Old Fall

Old Fall is a serious Flamborough Head rock mark on the East Riding coast, valued for deep, rough ground fishing and the chance of quality fish rather than easy, high-volume sport. It is best treated as an experienced angler’s venue: the sea can be close under the cliffs, the ground is unforgiving and a pleasant-looking forecast can deteriorate quickly around the Head.

• The mark is generally associated with the rocky shoreline beneath the Flamborough Head cliffs, rather than a harbour wall, beach or purpose-built platform.
• It can produce cod and codling in the colder months, while summer brings pollack, wrasse, mackerel and other rocky-shore species.
• Old Fall rewards sensible timing, robust tackle and local knowledge; it is not a suitable first rock-fishing destination for someone unfamiliar with tide-led access and cliff-coast conditions.

Old Fall lies on the Flamborough Head coastline in East Riding of Yorkshire, in the wider Flamborough village and headland area. Access normally involves a walk from the headland using public paths and then a potentially difficult descent or route onto the shore, so the precise practical approach should be checked on the day rather than assumed from old reports.

• Use established public routes and keep clear of cliff edges, eroded ground and any signed closures; coastal paths and descents can change after storms or cliff falls.
• Parking is available in the wider Flamborough Head area, but anglers should use designated parking, pay any applicable charges and avoid blocking lanes, gates, farm access or emergency access.
• The walk in is part of the challenge: expect uneven ground, mud after rain, loose chalk, rocks and a return climb when carrying tackle.
• Do not rely on a route remaining passable throughout a session. At this type of mark, a rising sea can remove the shore route well before the nominal time of high water.

Old Fall is principally a rough-ground mark, with species varying sharply between the warmer and colder parts of the year and according to sea state. The better fish often come when there is enough movement and colour in the water, but conditions remain safe enough to fish.

• Cod and codling are the headline autumn and winter target, particularly after an appropriate easterly or north-easterly sea has coloured the water and begun to settle.
• Pollack can be a major attraction in clearer water, especially when lures or baits are worked close to kelp-covered structure and deeper edges.
• Ballan wrasse and smaller wrasse are common summer rocky-ground possibilities; handle them carefully and return unwanted fish promptly.
• Mackerel may show during warmer, clearer periods, with coalfish, pouting, poor cod, shore rockling and occasional other gadoids possible.
• Bass may occur in suitable summer and early-autumn conditions, although they are never a fish to assume at a high, exposed headland mark.
• The exact mix changes with water clarity, tide, temperature and recent weather, so Old Fall should be approached as a venue of opportunities rather than a guaranteed single-species mark.

Fishing at Old Fall is normally about presenting a bait or lure close to rough seabed without donating excessive terminal tackle to the kelp and rock. Carry enough spare rigs, use tackle capable of controlling a fish in close ground and adapt the method to the state of the sea.

• For codling and mixed ground fish, a strong beachcaster or rock rod, abrasion-resistant main line and a simple clipped or pulley-style bait rig are practical choices where casting room permits.
• Use grips only when they are needed to hold bottom. In rough ground, a lighter hold and a controlled retrieve can sometimes lose less tackle than an anchor that is buried in kelp or a crevice.
• Whole or large section baits such as crab, mussel, squid, lugworm, ragworm, fish strip and cocktail baits can all be useful, subject to what is fresh, locally effective and legally collected.
• Pollack respond well to metals, soft plastics and other lures worked through the water column, but do not cast or retrieve blindly over shallow kelp; identify a safe landing and retrieval line first.
• Float-fished or lightly presented baits can take wrasse and pollack around cleaner tongues and kelp edges, though this should only be attempted where swell and footing allow close control.
• A drop net, long-handled gaff where lawful and appropriate, or a carefully planned landing point may be needed for fish below the angler. Never lean over an unstable edge or attempt to climb down after a fish.

Tide and sea state matter more at Old Fall than a simple 'best tide' rule. Productive water is often found around the flood and near high water, but the safe fishing window depends on the particular ledge, the height of tide, swell direction and whether the exit route remains open.

• Arrive early enough to assess the rock platform and watch the sea before committing tackle; look for wave sets that reach farther than the average wash.
• A moderate coloured sea can improve winter bait fishing, whereas clear, settled water is generally more favourable for pollack, wrasse and lure fishing.
• Large easterly, north-easterly or northerly swells can make this coast dangerous even when local wind appears light. Long-period swell is especially deceptive.
• Avoid fishing through a building sea, during fog, in thunderstorms, or when wind makes casting, footing or the return route uncertain.
• Check a current tide table and marine forecast before leaving home, then reassess at the shore. Do not use an old tide-time note or another angler’s report as a substitute for the day’s conditions.
• In winter, short daylight, cold water and wet chalk greatly increase the consequences of a slip or delayed return.

Old Fall is not an accessible or low-risk venue. The combination of steep cliff country, uneven rocks, deep water, swell and tide-sensitive access means it is most suitable for fit, properly equipped anglers who understand exposed rock marks.

• Fish with a competent companion whenever possible, tell somebody exactly where you are going and agree a latest return time.
• Wear a properly fitted buoyancy aid on the shore, grippy boots, warm waterproof layers and a headtorch; carry a charged phone in a waterproof case.
• Keep well back from cliff edges and beneath unstable faces. Chalk cliffs can shed without warning, particularly after heavy rain, frost or prolonged erosion.
• Do not turn your back on the sea, stand in gullies that fill with surge, or place rods and bags where a larger set wave can take them.
• Make the return decision early. A retreat that is straightforward at low water may be impossible, hazardous or exhausting later in the tide.
• This is unsuitable for wheelchairs, buggies, people with limited mobility and unsupervised children. It is also a poor choice for a solo beginner or anyone without safe rock-mark experience.
• In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard; do not attempt a rescue from the water or climb unstable cliffs.

There are no facilities on the Old Fall shoreline itself, so anglers need to be self-sufficient and leave the coast exactly as they found it. Shops, toilets and other services are found in the wider Flamborough area, but availability and opening times should not be assumed outside busy periods.

• Take drinking water, food, a basic first-aid kit, spare batteries, a knife, forceps and enough terminal tackle for rough ground.
• Bring a litter bag and remove all line, hooks, bait packaging and discarded tackle; lost line is a particular hazard to seabirds on this coast.
• Use public toilets and bins where provided in the village or car-park areas, rather than treating field margins or access paths as facilities.
• There is no shelter, tackle shop or safe refuge at the fishing position, so prepare for a complete change in weather.

The most reliable approach to Old Fall is to fish it conservatively and learn it over several visits in benign conditions before trying it after a productive sea. Experienced local anglers often know which ledges hold water, where kelp gives way to fishable ground and when a route is no longer sensible.

• Visit first in daylight and calm weather without the pressure of trying to fish a big tide or a winter blow.
• Watch the sea for at least several minutes, including the larger wave sets, before choosing a stance and placing gear.
• Travel light enough to move quickly, but do not compromise on safety equipment; bulky tackle can become a problem on steep or slippery approaches.
• Keep casts controlled and retrieve firmly once a fish is hooked. Letting fish gain the kelp or rock often results in lost fish and tackle.
• Respect walkers, wildlife and nearby residents. Keep noise down, shut gates if a route requires it and do not damage walls, fences or vegetation.
• If the sea looks marginal, choose a safer alternative mark. Flamborough Head will still be there on a better day.

There is no general indication that sea angling at Old Fall is categorically prohibited, but access and fishing can be affected by land management, cliff-safety measures, conservation controls and temporary notices. Anglers remain responsible for checking the current position before fishing.

• Observe all official signs, closure notices, parking conditions, path diversions and landowner instructions; a closed descent or cliff section must not be bypassed.
• The Flamborough Head coast has important wildlife and conservation designations. Avoid disturbing nesting birds, do not climb cliff faces or restricted areas, and take particular care during the breeding season.
• Check current national and local rules for retained species, minimum conservation reference sizes, seasonal measures, bait collection and any applicable local fisheries byelaws before taking fish or collecting bait.
• If fishing near a managed beach, harbour, launch area or organised event, check whether additional local restrictions apply.
• Keep only fish that are legal, wanted and likely to be eaten, and release all others carefully. Regulations and access arrangements can change, so official signage and current authority guidance take precedence over any fishing guide.