Wales

Summary

Wales offers one of the UK’s most varied sea-fishing coastlines, from the rocky headlands of Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula to the sweeping surf beaches of Gower and the huge, fast-moving Bristol Channel. There are estuaries, reefs, piers, harbours, and deep-water rock marks, plus sheltered bays for beginners. It’s renowned for bass, smoothhound, rays, and summer mackerel, with winter codling and whiting in the south and excellent mixed-species sport almost everywhere.

Location and Access

• North Wales Coast and Dee Estuary: Sandy beaches and sea defences from Talacre to Llandudno produce flatties, rays, whiting, and smoothhound in season; the Dee Estuary has flounder and school bass. Llandudno North Shore and the Little Orme offer rough-ground fishing for wrasse, pollack, huss, and conger.

• Anglesey and Menai Strait: A rock-fishing paradise with ledges, headlands, and sheltered bays. Bass, pollack, wrasse, huss, conger, rays, and summer tope are all realistic. The Menai Strait has fierce tides but offers specimens on the right states, plus sheltered lure fishing for bass and pollack.

• Llŷn Peninsula: Rugged rock marks and clear water suit lure fishing for bass, pollack, and wrasse; baits produce huss, rays, and occasional tope. Surf beaches like Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth) can shine for bass and rays after a blow.

• Cardigan Bay (Gwynedd and Ceredigion): Long, gently shelving beaches at Barmouth, Tywyn, Aberdyfi, Borth, and Ynyslas hold bass, flounder, turbot (occasional), rays, and smoothhound in summer; mackerel and garfish in calm spells. Harbours and breakwaters such as Aberystwyth suit beginners and LRF.

• Pembrokeshire Coast and Milford Haven: Deep, rocky shores around St Davids and Strumble for pollack, wrasse, huss, conger; sheltered coves and piers for mackerel and garfish; surf beaches (Freshwater West, Newgale) for bass. Milford Haven waterway gives year-round options, rays and hounds in summer, codling and whiting in winter. Charter boats target tope and seasonal blue sharks offshore.

• Carmarthen Bay and Burry Inlet: Shallow estuarine sands and strong tides. Classic smoothhound and bass ground in late spring and summer, with rays and flatties; winter whiting and codling in the right weather. Beware soft mud and fast flooding channels.

• Gower Peninsula and Swansea Bay: A compact mix of rocky points, surf beaches, and accessible promenades. Bass, rays (small-eyed, thornback), smoothhound, and mackerel in season; wrasse and pollack from rocks. Swansea promenade and Mumbles structures fish well and are beginner-friendly.

• Vale of Glamorgan to Severn Estuary (Porthcawl, Ogmore, Barry, Penarth, Newport): Bristol Channel energy means huge tidal range and hard-running water. Small-eyed and thornback rays, smoothhound, conger, codling in winter, dogfish, and bass in surf. Piers and breakwaters around Barry and Penarth are productive and popular.

Seasons & Species

• Spring (Mar–May):

  • Bass start to show on surf and rocky marks (best from April/May)
  • Smoothhound build from late May in the south and north
  • Rays (thornback, small-eyed) pick up on sandy venues
  • Wrasse and pollack return to inshore rocks as water warms

• Summer (Jun–Aug):

  • Bass peak across surf beaches and reefs
  • Mackerel and garfish in calm, clear spells; scad at dusk
  • Smoothhound prime time (crab baits); tope possible from selected beaches and boats
  • Rays (thornback, spotted, small-eyed; blonde in Bristol Channel)
  • Wrasse, pollack, huss, and conger from rough ground
  • Flatties (plaice in Cardigan Bay pockets, dabs, occasional turbot)

• Autumn (Sep–Nov):

  • Bass often at their best until first big chills
  • Rays continue on neap-to-mid tides
  • Huss and conger reliable on rock marks
  • Whiting arrive; codling prospects improve in the Bristol Channel and South Wales

• Winter (Dec–Feb):

  • Whiting, codling in the south and estuaries; dabs and flounder widespread
  • Rock marks for conger and huss on calmer nights
  • Spurdog show on certain deeper north-west marks (more boat/charter oriented)

Notes:

• Bass recreational fishery (2024 rules): 2 fish per angler per day at 42 cm min from 1 Mar–30 Nov; catch and release only Dec–Feb. Always check current Welsh Government/UK updates before you go.
• Small-eyed rays are a South Wales specialty (Porthcawl, Ogmore, Gower).

Methods & Tackle

• Beach and clean-to-mixed ground: 12–13 ft beach rods with 4–6 oz grip leads; clipped-down 1- or 2-hook rigs for distance. Pulley and pulley pennel rigs excel for bass, rays, and huss.
• Rough ground and rock marks: Strong gear, abrasion-resistant leaders, and rotten-bottom links. Pulley pennel with big fish baits (mackerel, squid) for huss and conger; 3–5 oz leads depending on tide.
• Estuaries: 2–3 hook flappers or wishbones with lugworm, ragworm, or crab for flounder, school bass, and dabs. Use lighter leads where possible to reduce snagging.
• Lures: Shallow divers and soft plastics for bass; metals and slim jigs for mackerel and pollack on tides; weedless soft plastics for wrasse and bass in kelp. LRF around piers and harbours for mini species.
• Floats: Mackerel, garfish, and wrasse from rocks and piers with small hooks and slivers of mackerel or rag.
• Baits: Lug and rag for codling and general species; peeler or hard crab for smoothhound and bass; sandeel and squid for rays; mackerel strip for garfish and gurnard; cocktail baits (lug-squid) in the Bristol Channel.
• Tackle notes: 30–60 lb shock leaders for power casting; 20–30 lb mono or 30–40 lb braid mainline for rough ground. Grip leads are essential on surf and tide. In clear water, scale down hooks and leaders for more bites.

Tides and Conditions

• Tides: The Bristol Channel has one of the world’s largest tidal ranges, creating powerful currents and dramatic flood/ebb streams. Many marks fish best around the first and last hours of the tide; big springs can be unfishable mid-tide. North and west coasts have moderate to strong ranges with local races (Menai Strait especially).
• Wind and swell: South-westerlies drive surf and colour on west-facing beaches, often great for bass. Prolonged calm or light northerlies give clear water for mackerel, garfish, wrasse, and lure fishing. After Atlantic lows, West and Pembrokeshire coasts can be dangerously swell-prone for 24–48 hours.
• Water clarity: Clear, calm conditions favour lures and float tactics; coloured water benefits bait fishing for bass, codling, and rays. Summer blooms and post-gale “snot weed” can be an issue—move to find clearer water.
• Safety triggers: Avoid exposed rock marks on large swells or strong onshore winds; know cut-off points on tidal reefs and estuaries; and treat the Menai Strait and Severn Estuary with particular respect due to rapid tidal streams.

Safety & Acccess

• Cliffs and rocks: Anglesey, Llŷn, and Pembrokeshire have sheer and weed-slick rocks—wear good footwear and consider a personal flotation device. Never fish alone on remote ledges.
• Swell: Atlantic groundswell lingers after storms; many rock marks remain unsafe even when the wind drops. If in doubt, don’t go out.
• Tidal cut-offs: Classic hazards include Worm’s Head causeway (Gower), Ogmore and Burry Inlet channels, and broad estuary sands at Aberdyfi and Ynyslas. Learn the local safe windows.
• Fast water: Menai Strait and the Severn/Bristol Channel run hard—position high, use strong gear, and avoid low platforms on big springs.
• Soft sands and mud: Estuaries like the Burry and Dyfi have sinking mud and hidden gutters—avoid wading unknown ground, especially at night.
• Access and permissions: Some military ranges (e.g., Castlemartin, Aberporth) and conservation zones have closures or restrictions; check notices. Many popular beaches are pay-and-display with good facilities.
• Comms and planning: Tell someone your plan, carry a headlamp and spare, check forecasts, and use tide tables. Pack warm, waterproof layers even in summer.

Tips

• For bass on surf beaches, a rolling lead and big lug or crab bait fished in the first gutter can beat a long cast.
• Smoothhound love peeler crab; a simple running ledger with a 3/0–4/0 circle hook lands more fish and helps release.
• On Bristol Channel rays, fish neap-to-mid tides for control; aim for the first two hours of the flood or last of the ebb.
• If floating weed is relentless, move a few hundred yards—lines of clearer water often sit along sandbars or rips.
• On clear, calm evenings, switch to lures for bass and pollack; fish the last light into dusk.
• Bring a drop net for piers and high walls around Barry, Penarth, and Aberystwyth.
• Use rotten-bottom links over kelp and boulder ground; you’ll lose leads, not fish.
• Night sessions transform catch rates for conger, huss, rays, and larger bass.
• Check local bait collection rules and protected areas; don’t dig on seagrass or nursery zones.
• Keep a species kit ready: small hooks and rag for mini species while you wait on a big bait rod.

Nearby

• North West England – Dee Estuary and Wirral to Fylde: surf beaches, estuaries, and rays/flatfish; handy from North East Wales.
• South West England – Somerset and North Devon on the Bristol Channel: similar tides, small-eyed and blonde rays, codling in winter.
• West Country (Devon and Cornwall, Atlantic side) – more rugged surf and clear-water rock fishing, accessible via the M4/M5 from South Wales.
• Northern Ireland – Irish Sea rock and surf marks with tope and pollack, a ferry hop from North Wales ports.

FAQs

• Do I need a licence to sea fish in Wales?

  • No licence is required for recreational sea angling from the shore, but a rod licence is needed for migratory fish in tidal rivers/estuaries beyond the seaward limits. Check local byelaws, size/bag limits, and bass regulations before you go.

• When is the best time to fish?

  • Late spring through autumn gives the broadest variety (bass, hounds, rays, mackerel). Winter focuses on whiting and codling, especially in South Wales and the Bristol Channel. Many venues fish best around dawn, dusk, and at night.

• Where is good for beginners?

  • Piers and promenades at Mumbles, Penarth, Barry, and Aberystwyth; sheltered Anglesey bays; and broad beaches like Rest Bay or Tywyn with lifeguarded access and parking.

• Can you night fish?

  • Yes, and it’s often more productive for larger bass, rays, huss, and conger. Choose safe, familiar marks, bring strong lighting, and avoid swell-exposed ledges.

• What baits work best?

  • Lugworm and ragworm are great all-rounders; peeler or hardback crab for smoothhound and bass; sandeel and squid for rays; mackerel strips for garfish and gurnard. Always match bait to ground and target species.

Summary Table

Area	Access	Best species	Best methods	Prime season	Safety notes	Facilities
North Wales and Anglesey	Mixed: beaches, piers, rocks	Bass, pollack, wrasse, huss, rays, mackerel	Lures on rocks, pulley pennel with fish/squid, feathers	May–Oct	Swell and cliff hazards; Menai tides	Good parking at bays, some piers
Llŷn and Cardigan Bay	Long beaches, harbour walls	Bass, rays, smoothhound, flatties, mackerel, garfish	Surf casting with worm/crab, sandeel for rays, float/lure in calm	May–Sep for summer species; autumn bass	Rip channels and estuary cut-offs	Holiday amenities, Pay-and-display
Pembrokeshire and Milford Haven	Rocky headlands, coves, deep estuary	Pollack, wrasse, huss, conger, bass, rays	Rock ledgering, float for wrasse/gar, lures for bass	May–Oct	Atlantic swell, cliffs; range closures	Car parks, piers, some toilets
South Wales and Bristol Channel	Piers, promenades, surf beaches	Small-eyed and thornback rays, smoothhound, bass, codling, whiting	Pulley pennel, clipped-down distance rigs, worm-squid cocktails	May–Sep for rays/hounds; Nov–Feb for codling/whiting	Huge tides, strong currents, pier safety	Urban facilities, good access