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

Kilve Beach

6.5 · Rocks · Somerset

Expansive limestone and shale ledges on the Bristol Channel with a huge tidal range. Rough, snaggy ground with strong currents; best fished on neap tides and the flood up to high water. Summer brings bass and smoothhound; wrasse and rock species are reliable in daylight; winter can see whiting and the odd codling. Long, uneven walk from the car park, slippery weeded rock, and a fast-flooding tide—use rotten-bottom rigs and keep a close eye on the water.

Should you fish Kilve Beach?

41 Low

Today · Best available

Best available: 21:00-00:00

Most likely species: Small-eyed Ray and Starry Smoothhound

Poor conditions. Best available around 21:00-00:00, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Small-eyed Ray and Starry Smoothhound.

W 7 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:13

Consider a backup mark if conditions do not improve.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Kilve 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 Kilve 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

Kilve Beach is a rough Bristol Channel ledge venue where timing and placement matter more than long casting. The better plan is usually to fish the flood into high water, working gullies, lanes and cleaner sand seams between the limestone and shale rather than simply blasting over the rough. It can produce summer smoothhound, small-eyed ray and bass, with huss, conger, dogfish and winter whiting after dark, but the ground is snaggy, the tide floods quickly, and conditions can become difficult fast.

  • Know whether to fish close gullies or cleaner sand seams.
  • Time the flood properly instead of guessing the tide window.
  • Pick neap and medium tides that let you hold bottom.
  • Target hounds, rays, bass and huss with mark-specific baits.
  • Avoid the Kilve sessions most likely to cost tackle or safety.

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

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

Blue Anchor 7.3 mi Bathpool 13.4 mi Taunton 14.0 mi Bleadon 14.3 mi Chelston 14.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Blue Anchor · Bathpool · Taunton · Bleadon · Chelston

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

6.5 /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 5/10

Small-eyed Ray 8/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn nights. Sandeel or launce on long pulley. Aim for sand patches beyond reef on neaps; grip lead to hold. Range often helps.
Starry Smoothhound 8/10
Tip: May–Sep. Peeler or soft crab on pulley rigs. Fish the flood into dusk over clean sand seams between ledges. 3–5oz grip leads; avoid strongest tides.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Rising tide in onshore chop at dusk/dawn. Peeler crab or sandeel in gullies; shallow plugs over the flood. Keep mobile and beware fast-flooding ledges.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: All year, best after dark. Small fish/squid baits on clean patches close in. Good for bites when tide eases.
Bull Huss 6/10
Tip: Evenings on neaps. Large fish/squid baits into kelp gullies; heavy abrasion-resistant rigs and rotten-bottom leads.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: Darkness around HW. Small fish or worm baits on short snoods; fish tight to rough ground and ledge edges.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Nov–Feb, after dark on the flood. Small mackerel strips or worm on 2-hook flappers; longer casts to cleaner ground.
Thornback Ray 5/10
Tip: Spring and autumn. Herring, bluey or squid/sandeel cocktails. Cast to sand runs between rock; fish neaps or slack water to hold bottom.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: Night HW. Big mackerel/squid baits dropped into holes by ledges; 80lb mono trace, strong hooks. Expect snags; use rotten-bottom.
Cod 4/10
Tip: Late autumn–winter after a blow. Big lug/crab cocktails on pulley pennel; best on first of the flood over mixed rough.

Local knowledge

Kilve Beach fishing guide

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

Kilve Beach sits on the wild West Somerset coast within the Quantock Hills AONB, a fossil-rich, rocky foreshore of blue lias ledges and shingle. It’s a classic Bristol Channel rough-ground mark with huge tides, year-round dogfish, summer smoothhound and rays, plus eels and huss after dark. Expect challenging terrain, fast tides, and rewarding sessions when you get the timing right.

Set between Bridgwater and Minehead, Kilve is easy to find from the A39 via the signed turn for Kilve/Beach. Access is straightforward to the top of the beach, but the fishing ground itself is rocky, uneven, and slippery. Allow extra time in darkness or on a big ebb.

  • Parking: Kilve Beach car park (pay-and-display; seasonal) near the Chantry; approximate postcode TA5 1EG
  • Approach: Well-made footpath from the car park across meadows to the shingle; 5–10 minutes on foot
  • Terrain: Shingle apron leading to wide limestone/blue lias ledges, boulders, weed and occasional soft clay patches
  • Walk difficulty: Moderate; becomes strenuous at low water due to boulder fields and long, uneven traverses
  • Lighting: No lighting; a good headlamp is essential for night fishing
  • Note: This coastline is an SSSI; respect signage and stay to established paths where possible

This is a classic mixed Bristol Channel ground with seasonal highlights. Night sessions often out-fish daylight.

  • Spring (Mar–May): Small-eyed ray, thornback ray, smoothhound building from late spring, dogfish, bass on crabs, odd conger after dark
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Peak smoothhound, small-eyed ray, dogfish, bull huss, conger eel, bass (especially in a bit of lift), chance of wrasse in rough pockets
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Rays continue, huss and conger strong at night, whiting arrive, bass tails off with temperatures
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, dogfish, pout; occasional codling in the right blow, strap conger; fewer bass
  • Year-round occasionals: Rockling, scad at night on rare clear spells; mullet around the stream outflow in summer

Bottom fishing dominates due to depth, colour and tidal run. Fish close to medium range into gullies and lanes rather than blasting to the horizon.

  • General: Strong 5–6 oz grip leads, clipped-down rigs for distance into the wind; use rotten-bottom/weak-link systems over rough ground
  • Rays and hounds: Pulley pennel (2/0–4/0), 50–60 cm hooklength; baits include sandeel, squid, bluey, peeler or hardback crab; cast to clean patches and run lines
  • Huss and conger (after dark): Heavy pulley/pulley-dropper, 60–100 lb mono trace, 4/0–6/0 hooks; big squid or mackerel/bluey sections; fish into deeper gullies
  • Bass: Crab baits on long flowing traces or pulley-bait-clip set-ups; target the flooding tide with a bit of surf; lures only on rare clearer spells and with care on the ledges
  • Winter scratching: Two-hook flappers with lug/rag/squid slivers for whiting/pout/rockling; keep snoods short in strong tide
  • Tackle notes: 20–30 lb mainline (or 0.35–0.40 mm mono) with 60–80 lb shock leader; for eels/huss step up traces; tripod and headlamp essential

The Bristol Channel’s tidal range is enormous here; plan meticulously. Medium to big making tides are usually best, with fish pushing tight on the flood.

  • Best tide windows: 2–3 hours up to high water and the first of the ebb; also productive around low water if you can safely reach gullies
  • Springs vs neaps: Medium to big springs carry the most scent and movement; extreme springs can be hard to hold bottom mid-tide
  • Sea state: A light to moderate onshore (W–SW) adds colour and surf for bass; too much wind brings weed and safety issues; calm or slight sea suits rays/hounds
  • Water clarity: Generally coloured; daytime ray/hound fishing is fine; nights are excellent for conger/huss/whiting
  • Seasonality: May–September for smoothhound and small-eyed ray peaks; winter requires a decent blow for codling prospects
  • Casting range: Don’t overlook close-in lanes on the flood; fish often travel the ledge edges within 30–60 yards

This is a serious rough-ground venue with fast tides, slippery ledges and soft patches—treat it with respect. Accessibility is poor for reduced mobility due to uneven terrain.

  • Tide hazards: Rapid flooding and drainage; real risk of cut-off on ledges and around coves—know your exit before setting up
  • Footing: Weed-slick limestone, mud/clay patches and boulders; wear studded boots or cleated soles
  • Wave risk: Surging seas on big tides and onshore winds; keep a safe margin from the edge, especially in darkness
  • Cliffs and falls: Avoid standing directly below friable cliff faces; rockfall is possible
  • Wading: Not recommended—ledges drop into holes and soft ground; visibility is poor
  • Night fishing: Go as a pair; carry spare lights and a fully charged phone/power bank
  • Safety kit: Buoyancy aid or lifejacket strongly recommended; carry first aid and a knife for snagged line
  • Accessibility: Not wheelchair-friendly; trolleys struggle on the boulders and steps/ramps

Facilities are modest and seasonal, so plan to be self-sufficient. The nearest full services are in Watchet, Williton, and Bridgwater.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display car park by the beach path; seasonal attendants
  • Toilets: Usually available near the car park in season; may be closed off-season
  • Food and drink: Tea room(s) in Kilve village in season; pubs such as The Hood Arms nearby
  • Tackle and bait: Options in Watchet and Minehead; general angling stores in Bridgwater—ring ahead for fresh lug/rag/crab
  • Bins: Limited—take all litter and line home
  • Mobile signal: Patchy under the cliffs; usually better up by the car park

Timing and placement matter more than brute distance here. Think lanes, gullies and movement rather than sheer casting.

  • Smoothhound love peeler and hardback crab—bring elastic and bind baits tight against the tide
  • Small-eyed ray respond well to sandeel or squid/sandeel cocktails placed on cleaner sand tongues between ledges
  • Use a weak-link (lighter line) to the lead to save gear when snagged; a short 10–12 cm lead drop helps keep the rig pinned in strong run
  • Keep snoods short (15–30 cm) in heavy tide; longer flowing traces for bass when the sea eases
  • Fish two rods if safe: one close for bass/huss, one to a sand lane for ray/hound
  • Floating weed can be brutal on spring floods—step up to wired grips and keep rod tips high
  • Mark your safe exit in daylight; leave the ledges 30–45 minutes before high water if in doubt
  • Night eel sessions are productive—big, oily baits, minimal scent wash-off, and patience

Angling is permitted, but this coastline forms part of protected designations (SSSI/SPA/NRR), so follow local signage and environmental rules. Always check current regulations before your trip.

  • No rod licence is required for sea angling from the shore in England; a licence is needed if targeting freshwater species in estuaries
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) apply to many species; measure fish and return undersized immediately
  • Bass rules change periodically (bag limits/closed months). Check the latest Defra/MMO notice for ICES area 7e (Bristol Channel)
  • Local byelaws: This area falls under Devon & Severn IFCA—review byelaws on bait collection, netting, and protected species before fishing
  • SSSI guidance: Do not hammer bedrock or remove in-situ fossils; take only loose beach material if permitted and avoid disturbing wildlife
  • Marine protected areas: Parts of Bridgwater Bay carry additional protections—avoid vehicle access on the foreshore and respect bird roosting zones
  • General: Use barbless or de-barbed hooks where practical, carry a disgorger, and release unwanted catches swiftly