Carhampton Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Carhampton Beach Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Carhampton Beach

🐟 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.

Carhampton Beach Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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

Methods

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

Tides and Conditions

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.

Safety

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

Facilities

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

Tips

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

Regulations

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