Summary
Lilstock Ledges sit between Kilve and Hinkley Point on Somerset’s Bristol Channel coastline, a rugged stretch of intertidal rock platforms, boulders and reef runnels. It’s a classic West Country rough-ground mark with powerful tides, rewarding patient anglers with bass, huss, conger and seasonal visitors.
Location and Access
This is a remote, natural mark reached via the coastal path near the hamlet of Lilstock, west of Hinkley Point. Expect a modest but uneven walk and a scramble onto weeded rock ledges at lower states of tide.
- Approach from the A39 via Stogursey/Kilve; follow signs for Lilstock and the coast. A small clifftop/field-edge parking area near Lilstock hamlet is commonly used (Somerset TA5 district). Arrive early; spaces are limited.
- From parking, pick up the England Coast Path and head west (towards Kilve) or east (towards Hinkley) to chosen ledges. Typical walk-in 10–25 minutes depending on mark.
- Access to the ledges is via rough paths/gullies; final descent can be steep, with loose stones and slippery weeded rock. Good boots are essential.
- Keep to signed rights of way across farmland; close gates and respect livestock. No vehicular access to the foreshore.
Seasons
Lilstock fishes like a mixed rough-ground venue with a strong summer–autumn showing and productive winter nights in the right weather. Expect variety, but also blanks when tides and colour don’t align.
- Spring (Apr–Jun):
- Bass (schoolies to decent fish) on crab/squid and lures in clearer windows
- Smoothhound (late spring into summer) on peeler crab
- Bull huss; conger eels (mainly after dark)
- Ballan wrasse close in among kelp (calmer, clearer days)
- Dogfish throughout
- Summer (Jul–Aug):
- Bass at dusk/dawn and after dark on big baits or lures
- Smoothhound (peak) on peeler/hardback crab
- Bull huss; conger eels; occasional pollack/coalie on lures/float when water clears
- Mackerel shoals can brush the area but are unreliable in the coloured Channel
- Autumn (Sep–Oct):
- Bass on crab/squid/whole fish baits; huss and conger improve at night
- Early whiting and pouting, especially in onshore blows
- Winter (Nov–Feb):
- Whiting and pouting common; bull huss and conger steady on big baits
- Occasional codling through cold snaps and on big dirty seas (don’t bank on them)
- Dogfish remain ever-present
Methods
Rough-ground ledgering dominates, with stout tackle and rotten-bottom release links to beat the snags. Lure and float tactics have windows around neaps and clarity.
- Ledgering: 5–7 oz wired grip leads (8 oz on big springs); 25–30 lb mono mainline with 60–80 lb shock leader.
- Rigs: Pulley pennel (hook sizes 3/0–6/0) for bass/huss/codling; heavy up-and-over for distance; 100–150 lb snoods for conger with single 6/0–8/0.
- Rotten-bottom/weak-link: Always use to save gear and fish safely off the ledges.
- Baits: Peeler crab (prime for bass and smoothhound), whole squid or squid/lug cocktails, mackerel or bluey sections, sandeel, and hermit/hardback for hounds/wrasse.
- Lure/float: Metal spoons/soft plastics or shallow divers for bass/pollack on calmer, clearer floods; float ragworm or prawn tight to kelp for wrasse.
- Casting: Find sand or lighter gravel seams between kelp beds at mid-water; don’t overcast into the roughest ground unless specifically targeting conger/huss.
- Timing: Dusk into first dark is a banker for bass and huss; full darkness for conger and whiting in winter.
Tides and Conditions
This is a high-energy Bristol Channel venue with one of the largest tidal ranges in the world. Planning around tide state, swell and water colour is crucial.
- Best tide windows: Flood tide to high water and first of the ebb (roughly HW -3 to HW +1) are most consistent; too low and you’re often casting into kelp forests and gutters.
- Springs vs neaps: Medium-to-big springs stir food and fish movement but demand more lead; neaps can aid lure/float work and reduce weed.
- Sea state: A gentle roll and coloured water suits bait fishing for bass/huss; heavy swell makes the ledges dangerous and unfishable. Clearer water windows (after easterlies or on neaps) suit lures/wrasse.
- Wind: Onshore SW–W pushes colour and food but can bring drifting weed; strong easterlies flatten, cool and clear the sea—good for wrasse/lures but can slow bait bites.
- Seasonality: May–Oct for bass/hounds/wrasse; Nov–Feb for whiting, huss and the odd codling. Night tides typically outfish daytime.
Safety
Treat Lilstock as a serious rough-ground venue: fast tides, slippery ledges and soft cliffs. It’s not suitable for anyone with limited mobility, and solo sessions are discouraged.
- Cut-off risk: Some lower ledges and boulder fields flood quickly on springs—identify exit routes and stay up-tide of your retreat.
- Footing: Weed-covered rock is extremely slippery; wear studded/cleated boots or rock spikes. Avoid setting up under eroding cliffs due to rockfall.
- Swell and tide: Don’t fish in big swell or strong onshore blows. Keep well back from the edge; waves can surge unpredictably.
- Lighting and comms: Powerful headlamp/backup batteries; mobile signal can be patchy at the foreshore—tell someone your plan.
- Tackle safety: Use rotten-bottoms to prevent dangerous hauling on snagged gear. Heavy leaders and gloves recommended for conger work.
- Nearby exclusion: Do not approach any marked exclusion or security zones around Hinkley Point; observe all signage.
- Personal safety: Wear a modern waistcoat-style PFD/lifejacket; carry a knife, first-aid kit and a charged phone. Fish with a buddy where possible.
Facilities
Facilities at the mark are minimal; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages have limited amenities.
- No toilets, water or shelter on the ledges; bring everything you need and carry out all litter, including line and bait wrap.
- Nearest public toilets/seasonal café options are typically at Kilve Beach car park; more services in Watchet and Minehead.
- Tackle/bait: Options in Watchet, Minehead and Bridgwater (check opening times and bait availability in advance).
- Parking: Small informal parking area at Lilstock; alternative parking at Kilve for a longer walk.
- Mobile signal: Often fair on the clifftop, weaker down on the rocks.
Tips
Local knowledge really helps here—treat it like a puzzle of clean seams, kelp heads and tide lanes.
- Walk the venue at a big low tide to map sand runs and snags for later HW sessions.
- Use long, streamlined bait presentations and keep snoods short to reduce tumble in the tide.
- Fresh peeler crab outfishes most baits for bass and smoothhound; frozen peeler or hardbacks are decent backups.
- For conger, commit: one heavy rod, big oily fish baits, locked drag and be ready to turn them fast.
- Weed can be brutal during summer springs; step down to neaps or shift slightly along the ledges to find clearer lines.
- Night tides in a mild SW breeze are classic for bass/huss; keep light levels low.
- The Hinkley outfalls and structures create unusual currents—stay well outside any marked zones but note that fish often patrol current seams down-tide.
- Always carry spare grip leads and rotten-bottom links—you will lose gear here.
Regulations
Sea angling from the shore is permitted at Lilstock, but a few key rules and good practices apply. Always verify current rules before your trip.
- General: No rod licence required for sea fishing in England; obtain landowner permission if crossing private land other than signed rights of way.
- Bass (England, 2025): Minimum size 42 cm. Recreational daily bag limits and open/closed months are set annually—recent rules have allowed a limited take March–November with catch-and-release in winter; check the latest before retaining any bass.
- IFCAs: This coastline falls under Devon & Severn IFCA. Local byelaws may affect netting, potting, crustacean retention (e.g., berried/hard-shelled) and bait collection. Anglers should comply with all posted notices and IFCA guidance.
- Hinkley Point: Respect any security/exclusion zones and signage near the power station; do not fish within restricted areas.
- Conservation: Much of the foreshore is SSSI—hammering or digging into rock for fossils is prohibited; only loose, surface collecting where allowed. Minimise disturbance and pack out all waste.
- Size/retention: Follow current minimum conservation reference sizes where applicable and practice voluntary catch-and-release for large wrasse, big huss and conger.
- Night access: No known blanket curfew for anglers here, but avoid trespass, keep noise down and be considerate to local residents and livestock.
