Minehead Bay Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Minehead Bay Fishing Map

A broad, sandy bay on the Bristol Channel with an enormous tidal range. Best fished on the flood and first of the ebb, especially at dusk and into darkness. Clean-to-mixed ground with gutters and banks; crab, worm, squid and sandeel baits all excel. Summer brings smoothhounds and rays; winter sees whiting in numbers, with dogfish year-round. Easy access from the promenade and multiple car parks, but be mindful of fast tides and soft patches.

Ratings

⭐ 7.5/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Minehead Bay

🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 9/10
🎯 Tip: Very common after dark. Fish the flood into and over HW on the clean sand with small mackerel/sandeel strips on 2-hook flappers. Keep baits rolling in the tide.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf on a flooding tide, especially with a building sea. Cast into first/second gutters; peeler crab, lug or sandeel. Dawn/dusk and around the harbour features fish well.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 8/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring to early autumn. Evening floods over clean sand; long casts to outer gutters. Sandeel or squid/sandeel on pulley rigs. Hold the rod in strong tide.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Oct-Feb nights on big tides. Small mackerel or worm strips on 2-3 hook flappers. Best on last of the flood to HW and first of the ebb.
🐟 Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: May-Sep with fresh peeler crab. Target sand channels on the flood into dusk; medium-range casts. Use strong snoods and release quickly.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Autumn-winter. Short casts into the first gutter with lug or maddies; let rigs trundle with the tide. Best on the last half of the flood.
🐟 Dab 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late autumn to spring. Long casts over clean sand with small lug or sandeel slivers on size 2-4 hooks. Flood tide is best.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings on the flood. Fresh peeler crab; aim at sand runnels at medium range. Keep gear light for bites but use 20-30 lb leaders.
🐟 Thornback Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring and autumn evenings. Squid or bluey/sandeel on pulley rigs; aim beyond the first bar over mixed patches on the flood to HW.
🐟 Conger Eel 4/10
🎯 Tip: After dark near the harbour walls/rough patches. Large fish baits on strong traces. Fish slack water or first of the ebb to stay in touch in the tide.

Minehead Bay Fishing

Summary

Minehead Bay sits on the Somerset edge of the Bristol Channel, framed by the harbour to the west and the long tourist beach running towards the Butlins end. It’s a classic Bristol Channel venue with a vast tidal range, dependable summer smoothhounds and rays, plus productive winter sessions for codling and whiting. Expect fast tides, turbidity, and hard‑running surf that bring fish close to the sandbanks and gutters.

Location and Access

Minehead is reached via the A39, with clear brown signs for the seafront and Harbour. Access is straightforward: you can fish from the promenade over the top of the beach, from the open sands at lower states, or around the rockier harbour perimeter where permitted by signage. Parking is plentiful but often pay‑and‑display in season.

Seasons

This is a mixed venue that follows the Bristol Channel rhythm: rays and hounds through the warmer months, codling and whiting in the cold, with bass and eels showing on the right seas.

Occasional visitors include sole on calm warm nights and silver eels; mackerel are uncommon this far up‑channel due to turbidity.

Methods

Robust beach gear is the norm because of the Bristol Channel’s run and debris. Present clean baits cleanly for rays and hounds, and scale down to multi‑hook rigs for winter bits and whiting.

Tides and Conditions

Minehead sits in the second‑largest tidal range on earth, so plan around tide height and run. The bay often fishes best when water is moving into or across the gutters and bars.

Safety

This is a friendly venue but the tide is fast, the sand shifts, and harbour stones can be slick. Keep a conservative mindset and a close eye on the waterline.

Facilities

Minehead is a full‑service seaside town, so shore anglers benefit from easy amenities before and after a session. Expect seasonal crowds and busy parking in peak holidays.

Tips

Think gutters, not the horizon: fish move along edges and bars with the flood. Fresh bait and tidy presentations out‑fish distance alone in the Bristol Channel.

Regulations

Sea angling is generally permitted around Minehead Bay, but local harbour rules and seasonal notices apply. Always check on‑site signage before setting up, and keep clear of RNLI and commercial operations.