Where’s The Fish? Logo for Where's The Fish?
Somerset

Carhampton Beach

6.7 · Beach · Somerset

A wide, gently shelving sand-and-shingle beach on Blue Anchor Bay (Carhampton parish) with an extreme Bristol Channel tide. Clean-to-mixed ground with gullies favors rays and flatfish; best results come on the flood into dusk/night. Spring–autumn produces small-eyed and thornback rays and summer bass; winter brings whiting with the odd codling. Use sandeel or squid for rays, lug/rag for flats and whiting, and peeler crab for bass/smoothhound; long casts to outer gutters help when the tide is well out. Watch for fast-flooding tides and soft mud patches further out.

Should you fish Carhampton Beach?

49 Low

Today · Best available

Best available: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Flounder and Thornback Ray

Poor conditions. Best available around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Flounder and Thornback Ray.

W 4 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:14

Consider a backup mark if conditions do not improve.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Carhampton Beach — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

Now

Tide curve will appear once tide data is available.

All windows will appear once the forecast is loaded.

Premium forecast

Unlock exact best windows, tactics and backup options for this mark.

Trip planner

Find the best time to fish Carhampton Beach

Choose when you're free and what you want to catch. We'll show the best tide, weather window and method for this mark.

Premium unlocks exact windows, tactics and alerts.

Premium Mark Insight

Locked

Carhampton Beach is a tide-driven Bristol Channel beach where timing and ground choice matter more than comfort casting. The strongest pattern is to fish the flood into dusk or darkness, placing bait into or just uptide of gutters over clean-to-mixed sand, mud and shingle. Rays, smoothhound and bass are the main warm-season targets, with whiting and occasional codling in winter. The mark can fish well, but the fast flood, soft lower ground, weed after storms and extreme tidal range make it a venue to plan carefully rather than chase water across the flats.

  • Know when short casts beat distance on the flood
  • Pick the right gutter instead of fishing blind sand
  • Time ray and hound sessions around the strongest window
  • Avoid the soft lower flats and fast-flood traps
  • Switch rigs by target species, not habit
  • Use nearby backups without guessing access

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Blue Anchor 0.7 mi Brushford 12.5 mi Bampton (Mid Devon) 13.8 mi West Aberthaw 14.1 mi East Aberthaw 14.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Blue Anchor · Brushford · Bampton (Mid Devon) · West Aberthaw · East Aberthaw

Zoom and pan to explore access points and nearby marks.

Jump to guide

Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.7 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 7/10

Thornback Ray 8/10
Tip: Flood into dusk; cast 70–120m to sand/mud channels. Squid/sandeel or bluey wraps. Spring tides fish best May–Oct.
Starry Smoothhound 8/10
Tip: June–Sept on peeler crab; fish the flooding tide over clean patches; 30–80m; dusk/night best. Use 5–6oz grip leads in tide.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Building tide with surf or a SW blow. Whole sandeel, peeler or metals worked through the gutters; dawn/dusk; keep mobile along bars.
Whiting 7/10
Tip: Nov–Feb after dark; two/three-hook flappers with mackerel or squid strips at 40–80m. Fish the last of flood to high on springs.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: After dark on the flood/high, 30–60m over mixed mud/sand. Sandeel or mackerel strips. Reliable through summer–autumn.
Flounder 6/10
Tip: Autumn–spring; small lug/rag tipped with crab. Short casts into gutters on the flood and first of ebb; stir the bait to lift scent.
Dover Sole 6/10
Tip: Calm, warm nights Jun–Sept. Short casts 10–40m into muddy sand. Ragworm/lug on light rigs; neaps and top of tide best.
Small-eyed Ray 6/10
Tip: May–Sept on big tides; long cast 90–130m to cleaner sand bands. Sandeel or bluey; fewer than thornbacks here.
Dab 5/10
Tip: Winter–spring on neaps in daylight. Small worm baits at 40–70m over cleaner patches just off the mud.
Cod 4/10
Tip: Occasional Nov–Jan in a blow; big lug/crab with squid. First of the flood into darkness; 5–6oz grip leads to hold.

Local knowledge

Carhampton Beach fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Carhampton Beach sits on Blue Anchor Bay between Blue Anchor and Dunster on the West Somerset coast, a broad, tide-dominated strand of sand, mud, and shingle. It’s a classic Bristol Channel venue: huge tides, permanently coloured water, and dependable fishing for rays, bass, and winter whiting. Anglers come for accessible, productive flood-tide sessions and the chance of a quality thornback ray on the right day.

This mark refers to the open beach fronting Carhampton parish, effectively the stretch between Blue Anchor seafront and Dunster Beach. Access is straightforward from either end, with the easiest parking and facilities at Blue Anchor.

  • Drive via the A39 to Carhampton village, then follow signs to Blue Anchor or Dunster Beach; parking on the Blue Anchor promenade and in marked bays (look for TA24 6JS area), and a pay-and-display at Dunster Beach (around TA24 6TH).
  • The B3191 towards Watchet has suffered cliff instability and periodic closures; check local advisories if approaching from the Watchet side.
  • From Blue Anchor, steps and ramps lead to the upper shingle; at Dunster Beach there’s a seawall path with several beach access points. The walking is easy on the wall/promenade, but the upper beach is shingle giving way to firm sand with soft patches lower down.
  • Terrain is shingle-over-sand with muddy areas exposed on bigger ebbs; avoid long treks over the lower flats as the sea runs fast and footing can be sticky.

Expect estuary-influenced species that thrive in coloured water. Rays and bass headline in the milder months, with prolific whiting through winter.

  • Spring: thornback ray, bass (building), dogfish; odd flounder/dab; occasional smoothhound late spring.
  • Summer: bass, thornback ray, dogfish, smoothhound (occasional), sole at night in calmer spells; schoolie bass common.
  • Autumn: bass (peak Sept–Oct), thornback ray, dogfish; whiting increasing; chance of a small-eyed ray on settled seas.
  • Winter: whiting, dogfish, dab; occasional codling in onshore blows; conger and bull huss are possible after dark.

Traditional Bristol Channel beach tactics shine here: stout bottom gear, grippy leads, and fresh baits that hold in tide. Night fishing is often best.

  • Rigs: pulley pennel (3/0–5/0) or pulley dropper for rays and bass; up-and-over for long snoods and clean presentations; 2-hook flapper or loop for whiting/dabs at mid-range.
  • Leads: 5–6 oz grip leads on neaps; 6–7 oz on springs. 25–30 lb mainline with 60 lb shock leader is standard.
  • Baits: peeler or hard crab for bass/smoothhound; sandeel or squid/sandeel cocktail for rays; lugworm/squid for codling/whiting; ragworm for flatties and sole; mackerel or bluey strip for dogs and whiting.
  • Ranges: fish the first gutter and mid-distance (40–100 yards) on the flood; long casting isn’t essential, but a bit of lead-down-tide helps present baits naturally.
  • Times: 2–3 hours up to high water into the first hour of ebb is the prime window; after dark consistently out-fishes daylight for better fish and soles.

This coast sees one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world; planning around the tide is critical. Coloured water means fish are comfortable in daylight, but the flood brings them within reach.

  • Best states: mid to big rising tides are reliable; fish 2 up and 1–2 down. Neaps can suit sole and dab at night with lighter tide run.
  • Sea state: a modest onshore push or SW breeze lifts bass and ray prospects; heavy storms can bury the mark in weed and debris for a day or two.
  • Water clarity: permanently coloured; don’t wait for clear water—embrace it. After prolonged rain, extra freshwater can push fish a touch further out.
  • Seasonality: April–October for rays/bass, November–February for whiting; September–October often give the best mixed bags.
  • Reading the ground: identify flood-formed gutters and any shingle banks; set baits just uptide of a gutter so they settle into the feed lane.

The bay’s long, shallow profile and soft ground demand respect. The tide floods very fast and the lower beach can turn sticky.

  • Soft mud and sinking risk on bigger ebbs; avoid venturing far onto exposed flats and never chase the retreating tide.
  • Fast flood can cut you off around groynes/boulder armour—pick a spot with a clear retreat and stay aware.
  • Wear a PFD if fishing near the waterline or in rough conditions; use headlamps and high-vis at night.
  • Waders: use with care—probe ahead and avoid deep, silty patches.
  • Accessibility: promenade/seawall access is flat and suitable for trolleys; actual beach is uneven shingle and not wheelchair-friendly. Steps/ramps can be slippery.
  • Railway and sea defenses: do not cross fences or trespass on the West Somerset Railway line or restricted structures.

This is one of the more comfortable Somerset beach marks thanks to nearby villages. Facilities are clustered at Blue Anchor and Dunster Beach.

  • Toilets: public conveniences at Blue Anchor seafront (seasonal opening) and at Dunster Beach car park (check hours).
  • Food & drink: cafés and seasonal kiosks at Blue Anchor; pubs nearby. Limited options at Dunster Beach out of season.
  • Tackle & bait: tackle shops in Minehead and Watchet for fresh/frozen bait, end tackle, and gas—stock up before arrival.
  • Mobile signal: generally good on the promenade; can be patchy down on the lower beach.
  • Lighting: minimal; bring good headlamps and spare batteries. Some parking is seafront-lit at Blue Anchor in the evening.

Little venue quirks make a big difference here. Think gutters, fresh bait, and tide timing.

  • Rays love sandeel or squid/sandeel laid just uptide of a gutter—clip down for clean entry, unclip early to avoid tangles in tide.
  • Bass show tight to the bank on a lively flood with a cross-onshore breeze; peeler or whole sandeel scores. Don’t ignore 30–50 yards.
  • Whiting can be relentless in winter—use bigger pennel baits to filter them when targeting rays or codling.
  • Elastic your baits well; summer crabs strip soft offerings quickly. Hardback crab can be a great alternative when peeler is scarce.
  • Weed can arrive in rafts after storms; step 50–100 yards along the beach to find a clearer line.
  • Steam trains on the West Somerset Railway are a bonus soundtrack—great atmosphere on evening tides.

This coastline falls within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and the wider Severn Estuary designated sites. Rules can change—always verify before you fish.

  • Size/bag limits: observe current UK minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) and any IFCA-specific sizes. Check the latest D&S IFCA and MMO guidance.
  • Bass: recreational bass rules are reviewed annually (seasonal catch-and-release periods and a limited daily bag when permitted). Search “Recreational bass fishing gov.uk” for the current year’s measures before retaining any bass.
  • Protected species: handle tope, spurdog, and shad with care; many anglers release them as best practice. Some retention/landing prohibitions apply particularly from vessels—check up-to-date national rules.
  • Netting/hand-gathering: shore netting and bait collection may be restricted in parts of the Severn Estuary and SSSI/SAC features—follow local signage and IFCA byelaws; avoid damaging saltmarsh or protected foreshore.
  • Local orders: seasonal dog controls and council byelaws can apply on nearby beach sections—observe on-site notices.
  • General: take litter and old line home, avoid obstructing emergency access on the promenade, and respect private chalets/land at Dunster Beach.