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A long, flat Bristol Channel surf beach running south from the Grand Pier toward Uphill and the River Axe. Expect a huge tidal range, fast-moving water and extensive sand/mud flats. Best fished the last 2–3 hours of the flood into high water and the first hour of the ebb, targeting...
A small, stony cove just east of Battery Point at Portishead, with rough ground, kelp, and fast Bristol Channel tides. Best fished over neaps or around slack water to reduce drag and snags. Depth builds quickly, giving access to conger, huss, rock species and seasonal visitors. Expect heavy ground and...
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...
Worlebury Rocks is a rocky shoreline mark on the northern side of the Weston-super-Mare/Worlebury headland in the Bristol Channel. The mark features rock ledges, kelp beds and nearby deeper gullies with a very large tidal range and strong currents. Best fished on an incoming or slack tide; access is via...
Somerset’s short but varied coastline fronts the Bristol Channel/Severn Estuary and ranges from Exmoor’s rocky coves around Porlock and Minehead to vast mudflats and sea walls in Bridgwater Bay, then on to long, shallow sands at Burnham, Berrow, Brean and Weston-super-Mare. It experiences one of the world’s largest tidal ranges, creating powerful currents, extensive intertidal ground and highly tidal fishing windows. The area is famed for spring thornback rays, summer smoothhounds and bass, with reliable winter whiting and conger from rougher marks.
Exmoor Coast (Porlock Weir to Minehead)
Blue Anchor Bay & Dunster
Watchet to Kilve, Lilstock and Hinkley Point
Bridgwater Bay & Steart Peninsula
Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow & Brean Down
Weston-super-Mare & Sand Bay (North Somerset)
Clevedon to Portishead (Upper Bristol Channel)
| Season | Most likely species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Late Winter (Feb) | Flounder, whiting, conger | Estuary flounder tails off by March; conger from rough ground at night. |
| Spring (Mar–May) | Thornback ray, bass (building), dogfish, smoothhound (from May) | Rays arrive with crab moult; bass on smaller tides; hounds start mid/late May with crab. |
| Early Summer (Jun) | Smoothhound (peak), thornback ray, bass, huss | Warmth + crab = hound time; dusk floods excellent. |
| High Summer (Jul–Aug) | Smoothhound, bass, thornback ray, mullet, garfish (west), occasional mackerel (west) | Clear neaps on the Exmoor side may see surface fish; estuary areas stay coloured—bait rules. |
| Early Autumn (Sep–Oct) | Bass (peak), rays, huss, whiting (arrive), conger | Surf bassing after blows; rays steady; nights lengthen for conger. |
| Late Autumn–Winter (Nov–Jan) | Whiting, rays (mild spells), conger, codling (variable) | Codling appear in cold snaps; whiting reliable on most clean-ish venues. |
Beach/estuary ledgering:
Lure fishing (west of Minehead/rocky ground):
Float fishing: Effective for garfish and wrasse on Porlock/rockier marks in summer when water clears.
General considerations: Keep rods high on sea walls to clear weed. A long tripod or rail rest helps. Don’t overcast on shallow bays—fish often run close along the first bank and gutter.
Do I need a licence to sea fish in Somerset?
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| Area/Mark | Access | Ground | Best species | Prime season | Go-to methods | Safety/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porlock Weir–Minehead | Harbours, promenades, short walks | Mixed rock, boulder, shingle | Bass, conger, huss, rays; occasional mackerel/gar | May–Oct (bass/rays), year-round conger | Pulley pennel with squid/crab; lures on clear neaps | Cut-off risk on ledges; slippery weeded rock |
| Blue Anchor & Dunster | Promenade/sea wall | Sand/shingle with reef patches | Thornback ray, bass, dogs, smoothhound | Mar–Jun and Sep–Oct (rays), Jun–Aug (hounds/bass) | Grip leads, pulley/up-and-over with squid/crab/lug | Strong tide; fish flood top/first of ebb |
| Watchet–Kilve–Lilstock | Field paths, rough access | Reef/kelp rough ground | Conger, huss, rays, bass, codling (variable) | Apr–Oct (mixed), winter for codling in cold snaps | Rotten-bottom pulley pennel; big fish baits | Slippy ledges; heavy tackle; plan exits |
| Bridgwater Bay & Steart | Sea banks/defences | Estuary channels, mudflats | Smoothhound, rays, bass, flounder | May–Aug (hounds), spring/autumn (rays) | Running ledger/pulley with crab; lug for bass/flounder | No mud walking; fast-flood danger; SSSI rules |
| Burnham–Berrow–Brean | Promenades, beach steps | Shallow sand, banks; rocky headland at Brean | Smoothhound, rays, bass, winter whiting | May–Oct (hounds/bass/rays), Nov–Jan (whiting) | 5–7 oz grips; crab/lug; squid wraps | Soft sand/mud; fierce rips off Brean Down |
| Weston & Sand Bay | Promenades/sea wall | Broad sandy bays | Rays, smoothhound, bass, whiting | May–Oct (rays/hounds/bass), winter whiting | Pulley/flapper; lug, crab, squid | Weed after blows; big intertidal distance |
| Clevedon–Portishead | Promenades/ledges | Rock/clay shelves, strong flow | Rays, conger, whiting, bass | Sep–Nov (mixed), winter whiting | Strong ledgering, short snoods, squid/fish/crab | Some venues permit-only; powerful tide |