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Gloucestershire

New Passage

5.7 · Estuary · Gloucestershire

New Passage sits on the upper Bristol Channel/Severn Estuary shoreline in South Gloucestershire. You fish from the sea wall and rock armour onto a very rough, muddy/stone foreshore with fierce tidal flow and a huge range. Expect strong currents, fast-flooding water and soft mud beyond the rocks—stay on firm ground. Most sessions are built around the flood, with the last two hours of the rise and first hour of the ebb the most productive. Use 6–8 oz grip leads, strong abrasion-resistant rigs and a rotten-bottom to cope with snags. Classic estuary baits (lug, rag, peeler crab, squid and fish strips) score well. Summer brings bass, thin-lipped mullet and silver eels; winter produces whiting and the odd codling; flounder and small estuary species feature year-round. Parking is limited on residential roads; access is via the coastal path to the sea wall. Big spring tides can be hazardous—check tide times and be aware of the Severn Bore on very large springs.

Should you fish New Passage?

61 Fair

Today · Best available

Best available: 21:00-00:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Bass and Starry Smoothhound

Fair conditions. Best available around 21:00-00:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Bass and Starry Smoothhound.

W 4 mph Rain 0% High tide 00:42

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for New Passage — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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New Passage is a close-range Severn Estuary wall mark where timing and holding bottom matter far more than distance. The most reliable plan is to fish from the sea wall or old ferry/slip area through the last two hours of the flood and into the first of the ebb, aiming baits into gutters, tide seams and scours close to the structure. Expect powerful tide, coloured water, rough muddy/stone ground and snag risk, so build the session around grip leads, abrasion-resistant rigs and scent-heavy baits.

  • Know when to fish the wall hard and when the tide is too much.
  • Use the right short-cast plan instead of wasting time casting long.
  • Pick the flood, ebb or slack window by target species.
  • Match bass, flounder, hound and winter whiting tactics to the tide.
  • Spot when weed, debris or overtopping makes a move the smarter call.

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Pilning 1.1 mi Severn Beach 2.3 mi Severn Beach 2.5 mi Sudbrook 2.6 mi Marsh Common 2.6 mi

Explore nearby towns: Pilning · Severn Beach · Severn Beach · Sudbrook · Marsh Common

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

5.7 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 6/10

Bass 9/10
Tip: Peeler crab or lug on pulley rigs; fish the flood 2 hrs up to high. Cast to the channel edge from the wall. Coloured, rough water fishes best. Use 6-8oz grip leads.
Flounder 7/10
Tip: Lug/rag or crab pieces on a 2-hook flapper. Target muddy gullies on the first of the flood and last of the ebb. Short casts from the slipway or wall.
Starry Smoothhound 7/10
Tip: Evenings May-Sep on fresh peeler crab. Fish the last 2 hrs of flood from the steps; hold bottom with strong grippers and present baits along the tide seam.
Thornback Ray 6/10
Tip: Squid/crab cocktail on a pulley dropper. Neap to mid tides, last hour of flood into slack. Cast to deeper flow lanes; 6-8oz grippers and rotten bottoms help with snags.
Smoothhound 6/10
Tip: Less numerous than starry. Fresh crab on a pulley pennel; dusk on spring tides around high water. Keep baits nailed down in the main run.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Nov-Feb after dark; 2-hook flapper with lug or mackerel strips. Fish 2 hrs either side of high water in the main run. Expect small but frequent bites.
European Eel 5/10
Tip: Warm nights Jun-Sep; small worm baits in edge eddies an hour either side of high. Single hooks for easy release. Keep gear pinned; they like the slack margins.
Cod 4/10
Tip: Late Oct-Jan in a blow; big lug/squid wraps on a pulley. Flood into high, after dark. Few fish but worth a chuck; heavy grip leads needed.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 4/10
Tip: Summer neaps at slack high around the slipway; present bread or small rag on light float gear along the wall. Clearer water days fish best; be stealthy.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 3/10
Tip: Occasional in warmer months; squid or mackerel baits hold scent in the murk. Night sessions over high water. Keep hooks just off the mud to dodge shore crabs.

Local knowledge

New Passage fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

New Passage sits on the English side of the upper Severn Estuary between Severn Beach and Aust, in South Gloucestershire. It’s a classic Bristol Channel wall mark: fast tides, deep mud, coloured water and fish that hunt tight to the edge. When timed right, it produces bass, codling in colder months, and a mix of estuary species without needing big casts.

Access is straightforward via Pilning onto New Passage Road, which runs to the sea wall and the old ferry/slip area. The ground is paved/compacted with a level sea defence path, making the walk easy, though parking is limited.

  • Approach via Pilning; follow signs for Severn Beach, then New Passage Road (BS35 area).
  • Small, informal parking by the end of New Passage Road; do not block gates or farm access. If full, park at Severn Beach and walk 15–25 minutes along the sea wall.
  • Footing is generally good on the top path; the lower revetment and foreshore are treacherous silt/mud—stay on the wall.
  • Trolley-friendly from Severn Beach promenade; minimal gradients.
  • No need for long hikes; most anglers fish within a few metres of the path where there’s space for a tripod.

This is an estuarine, high-energy venue with very coloured water and big tidal movement. Fish feed close to the wall on the push and early ebb.

  • Spring–early autumn (Apr–Oct):
    • Bass (schoolies common; better fish after freshets and in summer evenings)
    • Flounder and eels (especially on neaps and with worm baits)
    • Occasional thornback ray (more likely late spring–summer, not a numbers mark)
  • Late autumn–winter (Nov–Feb):
    • Codling in cold snaps (variable year to year), often with whiting making up the numbers
    • Whiting (after dark on bigger tides)
    • Conger eels possible after dark, usually strap-size from rougher edges/structures
  • Year-round:
    • Silver eels, odd rockling, and estuary odds and ends in the slackest windows
    • Migratory fish (salmon/sea trout/shad) pass through—do not target; release if encountered

Heavy tides and soft ground dictate robust end-tackle and baits that pump out scent. Casting long is rarely required; most fish come within 10–40 yards.

  • Rigs:
    • 2-hook flapper for whiting/flounder/eels (size 2–1 hooks)
    • Pulley pennel or up-and-over for bass/codling (1/0–3/0, strong patterns)
    • Use 5–7 oz breakout (grip) leads; add a weak/rotten-bottom link if debris is common
  • Baits:
    • Lugworm is king (blow/black), single or cocktail with squid strip for durability
    • Peeler or soft crab (late spring–summer) for bass
    • Ragworm for flounder/eels; mackerel/squid for whiting and nighttime scent trails
    • Mussel/razor can score after fresh-water spates
  • Tackle/approach:
    • 12–13 ft beach rods with 5500–6500 reels, 15–20 lb mainline and 60 lb shockleader
    • Keep rod tips high on a sturdy tripod to ride the tide; use bait elastic to bind soft baits
    • Short, accurate casts into the gutter and any scours/eddies alongside the wall
    • After dark often outfishes daylight—bring headlamp and spare batteries

The Severn’s tidal range is among the largest in the world. Plan around the last two hours of flood and the first hour of ebb, when fish push tight to the structure.

  • Best states:
    • Flood tide from mid to high water; first of the ebb can be excellent
    • Medium to big springs for movement; neat to mid-neaps for flounder/eels and easier fishing
  • Conditions:
    • Coloured water is normal; a slight SW airflow is fine, but gale-force winds can overtop the wall
    • After river freshets, bigger scent baits (lug/squid, mussel) often score for bass/codling
  • Time of day/seasonality:
    • Dusk into dark improves whiting/codling odds in winter
    • Warm, muggy evenings with a hint of colour suit summer bass
  • Practicalities:
    • Expect heavy tide pull at peak springs; step up to 6–7 oz leads
    • Weed and floating debris can be significant—fish slightly shorter and check lines frequently

It’s a safe, level wall mark if you respect the tide and keep off the mud. The main hazards are fast-moving water, overtopping in strong onshore winds, and soft silt below the defences.

  • Stay on the sea wall; do not venture onto the foreshore or attempt to wade—deep, glutinous mud
  • Keep well back during big springs and in storms; waves can overtop the parapet
  • Beware floating debris (logs, branches) on the flood; keep lines high
  • Use a lifejacket if fishing close to the edge, especially at night
  • A drop-net helps land better fish from the wall; do not hand-line heavy fish
  • Mostly accessible to those with limited mobility via the level path; choose wide spots for tripod stability
  • Headtorch, cleated boots, and warm, waterproof layers recommended in winter

This is a quiet hamlet with minimal on-site amenities; Severn Beach covers most needs a short drive or walk away.

  • Parking: very limited at the end of New Passage Road; additional parking and promenade access at Severn Beach
  • Toilets: public conveniences typically available at Severn Beach (check seasonal opening times)
  • Food/drink: cafés and convenience store(s) in Severn Beach; more options in Avonmouth and Patchway
  • Tackle/bait: several tackle shops in the Bristol/Avonmouth area—call ahead for fresh lug/peeler availability
  • Phone signal: generally good, though can be patchy in poor weather; carry power bank for night sessions

Treat it like a close-range, high-scent estuary venue and you’ll do well. Local tide knowledge and presentation consistency beat hero casts here.

  • Fish short: many bites come within 20–30 yards—put baits in the gutter
  • Carry spare grip leads and rigs; tide pull and debris claim gear on springs
  • Use big, elastic-bound worm cocktails for winter codling chances; scale down for whiting bites
  • Walk a little to find scours/eddies where the wall bends—these hold fish
  • On heavy-weed days, switch to shorter snoods and keep lines high to ride over the drag
  • After spates, try mussel/razor or crab for bass mooching the colour line
  • Keep noise/light modest on calm nights; bites often come in flurries around tide turns

You can sea fish here from the public sea wall, but the estuary is a protected site (SSSI/SPA/SAC), so avoid disturbing wildlife and do not access saltmarsh/mudflats. Always check current national and local byelaws before you go.

  • No rod licence is needed for general sea angling in England; a migratory salmonid licence is required if intentionally targeting salmon/sea trout (do not target them here; release immediately if foul-hooked)
  • Bass regulations change—observe current minimum size and daily bag/season rules published by the UK government/MMO
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) apply to many species; measure and release undersized fish
  • Local IFCA and council byelaws may restrict netting, set lines, bait collection and access on sensitive foreshore—respect signage and closures
  • No fires, littering, or blocking farm gates; take all line and bait waste home
  • If using a drop-net, avoid obstructing the path and give space to other users on the sea wall