Ladye Bay Fishing

Summary

Ladye Bay is a compact, photogenic rocky cove on the Clevedon headland in North Somerset, sitting on the inner reaches of the Bristol Channel. It offers classic estuary rock fishing with fast tides, heavy ground and the chance of hard-fighting fish in season. Fish it for short, focused sessions around high water when the sea pushes tight to the ledges.

Location and Access

Ladye Bay sits just north-west of Clevedon Pier, reached most easily via the Poets Walk coastal path. Access is straightforward if you’re steady on your feet, but expect steps and uneven ground.

• Approach via Clevedon seafront and join Poets Walk from the Marine Lake/Salthouse Fields car parks (BS21 area), then continue 10–20 minutes to the bay.
• Limited on-street parking can sometimes be found up on Bay Road/Ladye Bay Road; from there, a short footpath and steps lead down to the cove.
• The final descent is steep with rocky, weeded ledges and boulders; not ideal for barrows or heavy kit.
• Ground is mixed: rock platforms on both sides of the cove with patches of shingle/pebble that disappear under a big tide.
• Public transport gets you to Clevedon town; it’s then a walk along the seafront to Poets Walk.

Seasons

Ladye Bay fishes like a shallow estuary rock mark with a short, productive high-water window. Expect estuary staples with seasonal peaks.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass on crab as the water warms
  • Thornback ray on calm evenings
  • Dogfish and pouting as ever-presents
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (best at dusk/night or in lively water)
  • Conger eel after dark from the rougher corners
  • Thornback ray on squid/sandeel cocktails
  • Thick‑lipped mullet in very calm, bright conditions (float/bread close in)
  • Occasional smoothhound on crab in settled spells
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass fishing through the autumn blow-and-clear cycles
  • Conger eels and rays continue, especially at night
  • Whiting start to show late autumn
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting and pouting in numbers on big tides
  • Occasional codling in colder spells
  • Conger on hefty baits during dark, settled nights

Methods

Treat this as a rough, fast-tide rock venue: strong gear, reliable grip leads and abrasion resistance are key. Most sessions are short around high water.

• Rigs:
  • Pulley pennel (4/0–5/0) for bass/ray/conger; add a rotten‑bottom link for snag insurance
  • 2‑hook flapper or clipped-down 2‑up for whiting/pouting and scratching
  • Up‑and‑over or long‑drop rigs for distance with larger baits when you need to reach a gully
• Baits:
  • Peeler or hardback crab for bass and (occasional) hounds
  • Lugworm/black lug or ragworm for codling/whiting/pouting
  • Squid, bluey, and mackerel cocktails for rays and conger
  • Bread flake or small rag for mullet under a float when it’s glassy-calm
• Tackle:
  • 5–6 oz breakout leads (carry 7 oz on big springs)
  • 20–30 lb mainline with 60–80 lb leader; 80 lb snoods for conger work
  • Strong, abrasion‑resistant hooks; circle patterns useful for eels/rays
  • Tall tripod and headtorch; long-handled landing net is handy off the ledges
• Approach:
  • Cast to seams and gutters forming along the flood; don’t overlook underarm drops into close gulleys at HW
  • Keep rod tips high to reduce weed drag; slightly uptide placement can help leads set in the tide

Tides and Conditions

This is very much a high‑water mark. The Bristol Channel’s range and flow mean you’re fishing brief, prime windows when water meets the rock.

• Tide state:
  • Best: 2–3 hours up to high water and the first hour of the ebb
  • Low water exposes mud and boulders; it’s generally unfishable and unsafe then
  • Neaps are more manageable for presentation; big springs carry more weed but can switch on rays/bass
• Conditions:
  • A lively SW–W breeze that colours the water can bring bass onto the rock edges
  • Calm, clear(ish) nights are good for conger and rays
  • Avoid strong onshore storms; surge and weed become unworkable
• Time of day/seasonality:
  • Dusk into dark consistently out-fishes daylight for larger fish
  • Spring/autumn transitions often give the best mixed bags

Safety

Treat Ladye Bay with the respect you’d give any fast‑tide, rocky estuary mark. Plan your escape route and fish well within your limits.

• Steep, uneven access with steps; not suitable for wheelchairs and challenging with heavy trolleys
• Rocks and ledges are weeded and very slippery when damp—wear studded/cleated footwear
• Massive tidal range: know your tide times and where the water will rise; avoid being cut off on isolated ledges
• Powerful tidal flow and surges; keep kit clipped to the tripod and rods leashed in blows
• Do not venture onto exposed mud or soft ground at low water
• Night fishing is productive but increases risk—carry spare lights, fish with a partner, and consider a PFD/lifejacket
• Occasional cliff/rock fall risk after heavy rain; don’t set up under unstable faces

Facilities

Clevedon has good amenities within walking distance via Poets Walk; the bay itself is wild with no facilities on the rocks.

• Public toilets by Clevedon seafront/Marine Lake and near the pier (check seasonal opening hours)
• Cafés, pubs and shops along the seafront and Hill Road; takeaways for post‑session refuel
• Parking at Salthouse Fields/Marine Lake and other seafront car parks (pay‑and‑display; BS21 area)
• Tackle and bait available in the wider area (Clevedon/Portishead/Weston‑super‑Mare); ring ahead for fresh worm/crab
• Generally good mobile phone signal on the headland

Tips

Small venue quirks and a few tweaks make a big difference here. Travel light, fish the tide hard and be ready to move a few metres to stay on a gutter.

• Use a weak/rotten‑bottom link on most rigs—there’s rough cheese‑rock and snaggy boulders
• In coloured water, oily squid/bluey cocktails out‑perform plain worm for rays and eels
• Don’t overlook the first 10–20 yards at peak HW; bass patrol right under the rocks
• Clip‑down rigs help punch baits beyond the worst rough to reach sand tongues
• Keep leads fresh—blunted wires won’t hold in the push; replace or tune breakout grips
• Weed can be brutal on big springs; fish the top of the tide and the first of the ebb to dodge the worst rafts
• If mullet are present, quiet feet and minimal casting (float or freelined bread) are key
• A long‑handled net saves fish and gear on the drop to the water; avoid gaffs for conservation

Regulations

Recreational angling is generally permitted from the shore at Ladye Bay; there is no local blanket ban. However, the area forms part of the wider Severn Estuary designations (SSSI/SAC/SPA), so good practice and certain activity restrictions apply.

• National and regional rules change—check the UK Government and Devon & Severn IFCA websites before you go (size limits, closed seasons, gear byelaws)
• European sea bass regulations are reviewed annually; there are seasonal/bag/size rules—consult the current “recreational bass fishing” guidance on gov.uk
• Many shark species (e.g., tope) are subject to strict protections for recreational anglers; release prohibited‑take species promptly
• Do not dig bait on protected features or in prohibited areas; follow local signage and IFCA byelaws
• Clevedon Pier has its own permit system and rules—separate from Ladye Bay—but worth noting if you plan a multi‑mark session
• Observe general bylaws: no set lines, keep access clear, take all litter and line home
• Always carry a current minimum size chart (Angling Trust/MMO) and return undersized fish carefully