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Gloucestershire

Oldbury Naite

6.1 · Estuary · Gloucestershire

A classic Severn estuary floodbank mark along Oldbury Naite near Oldbury-on-Severn. Anglers fish from the grass/concrete sea wall over extensive mudflats into the main channel on large tides. Best around the last two hours of flood, high water, and the first of the ebb. Expect extreme tidal range and fierce currents—use 6–8 oz grip leads and streamlined rigs. Summer and early autumn bring flounder, bass, and silver eels; late autumn and winter see whiting and codling. Baits that score include lugworm, ragworm, and peeler crab; squid or mackerel cocktails for winter species. Access is via narrow lanes with limited roadside pull-ins, then short walks along the sea wall. Major hazards are the Severn Bore, very fast-flooding tides, and deep, soft mud—never leave the wall or attempt to access the foreshore. The mark is exposed to wind and weather with little shelter.

Should you fish Oldbury Naite?

57 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Bass and European Eel

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 European Eel.

W 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 00:57

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Oldbury Naite — 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.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Oldbury Naite is a timing-led Severn floodbank mark where the best fishing usually comes from the last two hours of flood, high water, and the first of the ebb. Fish from the grass/concrete bank or stone revetment only, targeting the main run, channel edge, and near-side seams over the mud. Medium to big springs suit bass, smoothhound, and rays, while neaps give a more manageable window for flounder, whiting, and general bites.

  • Know when the wall seam beats the channel edge
  • Pick the right tide size for bass, hounds, rays, or flounder
  • Avoid wasting a session in unfishable Severn drag
  • Use the right rig length when weed and debris build
  • Have a nearby backup plan before the tide window closes

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Oldbury-on-Severn 0.9 mi Oldbury Naite 1.4 mi Beachley 3.0 mi Thornbury 3.2 mi Tutshill and Sedbury 3.3 mi

Explore nearby towns: Oldbury-on-Severn · Oldbury Naite · Beachley · Thornbury · Tutshill and Sedbury

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

Overall rating

6.1 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 5/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 6/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Peeler crab or rag on 2/0 flappers; fish the flood into dusk on spring tides. Cast tight to the wall into the main run; 6–7oz grippers to hold.
Flounder 8/10
Tip: Short casts with rag/lug on size 2 flappers to the mud margins; best late winter–spring on neaps. Bites as the tide eases either side of high.
Starry Smoothhound 7/10
Tip: Peeler crab on strong pulley rigs; late May–Sept on big springs. Put baits 30–60yd into the flow; 6–7oz grippers.
European Eel 7/10
Tip: Warm evenings May–Sept; rag/lug or fish strip. Fish close in at dusk on the flood and first of the ebb along the wall.
Thornback Ray 6/10
Tip: Squid or bluey wraps on a pulley; last 2 hrs of flood and first of ebb on springs, after dark. Aim for channel edge beyond mud.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
Tip: Float crust or bread flake; feed bread mash near the power station outfall/creeks. Calm neap tides in daylight; keep low and quiet.
Whiting 4/10
Tip: Winter after dark on the flood; small fish baits or worm tipped with mackerel. Size 2–1 hooks; expect rattly bites in the run.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 4/10
Tip: Worm or squid baits; shows on big tides after dark summer–autumn. Cast downtide and pin baits with grippers.
Cod 3/10
Tip: Odd codling on cold snaps Nov–Jan after dark. Lug/squid cocktails; fish the top of the flood on springs with heavy leads to hold.

Local knowledge

Oldbury Naite fishing guide

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

Oldbury Naite sits on the upper Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire, just downstream of Oldbury-on-Severn and opposite the sweeping mudflats that make this river famous. It’s a classic Severn shore mark: huge tides, savage currents, and the real chance of bass, smoothhound, and thornback rays in season. Experienced estuary anglers value it for its wild feel and productive flood/early ebb sessions.

Getting to Oldbury Naite is straightforward via the lanes north of Thornbury, with final access on narrow roads and farm tracks. You then follow the Severn Way along the floodbank to choose your stance on the stone revetment above the mud.

  • Aim for Oldbury Naite/Oldbury-on-Severn area (typical postcode BS35 1RQ–BS35 1RG) and approach via the B4061/BS35 lanes; drive slowly and expect tractors and livestock.
  • Limited, courteous roadside parking only; do not block gateways or passing places. Better to park in the village and walk if unsure. No formal car park at the mark.
  • Access is on public footpaths over the floodbank (Severn Way). The walk to favoured spots is 5–20 minutes depending on how far along the bank you go.
  • Ground is a grassed floodbank with large rip-rap/stone facing; foreshore is deep, soft estuary mud. You fish from the bank/stone—not the mud.
  • Parts near the former Oldbury power station are fenced/secured; obey signage and keep to public rights of way.

The Severn here is turbid and powerful, but it draws migratory and estuarine species across the seasons. Expect better variety from late spring through early autumn, with traditional winter codling/whiting runs in cold snaps.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Bass (schoolies building into May)
    • Thornback ray
    • Smoothhound (often starting late May)
    • Flounder
    • Thick-lipped mullet in the creeks on calmer days
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Smoothhound (peak Jun–Jul)
    • Bass (schoolies and the odd larger fish)
    • Thornback ray
    • Eels (must be released)
    • Mullet in quiet water
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Bass (often best in Sept/Oct, especially at dusk/night)
    • Thornback ray tailing off
    • Whiting on cooler nights
    • Smoothhound lingering early autumn if warm
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting
    • Codling (occasional but worth a go on big, cold tides)
    • Flounder in settled spells

Bait fishing rules here due to colour and flow; you need sturdy tackle, breakout leads, and clipped-down rigs to cut through the wind and tide. Fish the edge of the channel on the flood and the first of the ebb, adjusting range to find the seams.

  • Rods and leads: 12–13ft beachcasters or long estuary rods; 5–7oz breakout leads (8oz on wild springs). A tall tripod is essential atop the bank.
  • Rigs:
    • Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/rays with fish baits or crab
    • Up-and-over for thornbacks when you need a longer flowing trace
    • 2-hook flapper (size 1–2) for whiting/flounder/eels
    • Rotten-bottom links help if you encounter snags
  • Baits:
    • Peeler crab is king for smoothhound and a top bass bait in spring/summer
    • Lugworm/ragworm cocktails for general bites and flounder
    • Fish baits (bluey, herring, mackerel) for rays and winter codling; tip with squid for durability
    • Bread or small fish strip for mullet in quiet side waters
  • Tactics:
    • Clip down and cast to the flow lanes on the flood; step back up-tide as the tide builds
    • Keep lines high and tight to reduce drag and debris pick-up
    • Night sessions often out-fish daylight for bass/whiting; arrive early to set safely
    • Lures are niche—try heavy jigheads or metal vibes only during neaps and clear, calm spells close to the bank seams

Oldbury Naite responds to movement: aim for the last of the flood into high water and the first hour or two of the ebb. The Severn’s range is huge—plan around it rather than fighting it.

  • Best states:
    • Medium to big springs: last 2 hours of the flood and 1–2 hours of ebb for bass, hounds, and rays
    • Neaps: more comfortable flow; longer fishing windows for flounder/whiting but sometimes fewer larger fish
  • Times/seasonality:
    • Summer evenings into darkness for bass/smoothhound
    • Cold, clear winter nights on decent tides for whiting and the odd codling
  • Conditions:
    • A coloured but not chocolate river fishes best; after heavy rain the river can carry debris—wait 24–48 hours for it to settle
    • Moderate SW airflow is fine; strong westerlies and very large springs can create dangerous surges and intense drag
  • Severn Bore:
    • A bore runs this far—on predicted bore days, expect a sudden surge and fierce tide turn. Be well above the foreshore well before the bore time.

This is a serious estuary venue. The combination of steep banks, fast tides, the bore, and deep mud demands caution and preparation.

  • Never go onto the mudflats; they are soft and can be sinkingly dangerous. Fish from the floodbank/stone only.
  • Check bore times and tide tables; leave the foreshore at least 60–90 minutes before a predicted bore.
  • Wear a PFD/lifejacket, use a headtorch at night, and fish with a partner where possible.
  • The bank stones can be slick with algae—use sturdy boots and place tripods securely.
  • Debris in spate (logs, weed) can drag lines and tripods—keep gear tidy and rods angled high.
  • Livestock and electric fences are present seasonally; keep dogs on leads and respect farm operations.
  • Accessibility: uneven grass bank and stones; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility without assistance.

Facilities are minimal at the mark itself; think of this as a wild, self-sufficient venue and plan accordingly.

  • No toilets, water, or lighting at the mark; nearest amenities are in Oldbury-on-Severn village and Thornbury (10–15 minutes’ drive).
  • Pubs/cafés: The Anchor Inn (Oldbury-on-Severn) typically serves food/drink; opening times vary.
  • Tackle/bait: Limited locally—bring bait. Full-service sea tackle is available in Bristol (e.g., Veals, Premier Angling); phone ahead for bait.
  • Mobile signal is generally reasonable on the floodbank but can be patchy lower down.

Local Severn regulars focus on timing, elevation, and bait quality. Small tweaks make big differences here.

  • Fresh peeler crab unlocks smoothhound and often the better bass; frozen peeler or hard crab is second-best.
  • Use long snoods (3–4ft) on the flood for rays; shorten up when debris is heavy.
  • Keep leaders and rigs streamlined—impact shields, bait clips, and minimal drag components cast and fish better in the flow.
  • A simple baiting pattern: worm cocktails early flood for bites, swap to crab/fish baits as the push strengthens, then scale back as the ebb races.
  • Don’t chase distance blindly—often the fish run the near-side seam below the bank on the last of the flood.
  • On big springs, set your tripod high on the bank and mark a safe retreat line; the water rises alarmingly fast.
  • Take a long disgorger/forceps for eels and small whiting, plus plenty of bait elastic.

Oldbury Naite lies on the tidal Severn. There is no blanket ban on angling here, but a mix of national and local rules apply. Always check the latest government and IFCA/EA guidance before you go.

  • Access/land:
    • Keep to public rights of way (Severn Way) and respect private land, fences, and any security zones near the former power station.
    • No fires or camping on the floodbank; leave gates as found and take all litter home.
  • Licensing:
    • No EA rod licence is required to fish for sea species in tidal waters.
    • An EA migratory fish licence is required if targeting salmon or sea trout; do not intentionally target them here.
  • Species protections (England, as last widely published):
    • European eel: mandatory catch and release.
    • Shad (allis/twaite), lampreys, and salmonids are protected—do not target; release immediately if accidentally caught.
    • Bass: recreational rules change periodically. Recent frameworks have allowed one bass per angler per day at ≥42 cm during an open season (often Mar–Nov), with catch-and-release outside that. Check current MMO/IFCA notices for exact dates and limits.
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits:
    • Observe current minimum conservation reference sizes and local byelaws; when in doubt, release borderline fish.
  • Close areas/timing:
    • Temporary restrictions can apply around infrastructure or for conservation—obey any onsite signage.
  • Data check:
    • For up-to-date rules, consult the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the Environment Agency, and relevant IFCA notices before your session.