North Landing

North Landing is a sheltered-looking but genuinely rugged Flamborough Head shore mark, combining a small shingle/sand landing beach with chalk ledges and broken ground on either side. It can produce varied summer sport and worthwhile autumn/winter codling fishing, but it is far better treated as a mobile, tide-aware rock-and-beach venue than an easy promenade mark.

• The central landing offers the simplest casting area, while the rockier margins provide access to deeper, more kelp-strewn water.
• It is a scenic family beach in calm weather, but the fishing is most rewarding for anglers prepared for uneven ground, snags and rapidly changing sea conditions.
• Expectations should be realistic: this is a natural, exposed Yorkshire coast mark rather than a consistently easy high-catch venue.

North Landing lies below Flamborough village on the north-facing side of Flamborough Head, reached via the signed approach to the landing and its public beach/car-park area. From the landing, anglers can fish the central beach or walk carefully towards suitable rock platforms, provided tide and swell allow a safe return.

• The beach is the sensible starting point for visitors, especially in darkness or when unfamiliar with the area.
• The sides of the bay are more snaggy and can fish well, but access involves uneven, slippery chalk and rock; only use platforms with an obvious safe route back.
• The descent from the car park is notably steep in places, and carrying a full beach box, rod holdall and heavy tripod can be hard work.
• Do not obstruct the landing, slipway, access routes or any boating activity; North Landing is used by small craft and other coastal users.

North Landing has the usual Flamborough Head mix of rough-ground species, seasonal pelagics and winter visitors. Fish presence is highly dependent on sea state, water clarity and the amount of bait moving along the coast.

• Codling are the principal cold-water target, particularly after autumn or winter seas have coloured the water and pushed food out of the kelp and gullies.
• Pollack, wrasse and occasional coalfish are realistic around the kelp-covered edges and broken chalk ground, mainly in the warmer half of the year.
• Mackerel and garfish can appear in summer when clear water and bait shoals are present; they are usually best targeted from deeper water near the rockier sides rather than from a crowded beach.
• Bass may show in suitable summer conditions, especially around disturbed water and bait-rich margins, though they are not a guaranteed catch.
• Dogfish, shore rockling and smaller mixed fish can provide sport after dark, while the cleaner central ground may occasionally produce flatfish.

Tackle should be selected for the contrast between the relatively cleaner central beach and the rough kelp-and-chalk margins. Carrying both a straightforward beach rig and a more abrasion-resistant rough-ground setup makes the mark much more flexible.

• For codling and mixed night fishing, use a clipped-down or pulley-style rig with strong hooks, robust snoods and enough lead to hold in the tide; lugworm, crab, mussel and squid cocktails are all sensible bait options.
• Keep casts from the central beach measured rather than automatically fishing at maximum range: fish can patrol close-in gutters and the first broken ground on a flooding tide.
• Around the rocks, fish a single-hook pulley, pennel or short flowing trace with heavier line and be ready to apply steady pressure immediately after a take; long fine traces are easily lost in kelp.
• For pollack, wrasse and mackerel, spinning with metal lures, small plugs or soft plastics can be effective in daylight. Retrieve steadily above visible kelp rather than allowing lures to sink into it.
• A landing net is useful where safe to deploy, but never climb down wet ledges simply to land a fish. A long-handled disgorger, spare leads and plenty of spare rigs are practical essentials.

A flooding tide through high water is generally the most comfortable and productive window, bringing depth and fish closer to the beach and accessible ledges. The mark can become much less straightforward as the tide drops, exposing kelp and leaving some side platforms isolated or difficult to leave.

• Fish the first part of the flood if choosing a low-water start, but identify a safe escape route before committing to any platform.
• High water and the period around it are useful for codling, bass and mixed bait fishing from the beach, particularly with some colour in the water.
• Clear, settled summer water favours mackerel, garfish, pollack and wrasse; coloured, moving water after a manageable sea often improves the chances of codling.
• North Landing faces north and is vulnerable to north through east winds and swell. A sea that looks fishable from above can still make the water's edge and rocks dangerous.
• Avoid fishing close to the cliff base after prolonged rain or rough weather, as chalk cliff falls and rockfall are a real hazard.

This is not a fully accessible sea-fishing venue: the approach is steep, the beach is loose in places and the surrounding chalk platforms are uneven. A cautious assessment at the shore is more important than a promising forecast or reports of fish.

• Wear grippy footwear, carry a headtorch after dark, and use a flotation device when fishing close to deep water or rock edges.
• Never turn your back on the sea. Swell can wrap into the bay and surge across apparently safe ledges, especially around high water.
• Avoid isolated rock positions in darkness unless you know the route, tide and local sea behaviour extremely well; mobile phone signal should not be relied upon as a rescue plan.
• Keep well away from unstable cliff faces and do not shelter beneath them during rain, frost-thaw conditions or strong winds.
• The steep approach and rough terrain make the mark unsuitable for many wheelchair users and difficult for anglers with limited mobility. The central beach is the least technical option, though still involves a significant descent.

North Landing is a popular visitor area rather than a dedicated angling complex, so facilities and seasonal opening arrangements can change. Prepare to be self-sufficient and check current information at the car park or through local visitor sources before travelling.

• Parking is available in the North Landing area, but charges, restrictions, capacity and overnight rules should be checked on arrival.
• Public conveniences and visitor facilities may be available seasonally or nearby, but anglers should not assume they will be open outside main visitor periods.
• There are no angler-specific platforms, lighting, bait supplies or tackle disposal facilities at the shore.
• Take all line, bait packaging, hooks and litter home; discarded tackle is particularly hazardous around a busy landing and wildlife-rich shoreline.

The most productive approach is usually to arrive early, watch the sea for a while and choose the simplest safe water rather than forcing a favourite tactic. North Landing rewards anglers who match their method to the day: bait in coloured water, lures in clear summer conditions, and restraint when the swell is too large.

• Ask locally about recent conditions rather than relying solely on a general weather forecast; the state of the sea at Flamborough Head matters as much as wind direction inland.
• Fish alongside natural features such as the edge of kelp, a visible gutter or the transition from clean shingle to rougher ground, but retain enough clear space to retrieve safely.
• In busy summer periods, fish early morning, evening or after dark where appropriate, and give swimmers, walkers, boat users and families plenty of room.
• Travel light enough to move if necessary, but bring spare terminal tackle: losses on the side ground are normal rather than a sign that the mark is unfishable.
• If targeting mackerel, avoid excessive catch-and-discard and retain only fish you will use; this is especially important when shoals are thick.

Fishing is not known to be universally prohibited at North Landing, but the shore sits within a nationally important and environmentally sensitive Flamborough Head coastal landscape. Rules affecting parking, access, launching, wildlife protection and any local restrictions can change, so official signs and current authority information take precedence over informal fishing advice.

• Check notices at the car park, landing and access points for any temporary closures, safety restrictions, boat-launch controls or local byelaws before setting up.
• Respect nesting seabirds, coastal wildlife and protected habitats: avoid disturbing birds, do not climb sensitive cliff or ledge areas, and do not remove rocks, plants, shells or other natural material where this is restricted.
• Follow current national and local rules for minimum sizes, catch limits, protected species and any bass or shellfish measures. Check official fisheries sources before retaining fish, as these requirements can change.
• Obtain any permissions required for collecting bait, using a boat or accessing non-public land; do not assume that customary access for walkers extends to every fishing position.
• Leave no trace and do not light fires or camp unless explicitly permitted by the relevant landowner or authority.