Cumberland Basin where the tidal River Avon squeezes past the lock entrances to the Floating Harbour. It’s a classic urban estuary mark: powerful tides, heavy colour, and fish that move in distinct windows. Expect bass, flounder and mullet in season, with eels and the odd conger after dark.

Location and Access

This mark is in central Bristol at the mouth of the Floating Harbour, a short walk from the Nova Scotia pub in Hotwells. Access is straightforward, but the last few metres are old stone steps and uneven cobbles.

Seasons

Fish here follow the estuarine seasons and salinity, with activity peaking on warmer tides.

Methods

Tackle for a fast, snaggy urban estuary works best: compact, robust, and simple. Fish tight to the flow lines, steps and walls where food is funnelled.

Tides and Conditions

This is a big‑range, fast‑flow mark governed by the Severn’s tides. Picking the right state makes or breaks a session.

Safety

This is a working harbour entrance with extreme tidal flow. Treat the edge and steps with respect.

Facilities

Urban comforts are close at hand, making short, opportunistic sessions easy.

Tips

Little tweaks make a big difference on this snaggy, high‑flow venue.

Regulations

Rules here blend harbour byelaws with national sea‑angling regulations. They’re enforced, especially around the locks.