Pembroke Castle Millpond

Pembroke Castle Millpond is a sheltered, tidal impoundment right beside Pembroke Castle, offering calm-water fishing in a very historic setting. It can fish well for estuary species when the water is moving, but access, crowding and local restrictions can be the deciding factors.

• Best thought of as a light-tackle, estuary-style venue rather than an open-coast mark
• Ideal when the sea is rough elsewhere, because the pond is protected from swell
• Success is strongly linked to tide flow, water clarity and footfall (tourists, paddlers, boats)

The Millpond sits immediately below Pembroke Castle, connected to the tidal Cleddau system via a sluice/controlled outflow. Most anglers approach on foot from Pembroke town, using the public paths around the pond and castle grounds.

• Access is generally via public footpaths and waterside paths around the pond; some banks are steep or fenced in places
• Expect limited “fishable” edge in spots due to reeds, walls and private frontages
• Parking is typically in Pembroke town; carry gear as close-in parking can be restricted or busy

This is primarily an estuary/brackish-water mark, so species are those that tolerate changing salinity and soft ground. You’re most likely to encounter smaller predators and flatfish, with occasional better fish when conditions align.

• Bass (often schoolies, with better fish possible around flow and bait concentrations)
• Flounder and other small flatfish where there is soft sediment and gentle slope
• Mullet (thin-lipped/grey mullet types may show in calmer, clearer periods)
• Eels and small “nuisance” species can be present, especially in warmer months
• Occasional surprises can occur near the outflow/connecting channel on stronger tides

Light, mobile tactics work best because you’re often fishing close-range features—walls, reed edges, crease lines and any flow from the sluice. Keep rigs simple and present baits naturally in the gentle current.

• Light spinning: small soft plastics, shallow divers and spinners worked along the margins for bass when water has a bit of colour
• Float fishing: excellent for mullet with bread/flakes or small baits presented delicately in calm conditions
• Ledgering: short-range leads with longish traces for flounder; keep leads light to avoid burying in silt
• Typical baits: ragworm/lugworm, small strips of mackerel or sandeel (where permitted/available), peeler crab for bass, bread for mullet
• Stealth helps: fish can be spooky in clear, still water—use lighter lines and avoid heavy leads crashing down

The pond’s fishing is dictated by tidal exchange and any flow through the connecting sluice/outflow, rather than surf and swell. You generally want some movement—too slack and it can feel lifeless; too much flow and presentation becomes awkward.

• Best windows are often around the middle of the flood/ebb when there’s defined movement and a crease to fish
• After rain, coloured water can encourage bass to feed closer in; in gin-clear water, scale down and fish early/late
• Calm, bright days can favour mullet (sight-fishing/float tactics), while overcast or slightly coloured water suits bass
• Watch for bait activity: small fish dimpling, bird interest, or surface swirls can pinpoint feeding lanes

It’s a sheltered venue, but it has urban/estuary hazards—slippery edges, soft mud, and sudden depth changes near walls and channels. It’s also a public space with heavy pedestrian traffic at times.

• Banks, stonework and algae-covered edges can be very slippery—wear footwear with good grip
• Soft silt/mud is common; avoid wading unless you know the ground and have a safe exit route
• Be cautious near any weirs/sluices/outflows where current can accelerate unexpectedly
• Consider other users (walkers, families, kayaks/paddleboards); keep casts controlled and gear tidy
• Night fishing may feel less comfortable in busy/town-adjacent areas—go with company and keep valuables secure

Being in Pembroke, amenities are close, but waterside facilities are limited and depend on which side of the pond you fish. Plan as a short session venue where you can resupply easily in town.

• Shops, cafés and public conveniences are typically available nearby in Pembroke (seasonal hours may apply)
• Seating and flat standing areas exist in places, but many stretches are narrow path-side fishing
• Limited shelter from rain/wind—dress for conditions even though it’s not an exposed coast mark
• Rubbish bins may be present on public paths; if not, take all litter and bait packaging home

This mark rewards observation more than long casting—find the flow, find the bait, and fish quietly. Short sessions around tide turns can outscore long sits in slack water.

• Focus on pinch points: anywhere the pond narrows, meets a culvert/stream, or where water draws toward the outflow
• For flounder, try worm baits fished static on soft ground, and move if you don’t get interest within 20–30 minutes
• For mullet, keep feed minimal (tiny bits of bread) and use small hooks and fine fluorocarbon traces
• For bass, fish the first hour of darkness or low light when foot traffic drops and fish move tighter to margins
• Travel light: a small shoulder bag and one rod makes it easier to hop between spots and avoid tangles with pedestrians

Rules here can be site-specific because it’s next to a major tourist attraction and may include managed land, path bylaws, or restrictions around structures. I cannot confirm from official sources whether all banks are open to angling at all times, so treat this as a “check locally” venue.

• Check on-site signage for any “no fishing” notices, permitted areas, and any restrictions near the castle walls, sluices or walkways
• Some sections may be private frontage or managed land—fish only where access is clearly public and permitted
• If the water is controlled/managed (sluice), there may be safety exclusion zones—observe any marked limits
• Follow local bylaws and national rules (e.g., protected species, size limits, lure/bait collection rules) and verify current guidance with official sources
• Practise good etiquette: barbless or semi-barbless hooks help with quick unhooking in busy public areas, and keep fish handling discreet and humane