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A broad, shallow sand-and-mud beach on the inner Bristol Channel with a huge tidal range and powerful currents. Best fished from the firm sand and sea-wall steps near the lighthouse on a flooding tide, focusing on gutters and the advancing edge of the tide. Expect rays, bass, whiting and summer...
A broad, shallow sandy-mud estuary beach just south of the pier on the Bristol Channel. Huge tidal range and fast currents shape multiple gutters and channels; most anglers fish 2–3 hours either side of high water from the top of the beach or promenade. Expect flounder and bass as staples,...
A wide, gently shelving sand-and-shingle beach on Blue Anchor Bay (Carhampton parish) with an extreme Bristol Channel tide. Clean-to-mixed ground with gullies favors rays and flatfish; best results come on the flood into dusk/night. Spring–autumn produces small-eyed and thornback rays and summer bass; winter brings whiting with the odd codling....
A small, tidal rocky cove on the North Somerset coast between Clevedon and Portishead. Charlcombe Bay is mostly rough, bouldery ground with weed and gullies, opening onto patches of mud/sand at distance. The Bristol Channel’s big tides and fast run are the dominant factors here: it fishes best over mid...
A well-known mark on the Severn Estuary promenade at Clevedon with easy, rail‑side access and parking along The Beach. Expect extremely strong tides, fast currents, heavy weed on springs, and very turbid water. Ground is mixed rough over clay, boulders and patches of mud/sand with plenty of snags, so use...
A rugged rocky headland on the Minehead (Somerset) shoreline with quick access to deep, tide-scoured water. Ground is rough with kelp, boulders and gullies; a rotten-bottom setup is strongly advised. Best results come around neap tides, especially dusk into dark on the flood and first of the ebb. On big...
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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Are there size or bag limits?
| 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 |