Anchor Head Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Anchor Head Fishing Map

A rocky headland on the north side of Weston Bay at Weston‑super‑Mare, offering access to deeper, fast‑moving Bristol Channel water on the flood. Snaggy mixed ground with kelp and boulders; best fished from mid-tide up to high on neaps or the first of the ebb. Expect powerful tides, a big tidal range, and limited standing space. Productive after dark for conger, dogfish, pouting and winter whiting, with rays and the odd smoothhound in warmer months. Use strong tackle, 5–7 oz grip leads and a rotten-bottom link. Access is via steps/paths from Birnbeck Road near the Anchor Head car park; take great care with swell, weeded rocks and the flooding tide.

Ratings

⭐ 6.5/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Anchor Head

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Best on flooding tide to HW, dusk/dawn. Peeler crab or big lug baits; work shallow plugs along colour lines in a surfy onshore. Mixed rough ground—use rotten-bottom rigs.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter over big tides to HW. Lug or small fish/squid strips on 2–3 hook flappers. Cast to moving water lanes; after dark is best.
🐟 Conger Eel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night into HW. Drop large mackerel/squid baits tight to rock ledges and pier structure. Heavy gear, 80lb trace, rotten-bottom to beat snags.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Flood to first of ebb, especially after dark. Small fish/squid baits on short snoods fished close to the rocks and gullies.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Year-round, more summer/autumn. Fish/squid baits on clean patches between snags near HW. 2/0 flappers; use rotten-bottom links.
🐟 Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late May–Sep on bigger floods. Peeler crab on 3–4/0 hooks, cast to tide runs beyond kelp. Hold the rod for powerful runs.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark in kelpy gullies on the flood. Tiny worm or fish-bait pieces on size 4–6 hooks kept hard on the bottom.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Flooding tide onto nearby sand/mud fringes. Light gear with rag/lug on long snoods, slowly hop the bait to search clear patches.
🐟 Thornback Ray 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring on big tides. Sandeel or bluey on 4/0 pulley rigs cast to sand gullies beyond rough ground, 2 hrs either side of HW.
🐟 Cod 3/10
🎯 Tip: Late Oct–Jan, mostly codling. Big lug/crab cocktails on pulley/pennel. Fish coloured water on spring tides at dusk into HW.

Anchor Head Fishing

Summary

Location and Access

Seasons

Methods

Tides and Conditions

Safety

Facilities

Tips

Regulations