Oldbury Pill Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Oldbury Pill Fishing Map

A tidal creek opening onto the Severn Estuary beside Oldbury-on-Severn’s sea wall. Anglers fish from the flood bank and hard ground at the pill mouth—avoid the soft mud flats. Expect huge tides, strong cross-currents and heavy silt; use strong gripper leads and straightforward rigs. Best fished the last two hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb; winter nights for codling/whiting, summer into autumn for bass, mullet and flounder. Access is via the sea-wall footpath; it’s exposed with little shelter, so plan for wind and rain and consider a long-handled net or drop-net for landing fish from the wall.

Ratings

⭐ 6.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 5/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Oldbury Pill

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Peeler crab or lug on a running ledger at the pill mouth on the flood; summer–autumn. Fish the edges as water covers the mud; watch debris.
🐟 Flounder 7/10
🎯 Tip: Ragworm or lug tipped with crab on a long trace; cast short across the channel on the flood and first of the ebb; late autumn–spring. Gripless leads let bait wander.
🐟 European Eel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Warm nights; small fish strip or worm in the pill on neap tides after dusk. Use circle hooks for easy release.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Bread flake or small rag on size 8–10; stealth at HW slack in the pill; summer. Light float or freelined baits along walls.
🐟 Mullet (Thin-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small spinner with rag strip worked in the flow near the outflow at HW on clear neaps; summer evenings.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 4/10
🎯 Tip: Small worm baits dropped close to stones at the pill mouth on the flood; winter–spring, after dark.
🐟 Smoothhound 4/10
🎯 Tip: Peeler crab on light running rigs at the mouth on big summer floods; dusk into dark. Release promptly.
🐟 Cod 3/10
🎯 Tip: Odd codling in hard winters on lug/squid; fish the channel edge on big night tides, late autumn–winter.
🐟 Common Goby 3/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks with slivers of rag for micros along the wall at HW; summer; species-hunt tactics.
🐟 Sea Trout 2/10
🎯 Tip: Very rare; small spoons or plugs in clearer neaps near the flow, spring–summer evenings. Handle carefully and release.

Oldbury Pill Fishing

Summary

Oldbury Pill sits on the upper Severn Estuary beside Oldbury-on-Severn, where a small tidal creek meets the main river. It’s a classic muddy estuary mark with huge tides, a dramatic bore on big springs, and a genuine chance of bass, flounder and winter whiting within easy reach of the sea wall.

Location and Access

This mark is reached from the village of Oldbury-on-Severn, a short drive from Thornbury and the A38. Access is via the Severn Way floodbank; most anglers set up on the grassy sea wall or adjacent firm ground and avoid the mudflats.

  • Sat-nav: aim for Oldbury-on-Severn village; a common landmark is the Anchor Inn, BS35 1QA (park considerately in the village, not at private club car parks)
  • Approach: from the A38 or M5 (J14), head for Thornbury then Oldbury-on-Severn; follow signs to the village and the river
  • Parking: on-street in the village or by the church/green; do not block farm gates or the sailing club slipway/compound
  • Walk-in: 5–15 minutes along the Severn Way on the floodbank to the Pill; mostly flat but can be wet, slippery and rutted
  • Terrain: grassy floodbank, patches of rock armour and very soft intertidal mud; fish from the bank, not the foreshore
  • Access notes: the sailing club and power station perimeters are private; stay outside fences and heed any local signage

Seasons

The upper Severn is coloured, tidal and full of life; fish follow the flood up onto the edges and drop back with the ebb. Expect modest sizes but honest sport, with seasonal peaks.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • School bass nosing into the creek mouths
    • Flounder building in number
    • Thin‑lipped mullet in calm, warm spells inside the Pill
    • Accidental shad/salmon smolts possible on spates (all protected – release immediately)
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Bass (schoolies with the odd better fish at dusk)
    • Thin‑lipped and occasional thick‑lipped mullet inside/outside the Pill
    • Flounder steady on neaps; occasional silver eel bycatch (release)
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Bass until the first real cold snaps
    • Flounder peak
    • Whiting start on bigger tides, plus the odd pouting
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting the mainstay on night tides
    • Occasional codling after prolonged blows and coloured water
    • Flounder still possible on settled days

Methods

This is predominantly a bottom-fishing venue from the wall, with light lure or float tactics for mullet in and around the Pill on quiet, clear-ish tides. Gear needs to cope with fierce flow and weed.

  • Ledgering:
    • 12–13 ft beach rods with robust reels; 30 lb braid + 60 lb shock leader
    • 6–8 oz breakout grip leads; step up/down with tide size and wind
    • Rigs: 2-hook flapper (size 1–2) for flounder/whiting; pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/codling
  • Baits:
    • Lugworm and ragworm are staples; tip with squid for visibility/durability
    • Peeler crab in late spring/summer for bass and better flounder
    • Small mackerel/squid strips for whiting; fish/clam cocktails when the crabs are thick
  • Mullet tactics (inside the Pill on neaps/calm water):
    • Small Mepps-style spoons baited with a sliver of rag, slow‑retrieved
    • Bread flake beneath a controller/bubble on light gear, stealth essential
  • Presentation and timing:
    • Clip‑down rigs to keep baits streamlined; long snoods (60–100 cm) help in the flow
    • Fish the last two hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb; dusk into dark is best for bass/whiting
    • Cast to the near‑side gutter and channel edges; fish often run surprisingly close

Tides and Conditions

The Severn’s range is huge; flow, weed and suspended silt dictate your session. Plan around tide size and, on very big springs, the Severn Bore.

  • Tide size:
    • Neaps: easier holding, great for flounder and mullet in the Pill
    • Medium springs: prime for bass movement along the wall
    • Very big springs: brutal flow, heavy debris; treat with caution (bore present)
  • Tide stage:
    • Best 2 hours up to high water and the first hour down; avoid deep low water when it’s all exposed mud
  • Conditions:
    • Coloured water is normal; extra colour plus SW/W winds can switch on codling/whiting in season
    • Summer brings floating weed; use powerful grips and keep lines high on tall tripods
  • Severn Bore:
    • On forecast bore days, be set well back and high before it arrives; expect surges and sudden debris

Safety

This is a serious tidal estuary with extremely soft mud and fast currents. Treat the venue with respect and fish from firm ground only.

  • Do not venture onto the mudflats; they are deep, soft and can be fatal
  • Fish from the floodbank/rock armour; keep well back on big springs and when the bore is due
  • Wear a PFD/lifejacket, use a headtorch at night, and avoid fishing alone
  • Beware slippery grass, uneven ruts, and rock armour; sturdy boots recommended
  • Keep an eye on rapidly rising water, floating debris and banking overtopping in storms
  • Livestock may be present; keep gates closed and dogs on leads
  • Accessibility: paths are mostly flat but bumpy; some sections may suit all‑terrain wheelchairs/scooters, yet safe access to the actual fishing stance is limited

Facilities

Facilities are limited at the water, so come prepared. The village has basic amenities within a short stroll/drive.

  • Toilets: none on the bank; pub toilets for patrons in the village
  • Food/drink: the Anchor Inn in Oldbury-on-Severn; wider choice in Thornbury (10–15 min drive)
  • Tackle/bait (check hours/stock):
    • Cadbury Angling (Yate), Bristol Angling Centre (Brislington), and various Bristol/Severn estuary outlets
  • Mobile signal: generally fair on the bank but can dip; carry offline tide tables/bores times
  • Lighting/water: none on site; bring headtorches and adequate supplies
  • Bins: limited; take all litter and waste line home

Tips

Oldbury Pill rewards tidy presentation and fishing the right 3-hour window. Think strong grip leads, fresh worm baits and working the near‑side gutter.

  • Use tall tripods to keep line angles high above weed and debris
  • A metre of weak link to the lead helps if you snag among stones/roots
  • Fresh blow lug or black lug outfishes frozen in the coloured Severn soup
  • Peeler crab can be a session maker for bass on warm, building tides
  • On whiting nights, scale down to size 2s, keep baits small and luminous tips visible
  • For mullet, keep quiet, reduce leader diameters, and feed a little breadcrumb mash in the Pill on neaps
  • Check Severn Bore times; set up early and well back, then re‑set your tripod after the surge
  • Respect Thornbury Sailing Club’s slipway and compound; don’t block access and watch for boats on launch days
  • The old power station outfall area is private and often fenced; don’t be tempted—better sport is along the open floodbank

Regulations

Rules here are a mix of national, regional and site-specific protections. Always check current notices on site and the latest official guidance before you fish.

  • Access and land: much of the shore is SSSI/SPA foreshore and private farmland; keep to the Severn Way, fish from permitted areas only, and obey any signage or fences (e.g., power station and sailing club property)
  • Bass (recreational): recent UK rules have allowed limited retention during part of the year with a 42 cm minimum; out-of-window months are catch-and-release only. Regulations change—check current DEFRA/MMO notices before retaining any bass
  • European eel: must be released; do not retain or target eels
  • Migratory/protected species: shad, lamprey, salmon/sea trout smolts and similar must be returned immediately; do not deliberately target them
  • Bait collection: no digging on saltmarsh, and obtain landowner consent for any bait gathering; avoid disturbing designated habitats
  • Litter and fish care: remove all litter/line, dispatch retained fish humanely, and respect local residents and livestock
  • Governance: this stretch falls under Environment Agency and Devon & Severn IFCA jurisdiction on the English bank—consult their websites for seasonal or emergency byelaws