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A long, steep shingle beach on Porlock Bay between Porlock Weir and Hurlstone Point. Ground is mixed: cleaner shingle mid-bay with increasingly rough, snaggy patches and boulders toward Hurlstone. Powerful Bristol Channel tides mean strong lateral runs and fast-flooding water; neap to mid-range tides and low light often fish best....
A vast, shallow-gradient sandy beach on the Bristol Channel with an extreme tidal range. Best fished 2–3 hours either side of high water when gutters and channels flood. Typical targets are rays and surf bass; winter brings whiting and the odd codling. Long casts help due to the shallow profile,...
A long limestone headland jutting into the Bristol Channel with deep water close in, strong tidal races and snaggy, kelp-strewn ground. Access is via a steep National Trust path and steps to various rock ledges along the north and south faces and near the fort at the tip. Best fished...
Rocky limestone point at the seaward tip of Brean Down with deep water close in and very strong Bristol Channel tides. Access involves a long walk and steep steps by the fort; ledges fish best on the flood into dusk and around neap tides. Ground is snaggy—use rotten-bottom rigs—and the...
A broad, fast-tidal estuary at the mouth of the Rivers Parrett and Brue with extensive mud and sand flats and some rougher ground near Hinkley Point. Fishing is from safe access points such as Burnham-on-Sea sea wall and beaches (Berrow/Brean), Steart Point and the outer estuary. Expect very strong currents...
Expansive sandy-muddy Bristol Channel surf beach by the iconic Low (stilt) Lighthouse at Burnham-on-Sea. Huge tidal range and a long, shallow gradient create shifting gullies and channels; best fished 2–3 hours either side of low and on the flood. Expect strong tidal pull on bigger springs (use 5–6 oz grip...
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.
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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 |