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Somerset

Lilstock

6.1 · Rocks · Somerset

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.

Should you fish Lilstock?

49 Low

Today · Best available

Best available: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Bass and Ballan Wrasse

Poor conditions. Best available around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Bass and Ballan Wrasse.

W 6 mph Rain 16% High tide 12:13

Consider a backup mark if conditions do not improve.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Lilstock — 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.

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Lilstock is a serious Bristol Channel rough-ground venue: snaggy Blue Lias ledges, kelp-filled gullies, fast flooding water and strong tide pull. It can be very productive for winter cod, conger, huss, dogfish, rays, bass and smoothhound, but the mark rewards disciplined tide planning, heavy tackle and a willingness to move back early as the flood rises.

  • Know whether to aim for gullies or sand run-offs before you cast.
  • Time the flood so you fish the bite window without getting trapped.
  • Match springs, neaps and sea colour to cod, rays, hounds or conger.
  • Use the right rotten-bottom setup to lose fewer rigs at Lilstock.
  • Have a nearby fallback when weed, tide or access makes Lilstock a bad call.

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Blue Anchor 9.0 mi Bleadon 12.5 mi Bathpool 13.2 mi Weston-super-Mare 13.5 mi Taunton 13.9 mi

Explore nearby towns: Blue Anchor · Bleadon · Bathpool · Weston-super-Mare · Taunton

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.1 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

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

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.

Local knowledge

Lilstock fishing guide

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

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.

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.

  • Drive: A39 then narrow country lanes via Stogursey/Nether Stowey; follow signs for Lilstock/Beach
  • Parking: Small, informal beach car park at the lane end; limited spaces, no lighting, no overnight facilities
  • Walk-in: 5–10 minutes on a rough path, then clambering over cobbles to the ledges left or right
  • Terrain: Blue Lias rock shelves, weed, kelp gullies, loose cobbles; very slippery when wet or weeded
  • Note: Sat navs vary; aim for Lilstock hamlet via Stogursey rather than relying on a precise postcode

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

  • Spring (Mar–May): Thornback ray, bass (increasing through late spring), smoothhound (late spring on crab), conger eel, dogfish
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (crab/rough surf days), smoothhound (peeler crab), bull huss, thornback ray, conger; odd mackerel on clear neaps but unreliable this far up-channel
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass (to first frosts), thornback ray, bull huss, conger, codling building from late Oct on bigger seas, whiting and pouting
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Cod/codling in blows and after, whiting, pouting, conger; occasional thornback on calmer spells; possible spurdog in some winters—often released
  • Always present: Shore crabs, small eels (European eel—must be released), prolific kelp and snags

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.

  • Bottom fishing: Pulley pennel (60–80 lb rig body, 25–30 lb snoods), rotten-bottom (10–15 lb weak link) to save leads in snags
  • Leads: 6–7 oz wired grippers standard; step to 7–8 oz on big springs or strong wind-over-tide
  • Hooks: 3/0–5/0 for cod/huss/conger, 2/0–3/0 for rays/bass; size 1–2 for whiting/pout on short snoods if you risk a scratch rig
  • Baits: Black lug/cartan-lug and squid cocktails for cod; peeler crab for bass/smoothhound; sandeel, herring or bluey for rays; whole squid/mackerel flapper for conger/huss; fresh worm scores well after blows
  • Casting: Clip-down for distance into sandy run-offs; otherwise lob into known gullies on the flood and keep gear high to avoid kelp
  • Lures: Only on calm neaps and some clarity—weedless soft plastics or shallow divers for bass around flooding high; spinning is secondary here
  • Timing: Dusk into dark is prime; fish the last two hours of the flood and first of the ebb, or targeted low-water gullies if you know the ground

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.

  • Best states: 2 hours up to high water and the first hour down are consistent; low-water gully fishing can be excellent if you know safe retreat lines
  • Springs vs neaps: Big springs for cod, conger and huss; neaps often kinder for rays and manageable presentation
  • Sea state: A lifting SW/W sea with colour wakes bass and cod; prolonged calm/settled neaps are ray-friendly
  • Wind: Onshore blows create surf and colour but also weed; offshore/north flatten seas and reduce weed but can dampen the cod run
  • Time of day: Dusk through full dark typically outfishes daylight, especially for conger, codling and rays
  • Water clarity: Generally coloured; fleeting clarity on neaps may open a brief lure window for bass

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.

  • Cliffs: Blue Lias cliffs are actively eroding—do not sit beneath them; rockfall is common after rain/frost
  • Tides: Huge range; gullies flood quickly and some ledges cut off well before high—identify a safe exit before you cast
  • Footing: Weed-slimed rock and loose cobbles—wear studded boots/cleats; wading is not recommended
  • Gear: A suitable PFD/lifejacket, headtorch with spare batteries, and a whistle are strongly advised for night sessions
  • Phone/signal: Patchy; don’t rely on it for emergencies—tell someone your plan and ETA
  • Accessibility: Not suitable for limited mobility; uneven paths and clambering required
  • Nearby restrictions: Do not stray east toward Hinkley Point security fences/exclusion signage; obey any temporary coastal path diversions related to construction or cliff safety

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

  • Toilets: None on-site; seasonal toilets usually at Kilve Beach car park (east) or public conveniences in local villages
  • Tackle/bait: Options in Minehead, Watchet/Williton and Taunton; pre-order worms/crab in busy periods
  • Food/drink: Pubs, cafés and shops in Nether Stowey, Stogursey, Williton and Kilve (seasonal)
  • Lighting: None—bring headtorch/lanterns for any dusk/night session
  • Mobile signal: Intermittent depending on network; download tide tables and charts in advance

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.

  • Use a bright cone or backpack as a visual “retreat marker” and step back a few paces every 10–15 minutes on the flood
  • Tie 10–12 lb mono weak links for leads; accept some losses and don’t lock up—steady pressure often frees rigs
  • Crab rules in summer: fresh peelers turn on bass and hounds; wrap in elastic and keep baits streamlined
  • Cod cocktails: Black lug plus a sliver of squid or bluey holds up in tide and tempts better fish after a blow
  • Hunt sand run-offs: At mid-water, a 60–90 yd cast onto firmer sand tongues between kelp beds saves gear and finds rays
  • Night conger: Whole squid/mackerel flappers pinned hard to the bottom in a gully—rod in a butt pad and drag set sensibly
  • Bring spare rigs: Pre-tied pulley pennels and plenty of 6–7 oz grippers keep you fishing when the ground eats tackle
  • Weed periods: Slightly shorten snoods and stiffen trace material to reduce spin-ups when lettuce weed is rife

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.

  • Access/SSSI: The coast here is SSSI—no hammering the cliffs or removing in-situ fossils; keep to paths and heed any safety/closure signs
  • Hinkley Point: Respect any marked exclusion zones, fencing and security instructions east of Lilstock; no trespass beyond signage
  • Bass (England, recreational): Check current rules before you go. Recently these have allowed a limited retention season with a 42 cm minimum size and a small daily bag; outside that, catch-and-release only
  • Tope: It is illegal for recreational anglers to retain tope (dead or alive); release immediately
  • Spurdog: Subject to evolving management—many anglers release all spurs in the Channel; check current national guidance
  • European eel and shad: Protected—release any eels and any allis/twaite shad unharmed
  • Bait collection: Hand-gathering of bait is generally allowed; no mechanical digging on the SSSI foreshore and avoid damaging features; follow any IFCA byelaws
  • Minimum sizes/best practice: Observe current minimum sizes and sensible conservation sizes for rays, cod, bass, etc.; when in doubt, release
  • Waste: Take all litter and line home; do not leave fish remains on the beach or by the car park