Summary
Awre sits on the west bank of the upper Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire, a quiet rural stretch famed for huge tides and the Severn Bore. It’s a classic coloured-water mark where disciplined estuary tactics can turn up flounder and bass through the warmer months, with codling appearing in cold winters. Expect powerful tidal flows, muddy margins, and long, grassy floodbanks rather than beaches.
Location and Access
This is a remote, farmland-backed mark reached via narrow lanes off the A48 between Blakeney and Newnham-on-Severn. Access is on foot along the floodbank; plan your approach in daylight first if you’re new to it.
- From the A48, follow signs for Awre village (GL14 area) and use minor lanes to reach the riverward side of the parish.
- Parking is very limited: pull well off the lane in obvious lay-bys or by churches/village halls, without blocking gates or tracks. Do not drive onto the floodbank or fields.
- Access is via public footpaths and the flood defence embankment; expect a 10–25 minute walk depending on where you choose to fish.
- Terrain is a grassy bank with soft, silty foreshore and occasional drainage outfalls (gouts). The foreshore mud is treacherous—fish from the bank top.
- Livestock are common. Keep dogs on leads, close gates, and follow waymarked rights of way.
Seasons
The upper Severn is a dynamic, seasonal fishery. Colour and flow are constant; species move with temperature and freshwater levels.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Bass (schoolies building through late spring)
- Flounder
- Silver eel (bycatch at dusk/night; release required)
- Note: migratory shad may be present in the system in late spring—protected species, do not target.
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass (schoolies with occasional better fish on crabs/shrimp)
- Flounder (creek mouths and inside bends)
- Silver eel bycatch after dark (release)
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bass (often best months for quality fish on big crabs)
- Flounder (peak numbers)
- Whiting can push well upriver in some years
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Codling in cold snaps/clearer neaps
- Whiting (variable), flounder on worm baits
- Eel activity drops right off in mid-winter cold
- Occasional/possible: school smoothhound in warm summers are not impossible but are uncommon this far upriver; thornback rays are more likely further down-estuary.
Methods
Bottom fishing dominates here; fast tides and coloured water make finesse secondary to grip, presentation, and fresh bait.
- Rigs:
- Two-hook flapper or one-up/one-down for flounder/whiting with size 2–1 hooks.
- Pulley pennel or up-and-over with 3/0–4/0 for bass/codling on bigger baits.
- Keep snoods short on strong spring tides (10–18 inches) to reduce twist; lengthen on neaps.
- Leads and tackle:
- 6–8 oz breakout/grip leads are standard; have a few 5 oz for neaps.
- 20–30 lb mainline with 60–80 lb shock leader; consider a weak-link (rotten-bottom) to save tackle in snags.
- Rods set high on a sturdy tripod to keep line clear of debris.
- Baits:
- Lugworm (blow/black) and ragworm for flounder, whiting, and codling; tip with squid slivers in winter.
- Peeler crab is king for bass from May–October; softies/hardbacks also score.
- Mussel, razorfish, and prawn/shrimp can be excellent alternatives when crabs are scarce.
- Tactics and timing:
- Fish the flood and early ebb, focusing on 2 hours either side of high water.
- Cast to the channel edge or along the crease; often 20–50 yards is enough—don’t bomb it over the drop-off.
- Fresh bait, frequent recasts, and tidy presentations out-fish sheer distance here.
Tides and Conditions
The mark is entirely tide-driven. Planning around the Severn Bore and the fierce currents is crucial.
- Tide size:
- Mid-range to large neap/building tides are often most manageable; extreme springs can be unfishable with heavy debris and a powerful bore.
- Best states:
- 2 hours before to 1 hour after high water is prime; flounder often linger into the first of the ebb around creek mouths.
- Severn Bore:
- Avoid major-bore days (high-star forecasts). The surge can sweep gear away and flood the foreshore quickly.
- Conditions:
- After prolonged rain, freshwater push can dampen bass sport but sometimes perks up flounder/codling.
- Warm, overcast evenings with a light SW airflow are dependable for bass in summer; clear, cold neaps favour winter codling.
- Water clarity is always coloured—scent trails beat sight. Elastic your baits and refresh often.
Safety
Safety on the upper Severn is non-negotiable. The combination of fast tides, deep mud, and the bore makes this a waterside venue to treat with respect.
- Fish from the top of the floodbank; do not step onto the foreshore mud.
- Know bore times and heights; leave extra time to retreat before the surge arrives.
- Powerful currents and floating debris (branches, whole trees on spates) can snag or sweep lines—never turn your back on the water.
- Edges can be undercut and slippery; use studded boots. Night sessions demand good headtorches and spare batteries.
- Wear a personal flotation device; carry a throw line if fishing in company.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users; long, uneven walks and livestock in fields are common. Beware electric fences.
- Mobile signal can be patchy; tell someone your plan and exit route.
Facilities
This is a no-frills countryside mark with little in the way of amenities at the waterside. Plan to be self-sufficient.
- No toilets, shelter, lighting, or bins on the bank—pack it in, pack it out.
- Nearest services: Newnham-on-Severn and Blakeney (food, pubs, basic shops). Wider options in Lydney and Gloucester.
- Tackle and bait: look to shops in Lydney, Gloucester, or Chepstow; pre-order fresh worms/crab in season.
- Phone reception is inconsistent along the bank; download bore/tide info before you go.
Tips
Local knowledge here revolves around reading flow lines and working with the tide, not against it.
- Keep casts modest: many fish patrol the first drop-off; overcasting can put you past the fish and into heavier tide.
- A small move (20–30 yards) to sit opposite a crease or creek mouth often outfishes static camping.
- Elastic all worm/crab baits well—crabs and current will strip loose offerings fast.
- Use circles or semi-circles for eels if you’re getting plagued; they help with quick, safe release.
- Check Severn Bore forecasts; even a modest bore can upset the session. Set sand spikes well back from the edge.
- After big spates, give it 24–48 hours for debris to clear; then try a clipped lug-and-squid cocktail for codling.
- Respect farms: lambing and calving periods are sensitive—be quiet around stock and keep dogs tight.
- The Severn Estuary is designated (SSSI/SPA/SAC) in places—avoid trampling saltmarsh plants and stick to established paths.
Regulations
Rules are a mix of national sea angling measures and estuary-specific protections. When in doubt, check current guidance from the UK Government/MMO and the relevant local fisheries authority before your trip.
- Bass: recreational size/seasonal bag limits change periodically. Minimum size is typically 42 cm, with a limited daily retention window in certain months. Always check the latest MMO notice before retaining any bass.
- Eels: all eel species are fully protected for recreational anglers—catch and release only; do not retain or deadbait with eel sections.
- Migratory salmonids and shad: salmon, sea trout, and allis/twaite shad are protected in this estuary. You must not target them; any accidental captures must be released immediately. Targeting salmon/sea trout requires an EA licence and is subject to strict seasons/byelaws.
- Rod licence: no licence is required to target marine species, but if you are intentionally fishing for freshwater species (e.g., coarse fish or migratory salmonids) you need an Environment Agency rod fishing licence and must follow byelaws.
- Minimum sizes: observe current UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for sea fish (e.g., cod, whiting, etc.). Check DEFRA/MMO tables; sizes may differ by area.
- Protected sites/access: much of the bank crosses SSSI/managed farmland. Stick to rights of way, don’t drive on floodbanks, no fires or camping, and leave no litter.
- Netting and bait collection: unlicensed netting is illegal. Bait digging/collection can be restricted on designated foreshore—use discretion and consider sourcing bait from tackle shops.