Summary
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.
Location and Access
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)
Seasons
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)
Methods
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
Tides and Conditions
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
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
Facilities
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
Tips
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
Regulations
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
