Summary
Gatcombe is a small hamlet on the west bank of the upper Severn Estuary between Blakeney and Newnham in Gloucestershire. It’s a classic tidal-river mark: huge tides, fierce flow, and silty margins that funnel bass, flounder and mullet along the floodbanks. Tricky to fish but rewarding, especially around springs and on evenings from late spring through autumn.
Location and Access
This is a rural, riverside mark reached from the A48, with access via lanes signposted to Awre/Gatcombe and public footpaths along the floodbank. Expect limited parking and a short walk over uneven ground to reach firm standing above the mud margins.
- Follow A48 and take local turnings for Awre/Gatcombe; approach slowly through the hamlet and park considerately without blocking gates or driveways.
- Parking is very limited in the village; small roadside pull-ins exist near the Awre turn off the A48. Avoid soft verges in wet weather.
- Access is via the public footpath on top of the floodbank/sea wall. Allow 5–15 minutes’ walk depending where you choose to set up.
- Ground is a mix of stone revetment, grassed bank and very soft intertidal mud. Always fish from firm ground; do not step onto the mudflats.
- Productive areas are often near drainage outfalls (“pills”), small groynes and inside bends where the channel scours close in.
Seasons
The upper Severn here is strongly estuarine, with migratory fish present and saltwater species following the tide. Expect modest variety but real quality days when conditions line up.
- Common targets
- Bass: May–October; schoolies common, better fish late summer into autumn, especially on evening floods and just after a bore.
- Flounder: September–March; best October–January around mid-to-late flood on neaps to mid-springs.
- Thin-lipped and thick-lipped mullet: June–September in calmer, clearer spells near outfalls and slack eddies.
- European eel: Summer bycatch after dark; release immediately and avoid deliberate targeting.
- Occasional/conditional
- Codling: November–January in colder spells and after big westerly blows, though far less reliable than historically.
- Whiting: Late autumn on big springs, less frequent this far upriver.
- Smelt: Late winter/early spring oddities to small baits or spinners; handle gently and release.
- Migratory species (salmon, sea trout, shad, lamprey): Protected; do not target and release immediately if encountered.
Methods
Heavy flow and silty ground call for simple, strong rigs and baits that pump scent. Keep end tackle tidy and be ready to recast often as the tide races.
- Ledgering with 5–8 oz wired (breakout) leads to hold bottom on mid-to-big tides; scale down on small neaps.
- Rigs: 2-hook flowing flapper (size 2–1) for flounder; up-and-over or pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass with larger baits.
- Baits: Peeler/soft crab is the standout for bass; lugworm and ragworm for flounder; small slivers of mackerel/squid as cocktail; bread flake or isome for thick-lips; baited spinner (small Mepps with a tiny rag strip) for thin-lips in slack water.
- Tackle: 12–13 ft beach/estuary rods with 20–30 lb mono or 30–50 lb braid and a 60 lb shock leader; strong tripod set high on the bank.
- Presentation: Long snoods (3–4 ft) help flounder baits waft; for bass, a short trace keeps crab pinned in the flow.
- Timing: 2 hours either side of high water is the most practical window; on bore days, cast again immediately after the wave has passed.
- Extras: Use bait elastic to withstand the run; consider a weak link/rotten-bottom if casting near stonework or groynes.
Tides and Conditions
Tide size and timing dominate this mark. The Severn Bore adds a wildcard on big springs and demands a careful plan.
- Tide size: Mid-to-large springs bring bass and movement; neaps are easier to hold bottom and suit flounder.
- State: Last 2 hours of the flood and first of the ebb are prime. On bore days, expect a powerful surge—fishing often switches on just after it passes.
- Wind: Light to moderate south-westerlies are fine; strong easterlies and prolonged freshwater spate can dampen sport.
- Water colour: Naturally coloured/brown; don’t wait for gin-clear water, but slight clarity helps mullet and baited spinners.
- Seasonality: Bass/mullet peak June–September; flounder better October–January; winter codling only in the right year.
- Time of day: Dusk into dark is excellent for bass on warm evenings; daylight neaps suit mullet and flounder work.
Safety
Safety is the headline here: the Severn’s flow, bore and soft mud are unforgiving. Treat it like a tidal river crossing a mudflat—because it is.
- Do not step onto exposed mud; it can be deep and gluey. Fish from the floodbank or firm stone only.
- Check the Severn Bore timetable; never stand low when a significant bore is due. Keep gear well above the wash line.
- The tide floods and ebbs rapidly, with strong eddies. Plan an escape route and keep kit minimal and high.
- Wear a lifejacket, headtorch and cleated boots. Waders are risky on sloping, silty edges.
- Some stretches border private land and livestock fields—stick to signed public footpaths, close gates, and respect any local “No Fishing” signs.
- Not wheelchair-friendly: stiles, rutted farm tracks and sloping banks make access difficult for those with limited mobility.
- Fish with a partner where possible, keep phones charged, and tell someone your return time.
Facilities
There are no facilities on the floodbank or foreshore. Come self-sufficient and expect a quiet, rural session.
- No on-site toilets, lighting or fresh water; nearest public conveniences, cafés and pubs are in Blakeney, Newnham and Lydney.
- Tackle and bait are available in the wider area (Lydney/Cinderford/Gloucester); check opening hours in advance.
- Mobile reception is variable on the foreshore but generally better near the A48.
- No bins: take every scrap of litter and line home.
Tips
Local knowledge revolves around reading the bore, the bends and the drains. Small tweaks can make a big difference.
- On bore days, set up high and safe; once the wave has passed, recast quickly—bass often travel right behind the turbulence.
- Fresh peeler crab outfishes most baits for bass here; frozen peeler or shore-crab cocktails still score if fresh is scarce.
- For flounder, use long flowing snoods with size 2 hooks, bright beads or a small spoon blade to add flutter in the coloured water.
- Thin-lipped mullet respond to tiny baited spinners worked slowly in slack eddies near outfalls on neaps.
- Cast slightly uptide and let the rig swing and settle; a controlled ‘walk’ of the bait across the flow can trigger bites.
- Keep tripod and bags well above the waterline—spring tides and boat wash can reach surprisingly high.
- Arrive early; parking is scarce, and you’ll want time to choose firm, comfortable footing before the flood reaches you.
Regulations
Regulations here reflect both national sea-angling rules and protected status of the Severn Estuary. Always check for updates before your trip.
- Bass (England, 2024 rules at time of writing): recreational daily bag limit 2 fish, minimum size 42 cm; retention generally permitted 1 March–30 November. Check current MMO/DEFRA announcements for any changes.
- European eel: do not retain; release immediately. Avoid deliberate targeting. An Environment Agency rod licence is required if you target freshwater species; not required for sea fish in tidal waters.
- Migratory fish (salmon, sea trout, shad, lamprey, sturgeon): fully protected—do not target; release immediately if accidentally caught. Additional EA byelaws apply in the Severn.
- The Severn Estuary is an SSSI/SPA/Ramsar site: keep to public rights of way, avoid disturbing birds and seals, no fires, and follow any local signage. Bait digging/collection may be restricted in protected sections—seek local guidance before collecting.
- Netting/longlines: setting nets or fixed lines by recreational anglers is not permitted; commercial and fixed engine fisheries are tightly regulated.
- Local byelaws: Devon & Severn IFCA and the Environment Agency publish relevant byelaws and minimum sizes for the estuary—check their sites before retaining fish.
- Private land: some frontages are privately owned; comply with any “No Access/No Fishing” notices and never climb fences or sea defences.
