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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....
A powerful tidal estuary mark on the River Severn beside Newnham-on-Severn, fished from firm ground along the village riverbank and near the old ferry/slip. Expect extreme currents, fast-flooding tides, and soft mud—plan around the tide tables and the Severn Bore. Best results come on neap tides for sight-fishing mullet in...
Northwick Warth is an exposed stretch of Severn estuary sea wall and saltmarsh north of Severn Beach. You fish from the concrete/rock-armoured bank over deep, fast tidal channels and extensive mudflats. The tidal range is huge and currents are fierce; 6–8 oz grippers are standard. Best results are typically on...
A classic Severn Estuary mark by the old Aust ferry crossing beneath the First Severn Bridge. Extremely fast tides, huge range, and a mix of rock, rough ground and soft mud. Best fished on the flood two to three hours up to high water on big springs; neaps can be...
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...
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...
Gloucestershire doesn’t have open coast, but it does front the mighty Severn Estuary — a broad, fast-flowing tidal river-scape of sea walls, saltmarsh and deep channels. The world-class tidal range, famous Severn Bore, and chocolate-coloured water make it a challenging but rewarding venue for estuary specialists. Expect flounder, school bass and mullet around docks and harbours, with occasional codling in cold winters toward the lower estuary.
| Season | Likely Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–Jun) | Bass (schoolies), Flounder, Mullet (thin-/thick-lipped) | Bass arrive with warmer temps; mullet show in harbours/docks on neaps and calm days. Crab baits excel for bass and flounder. |
| Summer (Jul–Sep) | Bass, Flounder, Mullet, Eel (release only) | Best consistent sport. Evenings into dark are prime. Eels are common by-catch — retention prohibited; handle carefully and release. |
| Autumn (Oct–Nov) | Flounder (peak), Bass (tail-end), Occasional Codling | Big flounder in coloured water; odd codling may appear lower down (Sharpness/Purton) in colder snaps. |
| Winter (Dec–Mar) | Flounder, Rare Codling | Reduced options; target flounder on smaller tides. Codling only in some years and mostly toward the lower estuary. |
Do I need a licence to fish here?
When is the best time to fish the Gloucestershire Severn?
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| Area | Access & Character | Best Species | Best Methods | Prime Season | Key Safety Notes | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Severn (Sharpness, Purton, Lydney) | Sea walls, working docks, mudflats; some restricted zones | Bass, Flounder, Mullet; odd Smoothhound/Codling | Short-range ledger with crab/worm; mullet float/bread in harbours | May–Oct (bass/mullet), Oct–Feb (flounder) | Strong run on springs; Bore risk; shipping wash; deep mud | Parking at Lydney Harbour; limited around Purton; no facilities on walls |
| Middle Severn (Frampton, Arlingham, Newnham) | Rural sea walls, saltmarsh; footpath access via stiles | Flounder, Bass (schoolies), Mullet (slacks) | Simple ledgering, weak-link leads; occasional mullet tactics | Jun–Oct (bass), Sep–Jan (flounder) | Cut-off hazard on flood; treacherous mud; livestock fields | Very limited parking; no toilets; use Severn Way rights of way |
| Upper Tidal (Minsterworth to Gloucester) | Narrower, powerful tide; Bore country | Flounder, occasional Bass | Short lob ledgering on neaps | Sep–Dec (flounder), Jun–Sep (bass) | Avoid Bore times; extreme surge; unstable banks | Minimal facilities; village parking only |