Where’s The Fish? Logo for Where's The Fish?
Somerset

Woodspring Bay

6.0 · Rocks · Somerset

A remote, fast-flooding, rock-and-reef bay on the north side of Sand Point (Middle Hope) with strong Bristol Channel tides. Mixed ground of limestone ledges, boulders and patches of sand gives gullies and seams that fish well from mid-flood to the first of the ebb. Best on big spring tides when colour and tide draw fish tight to the rock edges. Expect prolific dogfish, summer smoothhounds and bass, with thornbacks possible, plus winter whiting and pouting. Wrasse and rock species are present around the kelpier ledges. Long walk-in via the Middle Hope paths; use 5–7 oz grip leads, abrasion-resistant leaders and pulley or up-and-over rigs. Avoid the soft mud further into the bay and watch for rapid cut-off by the flooding tide.

Should you fish Woodspring Bay?

48 Low

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Bass and Thornback Ray

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 Thornback Ray.

W 7 mph Rain 16% High tide 00:32

Consider a backup mark if conditions do not improve.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Woodspring Bay — 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.

Now

Tide curve will appear once tide data is available.

All windows will appear once the forecast is loaded.

Premium forecast

Unlock exact best windows, tactics and backup options for this mark.

Trip planner

Find the best time to fish Woodspring Bay

Choose when you're free and what you want to catch. We'll show the best tide, weather window and method for this mark.

Premium unlocks exact windows, tactics and alerts.

Premium Mark Insight

Locked

Woodspring Bay is a fast-flooding Bristol Channel rock-and-reef mark where timing matters more than distance. The strongest plan is to fish from the rock ledges over gullies, seams and sand patches from mid-flood through high and into the first of the ebb, using strong bottom gear, grip leads and fresh scent baits. It can produce bass, smoothhounds, rays and dogfish in the warmer months, with whiting, pouting and the odd codling chance in colder coloured water, but the venue becomes difficult and potentially hazardous on the biggest tides, strong onshore winds or if you stray onto mud.

  • Fish the flood without getting caught behind it.
  • Know which casts hit gullies, seams and sand patches.
  • Pick the right tide size for hounds, rays or codling.
  • Avoid the mud, biggest springs and weeded-out sessions.
  • Use rigs that hold bottom and survive the rough ground.

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Kewstoke 2.7 mi West Wick 3.2 mi Clevedon 4.0 mi Weston-super-Mare 4.3 mi Locking 4.4 mi

Explore nearby towns: Kewstoke · West Wick · Clevedon · Weston-super-Mare · Locking

Zoom and pan to explore access points and nearby marks.

Jump to guide

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 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Fish the flooding tide along gutters and the surf line; peeler crab, rag or 4-5in soft plastics. Best May-Oct and after a blow when the water colours.
Thornback Ray 7/10
Tip: Clean sand patches on the flood into dusk; sandeel or squid/sandeel wraps on a pulley pennel 3/0-4/0. Spring and autumn neaps fish well.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Mixed ground at short to medium range; small fish or squid baits. Best on night floods; steady year-round in coloured water.
Smoothhound 7/10
Tip: First of the flood into dark; peeler crab on strong grip leads in channels. Late May-Aug; present baits just downtide of bars and gutters.
Whiting 6/10
Tip: Winter nights; small strips of mackerel or squid on size 2 hooks, two-hook flappers. Cast to deeper gutters on the ebb and first of flood.
Flounder 5/10
Tip: Muddy margins and creek mouths on the first push of flood; rag or lug tipped with fish. Light gear, slow retrieve. Autumn to early spring.
Dover Sole 5/10
Tip: Calm summer nights over soft sand/mud at short range; small rag or lug on size 2-4 hooks, long snoods. Fish the flood.
Cod 4/10
Tip: Late autumn to mid-winter during or after a blow; big lug/squid cocktails on a 4/0 pennel. Target rough ground and gutters on the flood; neaps help hold bottom.
Small-eyed Ray 4/10
Tip: Calm summer evenings over clean sand bars; launce or sandeel on a pulley pennel. Last of ebb into first of flood.
Mullet (Thin-lipped) 4/10
Tip: Warm, settled spells; work small Mepps-style spinner tipped with rag in brackish drains/outflows on the flood. Stealthy approach and light leaders.

Local knowledge

Woodspring Bay fishing guide

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

Woodspring Bay sits on the Middle Hope headland just north of Weston‑super‑Mare, Somerset, facing the fast‑moving waters of the Severn Estuary. It’s a quiet, tidal rock-and-mud venue that rewards careful timing with bass, thornback rays, smoothhounds in summer, and whiting/codling in the colder months.

Set within the National Trust’s Middle Hope estate between Sand Bay and St Thomas’s Head, access is via country lanes from Kewstoke/Sand Bay. Expect a modest but uneven walk to the shoreline and plan your approach around the tide rather than the other way round.

This is a classic Bristol Channel/Severn Estuary mix: fast tide, coloured water, and fish moving along gullies on the flood. Expect better catches after dusk and on building tides.

  • Spring (Mar–May): School bass, thornback ray, dogfish; occasional flounder in muddier pockets
  • Early summer (May–Jun): Smoothhound (peeler crab prime), bass, rays; conger after dark around rough ground
  • High summer (Jul–Aug): Smoothhound, bass, rays, dogfish; strap conger and pout in the boulders
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass peak, whiting arrive, thornbacks continue; chance of codling after blows
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, codling runs in some years, pout, rockling; conger on milder, settled nights
  • Occasional: Sole on adjacent cleaner sand areas; odd dab; do not target European eels (release immediately if encountered)

Bottom tactics dominate here due to the constant colour and tide run; plan simple, strong rigs and fresh baits. Keep tackle losses down with rotten‑bottom links and fish the flood when possible.

  • Rigs: Pulley pennel (4/0–5/0) and up‑and‑over for rays/codling/bass; two‑hook flapper (size 1–2) for whiting and smaller fish; pulley‑dropper when casting to a defined gully
  • Leads: 6–8 oz wired grip leads are standard; the largest springs may need the upper end
  • Baits: Peeler crab (top for smoothhound and bass), fresh black or blow lug, ragworm, squid and bluey/mackerel cocktails for rays/codling; whole squid/Sandeel strip for strap conger and bass at night
  • Distances: Often 30–70 yards to intersect gullies and scours; on a pushing tide fish can run very close to the rock edge
  • Lures: Limited by turbidity; very occasional windows on small neaps and calm evenings for surface/sub‑surface bass lures around flood
  • Tackle: 12–13 ft beach rods with robust reels; 20–25 lb mainline or 0.35–0.40 mm mono with 60–80 lb shock leader; strong hooks and abrasion‑resistant snoods

The Severn’s huge tidal range defines this mark. Medium springs are the sweet spot: enough movement to feed fish without making presentation impossible.

  • Best states: 2–3 hours up to high and the first of the ebb from the rock ledges; avoid venturing onto mud at low
  • Tide size: Medium to large springs often fish best; the very biggest can be unfishable and hazardous; neaps can suit rays/hounds when flow is manageable
  • Time of day: Dusk into dark is consistently better for bass, conger, rays and any codling; daytime is fine for hounds and dogfish
  • Wind/sea: Light to moderate westerlies maintain colour; a blow then a dying sea in autumn can bring codling; strong onshore winds push weed and make holding bottom difficult
  • Water clarity: Rarely clear—scented baits and fresh crab excel; short snoods help in heavy flow

This is a serious tidal venue with slippery rock, soft mud beyond the rock scars, and flood tides that can fill gullies behind you. Treat it with respect and go light on your first visit.

  • Footing: Weed‑covered limestone and boulders—cleated boots essential; avoid stepping onto exposed mud/saltmarsh
  • Cut‑off risk: Identify a safe retreat route before you set up; the flood can isolate ledges quickly
  • Tidal pull: Use adequate gripper leads; keep rod tips high and rods secured on a sturdy tripod
  • Lighting: A good headtorch with spare batteries is mandatory after dark
  • Personal safety: Wear a modern flotation lifejacket; fish with a partner where possible
  • Access: Several stiles and uneven paths—unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for those with limited mobility
  • Estate and MOD: Obey National Trust signage and keep to paths; areas around St Thomas’s Head include fenced former MOD land—do not cross fences or fish from inside restricted zones

Woodspring Bay is rural with no on‑site facilities; plan to be self‑sufficient. Nearest amenities are in Kewstoke, Sand Bay and Weston‑super‑Mare.

  • Parking: National Trust car park for Middle Hope (signed locally); additional parking at Sand Bay car parks—charges and opening times vary
  • Toilets/food: Seasonal public loos and cafes at Sand Bay; broader options in Weston‑super‑Mare
  • Tackle/bait: Several shops in Weston‑super‑Mare and in Clevedon/Bristol; pre‑order peeler crab and worm in season
  • Mobile signal: Can be patchy on the foreshore; advise sharing your plan and checking coverage
  • Bins: Limited—take all litter and waste line home

Think of Woodspring as a moving‑water ambush mark: if you can park a bait where fish travel on the flood, you’ll catch. Keep rigs simple, sharp and strong.

  • Use a weak‑link/rotten‑bottom on every rig—snags happen; better to lose a lead than a full rig
  • Mark your retreat route and note prominent features at low light; gullies fill behind you surprisingly fast
  • Peeler crab is king for smoothhounds from late May—small, well‑bound baits out‑fish big lumps
  • For rays, present squid/bluey cocktails on a pulley pennel and let them sit—don’t move the lead constantly
  • When whiting are thick, switch to larger hooks/baits after dark to target bass/rays and avoid pins
  • After an autumn blow, try the last 2 hours of the flood into high for a realistic codling chance
  • Travel light: backpack, tripod, two rods max; long walk and uneven ground punish over‑packing

Woodspring Bay sits within nationally important conservation designations for the Severn Estuary, and the foreshore is part of the National Trust’s Middle Hope estate. Angling is generally permitted from the public foreshore, but you must follow site rules and wider fisheries regulations.

  • Site rules: Keep to marked paths across the estate, respect livestock, no fires/camping, and avoid disturbance to nesting/overwintering birds; comply with any temporary notices
  • Protected species: If you catch European eel, shad or lamprey, release immediately—do not target or retain protected species
  • Bass (England, 2024): Recreational bass rules included a closed/restricted period early in the year and a 2‑fish daily bag at a 42 cm minimum during the open season; always check current GOV.UK/IFCA updates before your trip as rules change
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits: Observe national and any local IFCA byelaws for species such as rays, cod, bass and flatfish; measure fish and release undersize specimens
  • Bait collection: Hand‑gathering only where allowed; do not dig or disturb sensitive saltmarsh/SSSI features; follow National Trust guidance on bait collection
  • Access restrictions: Do not enter fenced MOD areas at St Thomas’s Head or cross any safety barriers; obey all warning signs
  • Tidy tackle: Remove all litter and waste line; leaving tackle is an offence in some byelaws and endangers wildlife