Summary
Burnham-on-Sea North Beach sits on the inner Bristol Channel, famed for one of the world’s biggest tidal ranges and fast-moving, chocolate-coloured water. Fish push very close on bigger highs, making this an easy-to-reach wall-and-steps venue with genuine chances of bass, flounder and summer sole, plus winter whiting. It’s a classic Somerset estuary mark: simple tactics, fresh worm baits, and strict respect for the mud and tide.
Location and Access
Reaching North Beach is straightforward and the fishing is typically from the sea wall/steps or the firm upper sand by the Low Lighthouse area. Access is level and parking is close, making it attractive for short sessions and anglers with limited mobility.
- Drive via M5 J22, then follow signs to Burnham-on-Sea seafront; the Esplanade runs along the beach north of the pier towards the Low Lighthouse.
- Pay-and-display along the Esplanade and near the pier (search: Pier Street Car Park, TA8 area). Street parking can be possible off-peak; always check local signage.
- The walk is minimal from the promenade to the fishing spots on the wall/steps. Avoid stepping onto exposed mud or soft sand lower down the beach.
- Terrain: concrete sea wall/steps, firm upper sand near the top of the beach, then extensive soft mud and sand flats. Do not wander out across the lower beach or towards the channels.
Seasons
This is a seasonally varied estuary surf mark. Expect bread-and-butter species with a few pleasant surprises when conditions align.
- Spring (Mar–May): school bass, flounder, occasional Dover sole late spring; silver eel (must be released); odd thornback ray in better years.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (including better fish in onshore surf), flounder, Dover sole after dark, occasional smoothhound; schoolie bass common on the flood.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass, whiting building from late autumn, flounder; chance of codling in colder snaps; pout and the odd thornback.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, codling occasional, pouting, persistent flounder on calmer days; dogfish are less reliable this far up but can appear.
Methods
Simple bottom tactics rule here. The water is always coloured and the tide rips, so present fresh baits low and hold bottom.
- Rigs: 2- or 3-hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks for flounder/whiting; 1/0–2/0 for bass. Up-and-over or pulley/dropper for a ray or codling prospect on bigger tides.
- Leads: 5–7 oz wired grip leads are standard to combat the flow; cast slightly uptide to help the grip bite and reduce bowing line.
- Baits: fresh blow lug and ragworm are prime; maddies/harbour rag for sole and flounder; peeler crab or crab/lug cocktails for bass in spring/summer; squid strip as a tipping bait for whiting.
- Range: not critical at high water—fish run the gutter right under the wall/steps. On smaller neaps, a modest cast to the nearest channel edge helps.
- Timing: 2 hours either side of high water is the bread-and-butter window. Night sessions hugely improve sole and whiting counts in summer/autumn.
Tides and Conditions
The tide is the whole story at Burnham. Big highs bring the fish to your feet, but the run can be fierce.
- Best tide states: the last 2 hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb. On larger springs the sea reaches the steps/wall; on small neaps it may not.
- Conditions: a modest south-westerly producing some surf can switch bass on; strong onshores can dump weed and make holding bottom hard.
- Water clarity: permanently turbid—great for daylight fishing. After dark, keep baits small and fresh for sole/whiting.
- Seasonality: summer nights for sole and bass; late autumn/winter for whiting/codling prospects as temperatures drop.
- Flow management: use streamlined rigs, clipped-down baits, and keep rod tips high to lift line from the flow.
Safety
Safety here is serious—soft mud and a very fast tide are the main hazards. If in doubt, fish from the promenade wall or steps only.
- Do not walk out across the lower beach or towards channels; soft mud can swallow boots and the flood advances quickly.
- Heed all council warning signs and any red flags; stay behind safety posts/ropes if present. BARB hovercraft and local rescue services attend frequent mud incidents.
- Wading is strongly discouraged. Wear a personal flotation device when near the waterline or on the steps, especially at night or in swell.
- The promenade is level and well-surfaced; steps generally have handrails. Good for anglers with limited mobility when fished from the wall.
- Tripods should be set back from the final step—surges on big springs can wash around your feet. Headtorch and high-visibility gear recommended after dark.
Facilities
North Beach benefits from Burnham’s seafront amenities. You can park close, grab food, and find public conveniences within a short walk.
- Public toilets near the pier/promenade (check seasonal opening times).
- Cafés, takeaways, and shops along the Esplanade and town centre, a few minutes’ walk.
- Pay-and-display parking on/near the seafront; evening concessions may apply—check machines/signage.
- Tackle/bait: availability varies—look to Burnham/Highbridge or Weston-super-Mare for sea bait; pre-order fresh lug/rag where possible.
- Lifesaving presence: RNLI and local hovercraft rescue operate in the area; phone signal is generally good along the promenade.
Tips
Treat it like a gutter-and-steps venue on springs, and a channel-edge venue on neaps. Little tweaks make a big difference here.
- On the flood, drop a worm bait into the first gutter under the wall and leapfrog it along with the rising water.
- Keep baits small and neat: one or two fresh lug pumped locally outfishes bulky cocktails; add a sliver of squid only as elasticated tip.
- For sole, fish after dusk with long snoods, size 2–4 fine-wire hooks, and minimal bead/bling.
- Crab baits from late spring can find better bass—fish them static close in rather than blasting range.
- Expect debris after heavy rain on the Rivers Parrett/Brue; check your hook points and leaders frequently.
- Use breakaway-style leads and don’t be afraid to upsize to 7 oz when the ebb rips.
Regulations
Fishing from North Beach is generally permitted, but local rules and conservation measures apply. Always check the current notices on the promenade before you set up.
- Obey Somerset Council beach safety signage; keep off mud zones and respect any temporary restrictions or cordons.
- The area is within protected estuary designations (e.g., SSSI/SPA/Ramsar). Follow the Angling Trust’s code: no litter, avoid disturbing birds, and backfill any bait-digging holes.
- Bass: UK recreational rules change periodically. Minimum size is 42 cm; daily bag/season dates are set annually—check the latest MMO/DEFRA guidance before retaining any bass.
- European eel must be released if caught.
- Local IFCA nursery areas exist in the Severn/Bridgwater Bay system; additional restrictions may apply inside defined boundaries—consult the Severn Estuary IFCA for current maps and rules.
- No rod licence is required for sea fishing, but landing undersized fish is illegal; observe current minimum sizes/MCRS and any seasonal protections.
- Pier-specific bans don’t apply here, but swimming is often prohibited due to currents—keep clear of slipways and lifeboat access at all times.
