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Somerset

Weston-super-Mare North Beach

6.0 · Beach · Somerset

Wide, gently shelving sand/mud on the north end of Weston Bay, fished from the promenade/sea wall between Knightstone/Marine Lake and towards Birnbeck. Enormous Bristol Channel tides mean the sea races in and retreats fast; the mudflats are dangerous—fish from firm ground only. Best results are 2 hours either side of high water, especially on spring tides. The seabed is mostly clean sand with gutters and occasional patches of rougher ground; water is very coloured, favouring scent-led baits. Summer brings smoothhounds, rays and bass; autumn–winter sees whiting and the odd codling, with dogfish present much of the year. Standard tactics are pulley rigs or 2-hook flappers with worm and fish baits, casting short to medium range to intersect the tide-formed channels.

Should you fish Weston-super-Mare North Beach?

55 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Flounder and Bass

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

W 5 mph Rain 16% High tide 00:07

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Weston-super-Mare North Beach — 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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Weston-super-Mare North Beach is a big-tide, coloured-water bait venue where timing and safe positioning matter more than distance. The most reliable plan is to fish from firm upper beach, promenade steps, or sea wall positions around the flood and high water, placing scent-heavy baits into the first and second gutters rather than trekking out across the mud. Springs usually bring more movement and better chances of bass, rays, smoothhounds and winter codling, while calmer neap nights can suit sole, flounder and dogfish.

  • Know when to fish the flood instead of chasing the retreating tide.
  • Target the first and second gutters without walking onto the mud.
  • Pick the right rig for bass, rays, sole, whiting or hounds.
  • Learn when springs help — and when neaps present better.
  • Have a safer backup plan before the tide beats you.

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Weston-super-Mare 0.3 mi Kewstoke 1.7 mi Hutton (North Somerset) 2.8 mi Locking 3.0 mi West Wick 3.5 mi

Explore nearby towns: Weston-super-Mare · Kewstoke · Hutton (North Somerset) · Locking · West Wick

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

Overall rating

6.0 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 8/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Peeler crab or lug in the surf gutters; best on flooding tide at dusk, rough seas stir the food. Fish close—1st/2nd gully.
Flounder 7/10
Tip: Rag/lug tipped with maddies; short casts to channels and creek mouths on the ebb. Winter into spring; keep baits static in the mud.
Thornback Ray 7/10
Tip: Sandeel/squid casts to the outer gully on big spring tides; last 2 hrs of flood into first of ebb. Use 5-6oz grip leads and a pulley rig.
Whiting 6/10
Tip: Winter nights; lug/squid cocktails at range on the flood. Use 2-hook flappers for bites, then switch to pennel for better fish.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: Small fish/squid strips after dark on neap tides; cast mid-range and let baits soak.
Smoothhound 6/10
Tip: Peeler crab baits on flooding tide May–Aug; fish where tide run eases behind bars/groynes.
Starry Smoothhound 6/10
Tip: Hard crabs at dusk on midsummer springs; long cast to cleaner sand fingers; pulley pennel 3/0, keep lead nailed.
Dover Sole 5/10
Tip: Calm summer nights; ragworm/maddies on size 2 hooks, short casts into the gutter within 30–50m, minimal lead and slack line.
European Eel 4/10
Tip: Occasional on worm baits in the creeks at dusk; summer floods. Barbless/offset hooks and release quickly—protected species.
Cod 3/10
Tip: Late autumn/winter after storms; big lug/squid baits at range; fish top of flood on springs. Rare but possible.

Local knowledge

Weston-super-Mare North Beach fishing guide

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

Weston-super-Mare North Beach sits on the upper Bristol Channel, famous for extreme tides, soft mudflats, and highly coloured water. It’s a convenient town-centre venue with easy promenade access, producing bass, flounder, codling and winter whiting when fished on the flooding tide. If you respect the tide and avoid the mud, it’s a productive and accessible mark for bait anglers.

This mark covers the main beach north of the Grand Pier towards Knightstone/Marine Lake and the Birnbeck side of the bay. Access is straight off the seafront promenade with multiple ramps and steps down to the sand, making it a simple venue to reach with a trolley or barrow.

  • From the M5 (J21), follow the A370 into Weston-super-Mare and then signs for the Sea Front/Marine Parade
  • Pay-and-display parking along the seafront and nearby town car parks; arrive early on summer weekends to secure a space
  • Short, easy walk from the car to fishable spots along the promenade; most anglers fish from the top of the beach or the sea wall on higher tides
  • Ground is mainly firm sand turning to soft, silty mud lower down the beach; do not trek out across exposed flats
  • Nearest general seafront postcode area: BS23 (use seafront car parks signed Marine Parade/Knightstone)

The North Beach is an estuarine-style venue with classic Bristol Channel species. Expect numbers to improve when the water is moving and temperatures drop in autumn/winter.

  • Spring (Mar–May): school bass, flounder, eels; odd thornback ray on bigger tides; early dogfish on warmer spells
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): school and occasional better bass, flounder, silver eels, dogfish; chance of sole on neaps at night
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass (peak), flounder, increasing whiting and pouting; first codling after autumn blows
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): codling in northerly wind lulls after south-westerly storms; good numbers of whiting, pouting, dogfish; conger possible after dark near rougher ground by the headlands
  • Scarcer visitors: thornback ray, smoothhound (late spring), mullet around the Marine Lake area (note local restrictions apply there)

Strong tides and silty ground reward simple, scent-heavy bait tactics. Most success comes to bottom fishing with wired leads, placing baits in gutters and run-offs as the tide floods.

  • Rigs: 2-hook flapper (size 2–1/0) for flounder/whiting; pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) or up-and-over for bass/codling/ray
  • Leads: 5–7 oz wired/grip leads to hold bottom; cast slightly uptide and let the lead bed in
  • Baits: fresh blow/black lugworm is king; ragworm, peeler crab (spring/early summer), squid strips or lug/squid cocktails for codling and bass; mackerel strip for dogfish/whiting; mussel/razor as alternatives
  • Range: medium to short; drop baits onto the first and second gutters rather than blasting long
  • Timing: 2–3 hours up and 1–2 hours down around high water; after-dark sessions markedly improve bites, especially in summer for bass/sole and in winter for whiting/codling
  • Extras: use bait elastic to withstand crabs and tide; for flounder, add a few bright beads and a small spinner blade above the hook

This is a big-tide venue; plan around the flood and avoid being caught by the speed of the water. Colour is usually heavy, which suits bait fishing and bass prospecting in broken weather.

  • Best states: mid-flood through high water; first push of the flood can be excellent for bass
  • Springs vs neaps: springs bring more movement and often more fish but require heavier leads; neaps are easier to present baits and good for sole and flounder at night
  • Wind: a blow from the SW stirring the surf can switch on bass and later codling; ease-off periods after a storm often fish best
  • Light: dusk into dark boosts bites year-round; bright, busy daytime on summer weekends is usually poorer
  • Water: always coloured; lures are niche here, though occasionally viable around rougher edges near headlands in calm dawn conditions

Safety is paramount at Weston due to soft mud and the speed of the incoming tide. Most anglers sensibly fish from the upper beach or promenade steps and retreat as the water rises.

  • Do not walk out onto exposed mudflats; soft, silty areas can swallow boots and present real risk
  • The tide floods fast and can form channels behind you; plan an escape line and step back regularly
  • Avoid getting cut off near Knightstone/Marine Lake causeways and around any sand bars
  • Wear a headlamp at night, grippy footwear, and consider a PFD if fishing near water level or in poor conditions
  • Tripod essential to keep tackle out of the silt; rinse gear after sessions as fine mud is abrasive
  • Birnbeck Pier is closed and unsafe; no access for fishing
  • In summer, designated bathing zones and lifeguard areas may restrict fishing close to swimmers—observe signage and directions
  • Accessibility: level promenade access with ramps in several places; suitable for trolleys and many mobility aids, though soft sand limits wheelchair use on the beach itself

The mark benefits from full town-front amenities. You can combine a session with easy parking and plenty of food options.

  • Public toilets along the seafront (seasonal opening hours), plus facilities near the Grand Pier area
  • Cafés, takeaways, and shops within a short walk; ATMs in town
  • Tackle and bait available from shops in Weston-super-Mare and nearby towns—call ahead for fresh lug/rag
  • RNLI lifeguards patrol designated bathing areas in season (typically daytime, late spring to early autumn)
  • Good mobile phone coverage along the promenade
  • Pay-and-display parking on and just off Marine Parade; height restrictions apply in some car parks

Success here is about reading the gutters and working with the tide. Keep mobile, keep baits fresh, and don’t ignore the edges.

  • Find the first gutter on the flood and drop a lug or crab bait into the seam of moving water—bass often patrol these lines
  • Mark your retreat points on the promenade and move back in stages to keep baits in productive water
  • Fish small, fresh baits and top up often; crabs are active in warmer months
  • A flapper with one short snood and one longer snood covers both close and slightly further-placed baits
  • After a proper SW blow, switch to lug/squid cocktails on a 3/0 pennel and fish into dusk for codling
  • Night neaps with tiny lug or rag sections can pick out sole tight to the sand’s edge
  • Keep an eye on kitesurfers and summer beach users—choose quiet corners and evenings for a hassle-free session

England has national and local rules that apply to shore angling here. Always check the latest official sources before you fish.

  • No rod licence is required for sea fishing from the shore in England
  • Bass regulations change periodically; check the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for current rules on seasons, daily bag limits, and the 42 cm minimum size
  • Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws apply in this area; review local measures on bait collection, estuarine protected sites, and any seasonal restrictions
  • Respect council byelaws: no fishing in designated bathing zones when lifeguards or signage prohibit it; obey any on-site notices around Marine Lake and promenades
  • Birnbeck Pier is closed to the public—no access or fishing
  • Handle and release protected species (e.g., tope and most skates/rays if undersized) with care; use barbless or crushed barbs when practical
  • General good practice: return undersized fish promptly, minimize time out of water, and follow local catch-and-release guidance for estuarine species