Bridgwater Bay Fishing

Summary

Bridgwater Bay, Somerset sits at the mouth of the River Parrett on the inner Bristol Channel, famous for vast tides, coffee‑coloured water and broad saltmarsh. It’s a classic estuarine venue where strong currents funnel food along gutters and channels, drawing in bass, smoothhounds, rays and winter codling. For the patient, tide‑timed angling here can be superb, but it rewards preparation and respect for the mud and tide.

Location and Access

This is a large area rather than a single pinpoint mark, stretching from Burnham‑on‑Sea and Berrow northwards past the Steart/Wall Common foreshore towards Stolford and Hinkley. Access varies from easy seafront promenades to remote sea walls beside saltmarsh.

• Burnham‑on‑Sea/Berrow: Multiple seafront car parks in TA8 (pay‑and‑display), short flat walks to firm sand or the sea wall. Easiest access for most anglers.
• Steart Peninsula/Wall Common: Parking at WWT Steart Marshes/NNR (typically TA5 area). Walks of 10–25 minutes on level floodbanks/gravel paths to the foreshore. Terrain is saltmarsh and firmed banks; do not step onto the open mud.
• Stolford/near Hinkley: Roadside pull‑ins and small car parks (TA5 district). Access is onto boulder armour and concrete walling. Uneven footing; take care.
• Combwich/Parrett edges: Small village parking then footpaths to the sea wall; very muddy margins and tidal creeks—bank fishing only.
• Terrain: Predominantly sea walls, concrete revetments, boulder armour and firm sand near the upper beach. The open mudflats are dangerous and should not be entered.

Seasons

Estuarine fish dominate here, with strong seasonal swings driven by temperature and prey movements. Expect smaller fish on neaps and a mix of quality targets around the bigger making tides.

• Spring (Mar–May)
  • Bass (schoolies building through late spring)
  • Thornback ray
  • Smoothhound (from late May)
  • Flounder (tail‑end into early spring)
  • Thick‑lipped/Golden‑grey mullet in sheltered creeks (late spring)
• Summer (Jun–Aug)
  • Smoothhound (peak months)
  • Bass (schoolies and occasional better fish, dusk/night best)
  • Thornback ray
  • Mullet around outfalls/harbours
  • Occasional sole on cleaner sandy patches (Berrow/Burnham)
• Autumn (Sep–Nov)
  • Bass (often the best of the year Sep–Oct)
  • Thornback ray
  • Whiting appearing from late autumn on night tides
  • Smoothhound linger into September
• Winter (Dec–Feb)
  • Codling (in the better winters, often small to mid‑size)
  • Whiting
  • Flounder in channels
  • Conger occasionally from rougher ground and rock armour
• Always present/By‑catch
  • Silver eel (must be released)
  • Small rays/dabs/rockling depending on micro‑ground

Methods

Match your approach to fast tides and shallow gradients. Most fishing is from fixed positions on sea walls or firm upper beaches, targeting flooding channels.

• Rigs
  • 2‑hook flapper or 1‑up/1‑down with size 1–1/0 hooks for whiting, flounder and schoolie bass.
  • Pulley/pulley‑dropper with 3/0–5/0 hooks or pennel for rays, codling and bass with larger baits.
  • Up‑and‑over for long, streamlined ray/codling baits in shallow water.
• Leads & tackle
  • 5–7 oz wired grip leads are standard; step up on big springs.
  • 20–30 lb mainline with 60–80 lb shock leader; long leaders help when waves lap the wall.
  • Tripod, high rod position, and a lead‑lift aid recovery in strong flow.
• Baits
  • Lugworm (blow/black) is the staple year‑round.
  • Peeler crab in spring/summer for bass and smoothhound.
  • Squid strip, mackerel/bluey or herring for rays/codling; cocktail with worm for scent and durability.
  • Ragworm for flatties and schoolie bass; sandeel works on cleaner patches but is less consistent in the coloured water.
• Tactics
  • Short to medium casting often out‑fishes distance: drop into the first or second gutter on the flood.
  • Keep baits clipped‑down and streamlined for aerodynamic casting into headwinds.
  • Night into first light is excellent for bass, codling and whiting in season.

Tides and Conditions

Bridgwater Bay sits within the Severn Estuary system with one of the world’s largest tidal ranges. The tide makes and ebbs hard, with long stretches of very shallow gradient.

• Tide states
  • Best windows are typically 2 hours before to 2 hours after high water from the wall/upper beach.
  • Neaps: easier presentation and longer fishing time; good for rays and schoolies.
  • Springs: more flow and debris; great for bass and hounds if you can hold bottom—avoid the very biggest if you’re new to the venue.
• Conditions
  • Coloured water is normal and not a problem—adds confidence for daylight bass and rays.
  • Onshore SW–W winds lift surf and push food into the gutters; strong wind against tide can create dangerous chop on walls.
  • Dusk/night tides markedly improve bites in clear, calm spells.
• Seasonality
  • May–Sep for hounds and summer bass; Mar/Apr and Sep/Oct prime for thornbacks; Nov–Feb for codling/whiting depending on year.

Safety

Safety is paramount here: the mud and tide are unforgiving. Plan your session to avoid being cut off and stay on firm, designated access points only.

• Never step onto open mudflats or attempt to wade to banks—soft mud can swallow boots and the flood races in.
• Fish from sea walls, concrete revetments, boulder armour or firm upper sands only; avoid weed‑slimed rocks when wet.
• Wear a personal flotation device on exposed walls and in rough weather; use headtorch and spikes for night sessions.
• Mind cliffed sand edges and undercut sea walls after storms.
• Debris (branches, weed) can hit lines on big springs—keep rods high and clear of the wall lip.
• Hinkley Point vicinity: observe security signage and exclusion fencing; do not attempt to access closed foreshore.
• Accessibility varies: Burnham seafront offers flat, step‑free options; Steart and Stolford involve longer walks and uneven boulders.
• Mobile signal is generally good near towns, but can be patchy behind the sea walls on the Steart side—carry a charged phone and let someone know your plan.

Facilities

Facilities depend on where you base yourself along the bay. The urban end (Burnham/Berrow) is well served; the Steart side is deliberately wild.

• Burnham‑on‑Sea/Berrow
  • Seafront parking (TA8), cafes, pubs, takeaways, public toilets (seasonal hours), RNLI presence.
  • Tackle and bait available in Burnham/Highbridge and Weston‑super‑Mare; check opening times and pre‑order bait in summer.
• Steart/Wall Common
  • Nature reserve car parks (TA5 area), information boards; limited or no toilets depending on car park.
  • No food/shops on site—bring everything, including water.
• Stolford/near Hinkley
  • Small lay‑bys/pull‑ins; no facilities on the wall. Nearest services inland in village/towns.
• Phone/data
  • Generally reliable around Burnham; spottier reception behind floodbanks and in low spots towards Steart/Stolford.

Tips

Locals treat Bridgwater Bay as a timings game: hit the right gutter at the right hour. Small improvements in presentation make big differences in fast water.

• Watch the flood: set up early and fish the first push into the gutter in front of you—often the best bite window.
• Crab rules: peeler or softies turn slow sessions into bass/hound hits from May onward.
• Clip‑down everything and use streamlined baits; long worms bound with a touch of elastic cut through wind and tide.
• Short is sweet: many fish are within 30–60 yards on the flood; don’t blast over them.
• Use fresh lug for codling/whiting in winter; tip with squid for longevity in crabs.
• A lead‑lift and slightly raised retrieve helps pop the grip lead free when the tide rips.
• Keep an eye on bird activity along channel edges—diving gulls can betray shoals pushing into the gutters.
• Beware bait collection rules on the reserve side; dig only where permitted and backfill holes.

Regulations

Regulations can vary across this protected coastline and are updated periodically. Always check current rules before you go.

• Area authority: This coast falls under Devon & Severn IFCA and the Environment Agency (tidal rivers). Local byelaws and protected area conditions apply.
• Protected sites: Much of Bridgwater Bay is SSSI/SPA/SAC and includes the Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve and WWT Steart Marshes. Activities like bait digging/collecting may be restricted or require consent—follow on‑site signage and consult Natural England/WWT guidance.
• Bass: Recreational bass fishing in the Bristol Channel is subject to UK national measures (minimum size 42 cm and seasonal bag limits). Check current Defra/MMO notices for dates and daily limits before retaining any bass.
• European eel: Do not target or retain eels. If caught incidentally while sea fishing, release immediately.
• Salmon/sea trout: These run the Parrett system and are protected—do not target them; any accidental captures must be released.
• Hinkley Point exclusion: Observe security/perimeter restrictions both on land and seaward of the power station; some foreshore is closed to public access.
• General: Respect local council beach byelaws (e.g., stay clear of designated bathing areas when lifeguards are on duty), take litter and waste line home, and consider voluntary catch‑and‑release for rays and larger breeding fish.
• Always verify the latest byelaws and bag/size limits with Devon & Severn IFCA, the MMO, and the Environment Agency before your trip.