Sea fishing in Yorkshire and The Humber

Yorkshire and The Humber offers one of England’s most varied sea-fishing coastlines: towering chalk cliffs and reefs around Flamborough, long eroding sand-and-clay beaches along Holderness, and the powerful Humber Estuary, plus classic harbours at Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington. It’s a year‑round venue: winter cod and whiting from rock scars and open beaches, summer bass in coloured surf, smoothhounds and rays around the Humber, and mackerel runs off piers and headlands. Access is generally good, but tides, swell and soft mud demand respect.

North Yorkshire Coast (Staithes to Filey)

• Character: Rock scars, kelp gullies, small coves and harbour walls (Whitby, Scarborough), plus the gentler arc of Filey Bay.
• Fishing: Classic rough-ground codding in autumn–winter; summer wrasse, pollack and mackerel on lures/float; plaice and dabs on cleaner patches; bass around surfy corners and reef edges.
• Access: Mixture of cliff paths and harbour access; some strenuous walks and tide-cutoff risks on scars.

Flamborough Head & Chalk Reefs (Flamborough, Bempton, Thornwick, Speeton)

• Character: Sheer chalk cliffs, undercliff ledges, gullies and reefs with deep water close in; clear water in settled spells.
• Fishing: Summer lure/float for mackerel, pollack, wrasse and garfish; bass on plugs and soft plastics; winter cod when coloured after northerlies. Boat/charter fishing excels here.
• Access: Limited safe descent points; many ledges are specialist-only. Strong tidal streams and overfalls off the head.

Holderness Coast (Bridlington to Spurn: Hornsea, Mappleton, Tunstall, Withernsea, Easington)

• Character: Long, mobile sand beaches backed by soft, eroding clay cliffs; groynes and outfalls; generally shallow but can be steep at the tide edge.
• Fishing: Surf bass May–Oct (peak late summer/autumn); winter cod/whiting; dabs and soles on calmer nights; increasing thornback rays; occasional smoothhounds late spring–summer.
• Access: Multiple car parks and beach paths; beware cliff falls, fast tides and being cut off around groynes and outfalls.

Spurn & The Humber North Bank

• Character: Spit sands, channels and powerful tidal flows; extensive mud and shifting banks.
• Fishing: Flounder, eels (where permitted), school bass; thornback rays in season; smoothhounds near the estuary mouth on crab.
• Access: Managed access at Spurn; never step onto mudflats; fish established marks and floodbanks only.

South Bank Humber to Cleethorpes/Grimsby (North East Lincolnshire)

• Character: Estuary walls, beaches at Cleethorpes/Humberston, harbour structures at Grimsby; very strong tides and turbidity.
• Fishing: Smoothhounds (Jun–Aug) on crab, thornbacks (spring–autumn), dabs/whiting in winter, school bass in summer. Productive charter boats from Grimsby for summer tope and wreck cod/ling offshore.
• Access: Good promenade and wall access; observe port/harbour byelaws and exclusion zones.

Season	Most likely shore species	Notes
Winter (Nov–Feb)	Cod/codling, whiting, dabs, rockling	Northerly blows that colour the water switch on cod along North Yorkshire/Flamborough; whiting prolific on open beaches and Humber walls.
Early Spring (Mar–Apr)	Late codling, flounder, plaice, dabs	Cleaner water on settled neaps; early thornbacks may show Holderness/Humber. Peeler crab starts to score.
Late Spring (May–Jun)	Bass, smoothhound, thornback ray, plaice, wrasse	Hounds build around Humber approaches; bass on surf beaches; wrasse/pollack/garfish around reefs and headlands.
Summer (Jul–Aug)	Mackerel, bass, smoothhound, thornback ray, soles, gurnard, pollack/wrasse	Feathering from piers/headlands for mackerel; evening bass in coloured surf; soles on calm, warm nights; hounds peak on crab.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)	Bass (peak), thornback, early codling, whiting	First northerlies bring codling; bass feed hard in rolling surf; rays persist to first big chills.

• Boat highlights: Summer wrecking from Whitby/Scarborough/Grimsby for cod, ling and pollack; tope and hounds near the Humber mouth; winter uptiding for cod and whiting off Holderness.
• Estuary note: Flounder and school bass show best on smaller tides and in colour; check nursery area and seasonal bass regulations before retaining fish.

• Rough-ground cod/bass (North Yorks/Flamborough): 5–6 oz breakout leads, 25–30 lb mainline with 60–80 lb leaders; pulley pennel or pulley dropper with 3/0–5/0 hooks; rotten-bottom (weak link) clip to save gear. Baits: black lug, squid, crab, razorfish.
• Clean/surf beaches (Holderness/Cleethorpes): 2–3 hook clipped-down or flapper rigs, size 1–2 hooks for whiting/dabs; up-and-over or pulley for bass/rays (3/0–4/0). Baits: fresh lug, rag, crab, squid/sandeel for rays.
• Humber walls and banks: Strong gear, 5–7 oz grip leads; long snoods for flounder; crab baits for smoothhound; fish/squid cocktails for thornbacks. Fish the slacks and avoid peak flow on big springs.
• Lure and float: Metals and feathers for mackerel; 20–40 g shore jigs and soft plastics for bass/pollack around reefs; float-fish rag, prawn or crab for wrasse/gar.
• Boat/charter: Uptiding with 6–8 oz leads and pennel rigs for winter cod/whiting; wrecking with shads/pirks and 20–30 lb class gear for summer cod/ling.
• Tackle nuances: Clip-down for distance on open beaches; use long tapered shockleaders; scale down to fluorocarbon snoods and smaller hooks in clear water; carry spare rigs due to kelp and snags on scars.

• Tide range: Large – up to ~7 m on springs in the Humber; 4–6 m typical along the open coast. Flow is fierce in the estuary and around Flamborough.
• Best sea states:
  • North/North‑easterly winds produce swell and colour that suit cod on the rock scars and beaches; fish as the sea eases and holds colour.
  • Light westerlies settle and clear the sea – great for lures, float fishing and mackerel.
  • Onshore easterlies along Holderness create the milky surf bass love, but too much swell or weed can kill presentation.
• Tide size:
  • Big springs can be excellent for surf species and for pulling fish onto rough ground, but are harder to hold bottom in the Humber – fish top/bottom of tide or on neaps for comfort there.
  • Neaps favour finesse on reefs and estuary floundering/sole sessions.
• Safety/unsuitable conditions: Heavy groundswell on rock platforms, strong crosswinds at headlands, fog, and any situation that risks cutoff on scars or mudflats. Avoid fishing beneath actively crumbling clay cliffs during/after rain and on very high springs.

• Cliffs and ledges: Flamborough/Bempton and parts of the North Yorkshire coast have sheer drops and unstable ground. Only use established paths and known descent routes; helmets and small parties are sensible on serious ledges.
• Tide cut-offs: Rock scars and coves flood rapidly; time your exit and carry a headtorch. Always check a full tide table and swell forecast.
• Holderness clay cliffs: Prone to sudden collapse, especially after rain or heavy seas; keep well back from edges and avoid lingering beneath.
• Humber mud and currents: Never step onto mudflats; stick to floodbanks, promenades and firm sand. Currents are dangerous near groynes, outfalls and the estuary mouth.
• Piers/harbours: Observe local byelaws, opening times and any day-ticket requirements (e.g., Bridlington, Scarborough, Whitby). Use a drop net for landing fish and keep casting safe in crowds.
• Spurn access: Managed by YWT; road occasionally affected by tides/storms. Check access updates and avoid the point in severe weather.
• General: Wear a PFD where appropriate, carry a means of calling for help, fish with a partner at remote marks, and let someone know your plan.

• After a northerly blow, fish the first easing sea with lingering colour for cod on the scars and Flamborough ledges.
• For Holderness bass, target rolling, milky surf two hours either side of low or on the first push of the flood with fresh lug or peeler.
• Use a weak-link/rotten-bottom on rough ground to save leads and rigs; keep snoods short in heavy kelp.
• Fresh peeler crab is king for smoothhounds (Jun–Aug) around the Humber approaches and Cleethorpes.
• On clear, calm summer evenings, work soft plastics and shallow divers around headland tide lines for bass and pollack.
• Winter whiting sessions: scale to size 1–2 hooks, add a touch of bling and fish strip, and expect action after dark on beaches and walls.
• Plaice and dabs favour cleaner patches on neap tides; use long snoods, small hooks and beads/spoons.
• Collect bait responsibly: lug on open beaches, razorfish after storms, crab from rockpools where permitted. Observe local byelaws and minimum sizes.
• Rays along Holderness like sandeel or bluey/squid cocktails on biggish hooks; keep rigs aerodynamic for distance.
• Check current bass regulations (often minimum 42 cm and restricted retain period) and local nursery area rules in the Humber.

• North East England – Rock platforms and piers from Teesside to Northumberland; similar winter cod tactics and summer lure fishing.
• Lincolnshire Coast (East Midlands) – Long, shallow sandy beaches south of Cleethorpes with summer smoothhounds, rays and winter whiting.
• Yorkshire North Sea (Offshore) – Wrecks off Whitby/Scarborough/Grimsby for summer cod/ling with charters.
• The Wash & Norfolk (East of England) – Very shallow, muddy bays; hounds and rays in summer, sheltered options in winds.
• North York Moors coast (within region) – Additional rock-scar marks around Runswick and Robin Hood’s Bay for experienced anglers.

• Do I need a licence to fish?
  No rod licence is required for sea fishing from the shore in England, but you need an EA migratory fish licence if targeting salmon/sea trout in estuaries/rivers, and you must follow local byelaws and size/bag limits (e.g., bass).

• When is the best time for cod?
  Typically November to February after northerly blows that add colour. Fish the easing sea on the flood or first of the ebb on scars and open beaches.

• Where’s good for beginners?
  Promenades and piers at Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington and Cleethorpes offer safe access, lights, and steady fishing for mackerel (summer) and whiting/flatfish (winter).

• Can I night fish?
  Yes, many marks fish better after dark, especially for whiting, soles and bass. Take extra safety precautions, avoid cliffs/ledges unless experienced, and carry a headtorch and spare light.

• Are there restrictions around Spurn and the Humber?
  Yes. Respect nature reserve rules at Spurn, harbour byelaws at Grimsby/Immingham, and Humber nursery area regulations for bass. Never venture onto mudflats.

Area	Access	Best species	Best methods	Prime season	Key hazards	Facilities
North Yorkshire Coast (Staithes–Filey)	Cliff paths, harbours, coves	Cod, wrasse, pollack, mackerel, bass	Pulley pennel on rough; float/lures on clear days	Cod Nov–Feb; Lures Jun–Sep	Swell, cliff falls, tide cut-offs	Parking in towns, piers, shops
Flamborough Head & Reefs	Limited descents, boat charters	Cod, bass, pollack, mackerel, wrasse	Heavy rough-ground rigs; lures/float; boat wrecking	Winter cod; summer lure/boat	Overfalls, sheer cliffs, strong tides	Limited parking; RSPB/Bempton nearby
Holderness (Bridlington–Spurn)	Beach access points, car parks	Bass, cod/whiting, rays, soles	Surf rigs, pulley for bass/rays, clipped downs	Bass Aug–Oct; Rays May–Sep; Winter cod/whiting	Cliff erosion, fast floods, weed	Promenades in towns, toilets seasonal
Spurn & Humber North Bank	Managed reserve access, floodbanks	Flounder, bass, rays	Long snoods for flats; crab for hounds; fish/squid for rays	Late spring–autumn; smaller tides best	Mudflats, strong currents, cut-offs	Limited services; check YWT access
Cleethorpes/Grimsby (South Bank)	Promenades, estuary walls, piers (byelaws)	Smoothhound, thornback, whiting, dabs, bass	Crab for hounds; fish/squid; winter flappers	Hounds Jun–Aug; Winter whiting	Powerful tides, harbour restrictions	Good parking, amenities on seafront