Lilstock Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Lilstock Fishing Map

Wave-cut rock ledges and the remains of an old harbour between Hinkley Point and Kilve. Rough, snaggy ground with fast Bristol Channel tides and gullies that flood quickly. A noted winter cod venue; through the year it also produces rays, huss, conger, dogfish and bits. Nights and the flood up to high often fish best. Use heavy gripper leads and rotten-bottoms. Access is via a small clifftop car park and a 10–15 minute walk; plan around the tide to avoid being cut off.

Ratings

⭐ 6.1/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Lilstock

🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 9/10
🎯 Tip: Very common on the flood into dark. Squid or mackerel on pulley/clip-down; cast to kelpy gullies. Use rotten-bottom. Best spring–autumn.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Rising tide with surf; fish close along gullies. Peeler crab or lug/squid. Best at dawn/dusk or after a blow; keep mobile as tide pushes.
🐟 Conger Eel 8/10
🎯 Tip: Night over rough ground on the flood. Big mackerel/bluey baits dropped into kelp gullies; heavy gear and rotten-bottom. Summer–autumn.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer on peeler crab. Fish the flooding tide into dusk; aim for sand patches beyond kelp. Light running rigs score.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Abundant over rough ground. Small mackerel strips or worms on 2-hook flappers; fish the flood into darkness tight to gullies.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights. Small fish baits or worm tips on clip-down rigs to reach tide run; 2–3 hours into the flood is best.
🐟 Thornback Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Target the flood over sand patches. Sandeel or squid on a long pulley. Late spring–autumn, dusk/night. Move back early—tide races in.
🐟 Bull Huss 6/10
🎯 Tip: Kelp-filled gullies at night on big fish/squid baits. Pulley pennel with rotten-bottom; mid-flood to high. Best spring–autumn.
🐟 Cod 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late autumn–winter, especially after a blow. Big lug/squid cocktails on pulley pennel; first of the flood into dark to deeper gullies.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer days. Float or ledger hardback/peeler crab tight to kelp-lined gullies at low to mid-flood. Keep tackle strong.
🐟 Pollack 4/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings on the flood. Work jelly eels or shallow plugs along rock edges and tide seams; clarity dependent.

Lilstock Fishing

Summary

Lilstock sits on the wild Somerset shore between Kilve and Hinkley Point, on the edge of Bridgwater Bay. It’s a classic Bristol Channel rough-ground venue: vast tides, scaur-like rock ledges, deep kelp-filled gullies and serious pulling power. Anglers come for winter cod and conger, spring thornbacks, and summer bass and hounds when the crabs are peeling.

Location and Access

Reaching Lilstock is straightforward but rural: approach via the A39 and follow lanes from the Stogursey/Nether Stowey area signed to Lilstock. A small informal parking area sits at the end of the lane by the old beach/boathouse remains; from there it’s a short walk to the cobble beach and rock platforms. Expect uneven, slippery Blue Lias slabs, loose cobbles and occasional mud—this is not an easy-access mark.

Seasons

Lilstock fishes year-round but shines in defined seasonal windows. Expect classic Channel species that handle heavy tide and rough ground.

Methods

This is heavy ground fishing: strong tides, rough substrate and snaggy gullies call for robust tackle and simple, tangle-resistant rigs. Night sessions often out-fish daylight.

Tides and Conditions

The Bristol Channel’s tidal range is among the world’s largest, and Lilstock feels all of it. Picking the right state of tide and sea is everything.

Safety

This is a serious rough-ground venue with unstable cliffs, fast-flooding gullies and powerful tide flows. Treat it with full respect and plan your retreat.

Facilities

Lilstock is wilderness fishing—come self-sufficient. There are no facilities on the beach or at the small parking area.

Tips

Think pulley pennel, rotten bottoms and disciplined tide watching. Those who fish tidily and move with the flood lose less gear and catch more fish.

Regulations

There is no general rod licence for sea angling in England, but national and local rules apply. Lilstock lies within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and within protected environmental designations.