Sea fishing in Pembrokeshire
Places to fish in Pembrokeshire
Last updated: 1 month ago
Fishing Marks in Pembrokeshire
Abercastle Bay
Abercastle Bay is a small, sheltered cove with a pebble/stone foreshore and rugged rock edges either side of the inlet. Access is straightforward from the village/harbour area, with fishing mainly from the rocky margins and boulder-strewn shoreline; it’s a typical north Pembrokeshire rock mark with clear water, kelp and gullies...
Abercastle Harbour
Small, sheltered stone harbour and tidal inlet with easy access from the village and fishing mostly from the harbour wall, slips and surrounding rocky edges. It’s a classic Pembrokeshire mixed ground mark: calmer water inside for float/light ledger work, and stronger tide and deeper water just outside for spinning and...
Abereiddi Bay
Small, steep-sided bay on the north Pembrokeshire coast with mixed ground: kelp-covered rocks and gullies either side and a short shingle/sand strip at the back. Access is by the coastal path/steps down to the beach and then fishing from rock ledges, boulders and the edges of weed beds; it’s a...
Aberporth
Aberporth offers classic west Wales shore fishing from rocky headlands and boulder scars either side of two small beaches, with easy access from the village paths and car parks. Expect mixed ground—kelp, gullies and sand patches—suited to float fishing and light lure work in calm seas, and to bait fishing...
Amroth Beach
Wide, gently shelving sand beach at Amroth with a stony/reef edge and rock outcrops toward the eastern end; easy walk-on access from the village seafront and car parks. It fishes mainly as a clean-sand surf mark for flatfish and bass, with occasional rays and smoothhound when tides and water clarity...
Angle Bay
Angle Bay sits on the inside of Milford Haven Waterway by Angle village, offering mainly shore fishing from mixed rock/stone edges and small shingle patches with deep water close in on bigger tides. Access is easy via the village and coastal path with short walks to various ledges; it generally...
Fishing in Pembrokeshire
Summary
Overview
Pembrokeshire is one of the UK’s standout shore-fishing counties: long, exposed Atlantic-facing cliffs, surf beaches, sheltered estuaries, and a scattering of rocky coves and headlands. The coastline around St Davids, Strumble Head, Fishguard Bay, Broad Haven, Stackpole and the Angle Peninsula offers classic mixed-ground fishing with genuine chances of quality bass, pollack, wrasse, conger and rays, plus excellent winter codling/whiting in the right spells.
What makes Pembrokeshire special is variety. Within a short drive you can swap from rough ground spinning for pollack into clear, tidal gullies; to surfcasting clean sand for flounder, rays and bass; to estuary marks for schoolies, mullet and flatfish. Weather and swell dictate success more than in many counties—plan around wind direction, sea state and tide height and you’ll do far better than simply picking a “famous” mark.
Location and Access
Fishing by area (shore-focused)
North Pembrokeshire (St Davids, Strumble, Fishguard)
- Character: Rugged cliffs, kelp-lined reefs, deep water close in, strong tides around headlands.
- Best for: Pollack, wrasse, coalfish, mackerel (in season), conger (select rough marks), occasional bass in gullies and bays.
- How to fish it:
- Spinning/plugging in calm-to-moderate seas with a bit of colour on a making tide.
- Float fishing for wrasse/pollack over kelp in clearer conditions.
- Rough-ground ledgering into deeper gullies for conger and big wrasse.
- Notes: Some marks are steep and remote—good footwear and a planned exit route are essential.
Mid / West Pembrokeshire (Newgale, St Brides Bay, Broad Haven, Little Haven)
- Character: A mix of surf beaches (notably Newgale) and rocky points/coves.
- Best for: Bass (surf and gullies), flounder, dogfish, rays in season, mackerel (from rocks/harbours), occasional smoothhound on cleaner ground.
- How to fish it:
- Surfcasting Newgale/Broad Haven with lug/rag/sandeel or quality frozen baits.
- Night sessions can produce better bass and rays when there’s a surf.
- Rock marks in the bay can be excellent for spinning mackerel/pollack when sea conditions allow.
South Pembrokeshire (Stackpole, Freshwater West, Angle Peninsula, Milford Haven approaches)
- Character: Big open beaches (Freshwater West), rocky bays, and the more sheltered Milford Haven water.
- Best for: Bass (notably around surf beaches and rocky corners), flounder/dab/plaice (seasonal), rays (thornback in particular), smoothhound (when conditions and bait are right), mullet inside the Haven, plus winter whiting.
- How to fish it:
- Freshwater West: classic surf fishing; best with a surf running and a tide with some height.
- Angle Peninsula: mixed ground—use it as a “plan B” when the open coast is too rough.
- Milford Haven/estuary-type marks: lighter tackle for mullet, school bass and flatfish; good choice in strong onshore winds.
Milford Haven Waterway (sheltered fishing)
- Character: Deep, navigable water with strong currents and heavy shipping.
- Best for: Mullet (thick-lipped), bass (often school fish), flounder, whiting, dogfish; occasional bigger predators.
- How to fish it:
- Mullet: bread, small hooks, light line, stealth; fish slack water and edges.
- General: 2-hook flapper/paternoster with smallish baits for mixed species.
- Notes: Shipping and restricted areas mean you must choose safe, permitted access points and keep well clear of navigation lanes.
Seasons & Species
Species and seasons (realistic expectations)
Spring (Mar–May)
- Flounder: often best around estuaries/harbours on lug, rag or crab.
- Plaice (some areas): occasional on cleaner beaches as water warms.
- Pollack/Coalfish: improve as baitfish return; spinning can pick up fish on settled spells.
- Bass: early season schoolies show, better from late spring in mild years.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
- Mackerel: can be very good from rocks, headlands and some harbours when shoals are in.
- Bass: peak shore season—surf beaches at night or dawn/dusk; also rocky gullies in calm conditions.
- Wrasse: strong through summer over rough/kelp; expect powerful fish and lost tackle.
- Pollack: excellent on lures and float-fished baits near kelp edges.
- Mullet: best in the Haven and sheltered corners in clear, calm weather.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
- Bass: often at their best; autumn surf with a bit of colour is prime.
- Rays (esp. thornback): late summer into autumn can be a strong window on clean to mixed ground.
- Pollack: can be excellent as baitfish concentrations build.
- Whiting: start to show in numbers from late autumn.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
- Whiting: reliable on many accessible marks, especially sheltered ones.
- Codling: not guaranteed, but possible in the right conditions (cold snaps, surf, and coloured water) on select beaches/mixed ground.
- Dogfish: common year-round and often a staple species at night.
Methods & Tackle
Methods and tackle (practical shore approach)
1) Spinning and lure fishing (pollack, bass, mackerel)
- Rod/reel: 9–10ft lure rod (10–40g) with 3000–4000 size reel.
- Line: 20–30lb braid with 20–40lb fluorocarbon leader (heavier around rough ground).
- Lures:
- Soft plastics (sandeel/shad) 15–40g heads depending on tide.
- Plugs (floating/diving) for bass in gullies and over reefs.
- Metal jigs/feathers for mackerel when shoals are present.
- Where it shines: Early/late in the day, on a flooding tide, when there’s a little swell but not dangerous.
2) Float fishing (wrasse, pollack, occasional bass)
- Setup: Sliding float or fixed pencil float, 6–15lb mono/fluoro, size 1–2/0 hook.
- Baits: Ragworm, strips of mackerel, prawn, small crab (where permitted/available).
- Tip: Fish tight to kelp edges and into clear gullies; keep gear simple and robust.
3) Rough-ground ledgering (wrasse, conger, pollack, dogfish)
- Rod: 11–13ft rock rod or 12–13ft beachcaster with a tougher tip.
- Rig: Strong pulley or simple running ledger; 60–80lb shockleader if casting heavy leads.
- Terminal: 30–60lb trace, strong patterns (e.g., 3/0–6/0), rotten-bottom link for snaggy ground.
- Baits: Whole squid, big mackerel fillets, crab, or large worm cocktails.
4) Surfcasting (bass, rays, flatfish, whiting)
- Rod: 12–14ft beachcaster.
- Line: 15–18lb mono + shockleader.
- Rigs:
- Pulley rig for rougher surf and rays.
- 2-hook clip-down for distance and neat presentation.
- Flapper for closer mixed fish.
- Baits: Fresh lug/rag (best), squid, mackerel strip, sandeel, crab for bass (when conditions suit).
5) Mullet fishing in sheltered water
- Rod: light float rod or specialist mullet rod.
- Line/hooks: 3–6lb line, size 10–16 hooks.
- Baits: bread flake, small bread punch, occasionally small worm.
- Approach: pre-feed lightly, fish slack water, keep low and quiet.
Tides and Conditions
Tides and conditions (what matters most in Pembrokeshire)
- Swell and water colour: Many Pembrokeshire marks fish best with some movement and colour—too clear and calm can make daytime fishing harder (except for wrasse/pollack on float tactics and mullet in the Haven). Too big a swell can make cliff and low rock marks dangerous or unfishable.
- Wind direction:
- Light onshore / side-onshore can create the “bassy” surf on beaches.
- Hard onshore can make open coast marks unsafe; move into sheltered bays or the Haven.
- Offshore often flattens surf and clears water—better for lure fishing and wrasse tactics.
- Tide state:
- Rocky headlands/gullies: frequently best on a flood tide, especially mid-flood to high, when fish push in tight.
- Surf beaches: often fish well either side of low water into the flood if there’s surf; some venues peak high water at night.
- Harbour/estuary marks: look for slack water windows for mullet and for easier presentation.
- Tidal range: Pembrokeshire can have strong flows around points—factor this into weight choice and safety (route back off rocks can cut off quickly).
Safety & Acccess
Safety and access (Pembrokeshire-specific)
- Cliff marks: Many productive spots involve steep paths and exposed ledges. Treat them as mountaineering-lite: carry a headtorch even for daytime (in case you’re delayed), and avoid solo trips on remote cliffs.
- Swell risk: Atlantic swell can surge unexpectedly into gullies and platforms even when it looks “manageable”. If you can see white water hitting your platform, assume it can get worse.
- Tide cut-off: Pembrokeshire has plenty of marks where the return route disappears on the flood. Check tide times, and set a conservative “leave time”.
- Weed and kelp: Snags are normal. Use appropriate tackle and avoid trying to free snagged gear from unsafe angles.
- Milford Haven Waterway: Heavy vessel traffic and strong currents. Fish only from safe, permitted areas; never obstruct access or drift into restricted zones.
- Parking and access: Many coves have limited parking and narrow lanes—arrive early in summer. Respect private land, gates and local signage.
- Conservation: Parts of the coast fall within protected designations; follow local rules on access, bait collection and take-home fish. Consider catch-and-release for bass and large wrasse.
Tips
Practical tips to catch more fish in Pembrokeshire
- Let conditions choose the venue. Big swell? Fish the Haven or a sheltered bay. Flat calm? Go lure fishing for pollack or target mullet.
- Work the flood tide on rough ground. Many rock marks switch on as water depth increases and fish push tight.
- Night + surf = bass chance. On beaches like Newgale/Freshwater West, plan dusk-to-midnight sessions on a building tide.
- Use abrasion-resistant leaders. Kelp, barnacles and rock edges will end fights quickly without a tough leader.
- Carry mixed bait. A small selection (rag/lug + squid + mackerel) lets you adapt—worms for flatfish/whiting, squid/mackerel for rays/dogs/pollack.
- Don’t ignore smaller features. Tiny bays, gutters, and seams beside reefs can outfish “obvious” water.
- Have a Plan B and C. Pembrokeshire weather changes quickly; know at least one sheltered alternative for each wind direction.
Nearby
Nearby counties for sea angling variety
- Ceredigion (to the north-east): more open coast and shingle/sand with bass, flounder, mackerel and winter species.
- Carmarthenshire (to the east / south-east): access to the Burry Inlet and Gower approaches; strong for flounder, bass and mixed beach fishing.
- Bristol Channel / Somerset (across the water): very different high-tide-range fishing with cod/whiting and big tides; useful comparison if you travel.
FAQs
FAQ
Is Pembrokeshire good for beginners?
Yes—beaches and sheltered Haven marks are beginner-friendly. The cliff and rough-ground rock marks can be hazardous and are better approached with local knowledge.
Do I need long-distance casting?
Not always. Many rock marks have deep water close in, and even on beaches fish can be in the gutters at moderate range. Distance helps at times, but reading the water matters more.
What are the most reliable species?
- Summer: mackerel, wrasse, pollack (rock marks), plus bass when conditions line up.
- Winter: whiting and dogfish are commonly the most consistent.
What’s the best all-round bait?
If you had to pick one: ragworm for versatility. For bigger fish and rougher ground, add squid and mackerel.
Are there lots of snags?
On the rock marks, yes—expect losses. Use rotten-bottom links, stronger traces, and avoid casting blindly into heavy kelp until you’ve watched the water at low tide.
Summary Table
Quick summary table
| Venue type | Best areas (examples) | Main species | Best times | Go-to tactics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf beaches | Newgale, Broad Haven, Freshwater West | Bass, flounder, rays, whiting | Dusk/night; surf; building tide | Surfcasting with pulley/clip-down; worm/squid/mackerel |
| Rocky headlands & reefs | St Davids/Strumble/Fishguard coast | Pollack, wrasse, mackerel, conger | Flood tide; settled sea | Spinning plastics/plugs; float fishing; rough-ground ledger |
| Sheltered bays/coves | St Brides Bay corners, Angle options | Bass, pollack, wrasse | Dawn/dusk; moderate swell | Lures or float; light ledger |
| Estuary/harbour (Milford Haven) | Waterway edges and safe access points | Mullet, flounder, school bass, whiting | Slack water; calm clear spells | Light float/ledger; bread for mullet; worms for flats |