Charlcombe Bay

Charlcombe Bay sits under Poets’ Walk at Clevedon on the North Somerset coast, a short stroll west of the seafront and Marine Lake. It’s a classic Bristol Channel rock mark with rugged limestone ledges, fierce tides, and real potential for rays, bass, conger and winter whiting. Fish it for dramatic scenery and proper, no-nonsense estuary sport when the bigger tides and weather line up.

Set beneath the low cliffs between Clevedon’s Marine Lake and Ladye Bay, Charlcombe Bay is reached on foot via the well-known Poets’ Walk path. Access is straightforward in fair weather, but final approaches are over uneven, often slippery rock. Parking is easiest around Salthouse Fields/Marine Lake (BS21 area) with pay-and-display options.

• Park near Salthouse Fields/Marine Lake or along the seafront; allow a 5–15 minute walk depending on the exact spot you choose.
• Follow Poets’ Walk west from the seafront; several trods and informal paths drop to the ledges/boulder foreshore.
• Terrain is rocky limestone shelves and boulders; expect awkward footing, seaweed, and pool-hopping. Sturdy boots are essential.
• Access is not suitable for wheelchairs or anglers with limited mobility; there are steps and uneven, cambered rock.
• Avoid attempting to traverse low around headlands on a flood—use the path above to move between platforms.

This is an energetic estuary-rock mark; species vary with season and tide strength. Expect dogfish year-round, with rays and bass in warmer months and whiting/codling in the colder season.

• Spring (Mar–May):
• Thornback ray, dogfish, early bass, strap conger, occasional smoothhound on peeler.
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
• Bass, wrasse (on neaps/clearer water), smoothhound, thornback ray, mullet around outflows; odd pollack/garfish on calm evenings.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
• Bass peak, rays tailing off into Sept, conger at night, codling after blows from late Oct/Nov, plus pout.
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
• Whiting, codling in the right sea, dogfish, conger; odd coalie/pout.
• Notable by-catch/occasionals:
• Silver eels (protected—return), small gurnard/dabs in muddier patches, very occasional smoothhound into early autumn.

Heavy Bristol Channel tactics win here: gripped leads, streamlined rigs, and robust snoods to cope with tide, snags and conger. Lure and float tactics can work during neaps and slacker water.

• General ground/rough ground:
• 12–14 ft beach rod or long hybrid, 6500–8000 size reel; 5–8 oz grippers; 60 lb shockleader.
• Pulley or pulley-dropper rigs with 50–60 lb hooklengths to beat abrasion.
• Rays/codling: Pennel 3/0–5/0 with squid-and-sandeel, bluey/squid, or mackerel—present low and pinned.
• Bass:
• Crab baits (peeler/softback) on a pulley dropper; whole squid after a blow; fish the last 2 up/first 2 down.
• Lures on neaps/slack: 20–40 g metals, weedless soft plastics and surface walkers along the gutters.
• Smoothhound (if about):
• Running ledger or pulley with 2/0–3/0 circles, fresh peeler prime; keep drag set for fast runs.
• Whiting/winter scratching:
• 2-hook flapper with size 1–2 hooks, lug/black lug tipped squid; step up trace strength to handle rough ground.
• Conger (after dark):
• Single 6/0 with a tough mono trace or short wire; mackerel flapper or big squid; expect powerful lunges near ledges.
• Terminal tweaks:
• Long rotten-bottom links help save leads; keep snoods short to stop spin in tide; use bait elastic liberally.

This coast has one of the world’s largest tidal ranges, so timing is everything. Flow is brutal on big springs; neaps often fish more comfortably and safely.

• Best states:
• Generally the flood into high water and the first of the ebb; last 2 up/first 2 down are banker windows.
• Neaps are kinder for presentation, lure/float work, and wrasse mooching around the rocks.
• Springs produce power—good for rays/codling after a blow, but be prepared for serious tide run and weed.
• Sea and wind:
• A bit of colour is ideal; onshore SW–W after a blow can switch on bass/codling but raises safety risk.
• Calm, clear neaps in summer help wrasse, mullet and lure fishing.
• Time of day:
• Dusk into dark is consistently better for rays, conger, whiting and bass; daylight can be good on coloured water.
• Seasonality:
• Apr–Jun for thornbacks/smoothhound; May–Oct for bass; Nov–Feb for whiting/codling on the back of weather.

Treat Charlcombe Bay with full respect: slick weeded rock, fast tides, wave surges and snaggy ledges. There is no easy escape across low ground—use the cliff path.

• Check tide times and heights; avoid being cut off beneath the path on the flood. Keep an eye on surge in onshore winds.
• Wear a PFD, cleated boots or rock spikes, and carry a headtorch if there’s any chance of finishing after dusk.
• Use the clifftop path to reposition; don’t attempt sketchy traverses at water level.
• Expect slippery limestone, ankle traps in boulders, and hidden holes in bladderwrack.
• Strong tackle and rotten-bottoms reduce risky scrambles to free snags.
• Mobile signal is usually decent on the path, patchier under the cliff; tell someone your plan.
• Fishing is generally allowed on the open foreshore, but do not fish inside Clevedon Marine Lake and heed any local safety signage.

Clevedon is well served, with parking, toilets and food within a short walk of the path. Tackle is available in the wider area, though shops change—check current openings before you travel.

• Parking: Pay-and-display around Salthouse Fields/Marine Lake and along the seafront.
• Toilets: Public facilities near the Marine Lake/seafront (seasonal hours).
• Food/refreshments: Cafés, kiosks and pubs around the promenade and town centre.
• Tackle/bait: Options in Clevedon/Portishead/Bristol area; many locals pre-order worm/crab or bring frozen squid/bluey.
• Mobile signal: Generally good on the promenade and path; can dip by the rock ledges.
• Bins: Limited on the foreshore—pack out all litter and line.

This mark rewards tidy presentation and local-tide savvy. Expect to lose gear—plan for it—and fish short sessions around the best water.

• Bring spare grippers and use long weak links; the ledges eat leads on the drop and retrieve.
• If the tide rips too hard, step up the coast path and reposition rather than forcing it.
• Peeler crab outfishes most for bass/smoothhound; for rays, squid/bluey cocktails stay on better in heavy tide.
• In summer neaps, a float-fished prawn or crab under the wall can find wrasse where bottom rigs snag.
• Watch for floating kelp and grass—fish shorter, heavier snoods and keep rod high to clear the ledge.
• After a westerly blow, give the first settling tide a go for codling/bass while colour remains.
• Mullet often patrol near outflows and the lake wall—bread or small rag baits under a fine float can be productive.
• Clevedon Pier is nearby but ticketed with its own rules; Charlcombe’s open foreshore is free access but more rugged.

You’re within the Devon & Severn IFCA district on the North Somerset shore. Shore angling is generally permitted at Charlcombe Bay, but a few key rules and norms apply.

• National rules:
• Observe UK minimum conservation/reference sizes and general sea fisheries regulations; check the latest MMO guidance.
• European/eel species: European eel is strictly protected—return immediately if encountered.
• Bass regulations: Bag limits and closed periods change; in recent years a 42 cm minimum and seasonal bag limits have applied—check current rules before you fish.
• Local byelaws:
• Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws apply in this area; these can include gear restrictions and nursery protections in parts of the estuary. Consult the IFCA for up-to-date maps and seasons.
• Area-specific notes:
• Do not fish inside Clevedon Marine Lake; respect any council safety notices along Poets’ Walk.
• The foreshore forms part of designated heritage/SSSI stretches—responsible bait collection only and no hammering of living rock.
• General etiquette:
• Keep clear of swimmers/paddlecraft near the lake and popular coves, especially on warm days; strike and play fish with awareness of other water users.