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A tidal rocky headland at the tip of the Middle Hope peninsula near Kewstoke, giving casting access to fast, deep Bristol Channel water over mixed rough ground (limestone ledges, boulders and sand patches). Best on the last 2–3 hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb; big spring...
A broad set of rough-ground bars and scars between Stolford and Hinkley Point that dry on big ebbs and form deep gullies. Powerful Bristol Channel tides rip across mixed boulder, rock and hard clay, with patches of sand. Best fished around low water on springs (roughly 2 hours either side)...
St Audries Bay is a mixed sand, shingle and broken-ground beach beneath high cliffs between Watchet and Kilve on the Somerset coast. It fishes best on the flood and the first of the ebb around medium to large tides, with fast currents typical of the Bristol Channel’s big tidal range....
An exposed estuary mark on the edge of Bridgwater Bay at the mouth of the River Parrett, with vast mudflats, shingle patches and shifting channels. The tidal range is extreme and the current fierce; sessions are best planned for the last couple of hours of the flood and the first...
Exposed estuarine point at the mouth of the River Parrett on Bridgwater Bay. Vast tidal range, very strong currents and extensive mudflats/gutters define the ground. Fishing is focused around the scoured channels and gutter edges on the flood and first of the ebb, with spring tides best for rays and...
A broad, shallow shingle-and-mud beach on the east side of Hinkley Point in Bridgwater Bay. It fishes best on the flood and around high water, especially on big spring tides when deeper gutters form within casting range. Expect powerful tides, a huge tidal range, and drifting weed. Use strong 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.
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 |