Tunstall Beach

Tunstall Beach is a wild, open East Yorkshire shore where the sandy beach is broken by clay, shingle and occasional rougher ground. It can fish very well when there is colour and movement in the North Sea, but it is an exposed, weather-dependent mark rather than an easy promenade venue.

• It is best known as a winter and autumn-style sea-angling venue, with codling, whiting and flatfish among the realistic target species.
• The mark rewards anglers who are prepared to search for gullies, softer sand channels and any exposed rough ground rather than simply casting straight out.
• Conditions change after storms and with ongoing coastal erosion, so a productive feature one season may be altered or lost by the next.

Tunstall Beach lies on the Holderness coast, south of Withernsea and close to the village of Tunstall. Access is generally from local beach entrances, but the condition of paths, steps and cliff-side approaches can change quickly.

• Check the available public access route before travelling, especially after heavy rain, high seas or a period of cliff erosion.
• The beach is a substantial walk in places, particularly around high water when the usable strip can be narrow.
• Do not assume that every track, caravan-park road or clifftop route is public; use signed public access and respect private land.
• A beach trolley is useful only where the approach is firm and clear; on loose shingle, soft sand or uneven cliff paths, a rucksack is often safer.

The likely catch reflects the changing mix of sand, clay and rougher seabed found along this coast. Autumn through spring usually offers the strongest chance of traditional East Coast species, while summer can produce more varied sport.

• Codling can appear in coloured water, particularly after onshore winds and during the cooler part of the year.
• Whiting, dabs, flounders and other flatfish are regular possibilities over cleaner or mixed ground.
• Bass may be present in warmer months, especially where waves are working close-in gullies and dislodging food.
• Dogfish, smooth-hounds and rays are possible in suitable summer conditions, although they should not be treated as guaranteed catches.
• Small coalfish, rockling and other mixed-ground species can turn up around rougher patches and clay scars.

A sensible approach is to carry one setup for distance and rough-weather fishing, plus a lighter option for searching the near water. The most productive line is often a gully or feature within modest casting range, not necessarily the horizon.

• For codling and rougher ground, use a robust clipped-down rig or pulley-style rig with strong, abrasion-resistant terminal tackle appropriate to the sea state.
• Pennel presentations carrying lugworm, crab, squid or a mixed bait can be effective for larger fish; fresh, well-secured bait matters in surf.
• For whiting and flatfish, a two-hook flapper or similar flowing rig baited with worm, squid strips, mackerel strip or small cocktail baits is a practical choice.
• In summer, fish baits such as peeler crab, ragworm or lugworm close to wave-worked channels for bass; keep the bait moving naturally rather than overloading the rig.
• Use a grip lead matched to the tide and surf. If the lead will not hold, increase weight or move rather than repeatedly fishing an uncontrolled line across other anglers' tackle.
• Bring spare rigs and leads, as mixed clay, stone and debris can claim tackle after rough weather.

Tunstall is usually at its most interesting when the sea has enough movement to colour the water and expose feeding opportunities, but it can become uncomfortable or unsafe in a strong onshore blow. The rising tide commonly gives the easiest fishing window because it brings fish and water closer to the base of the beach.

• Fish the flood and the period around high water where safe access permits, particularly for codling, whiting and bass.
• Low water can reveal gutters, clay ledges, channels and changes in sediment that are worth noting for the next tide.
• A moderate to rough sea can improve codling prospects, but very large surf may make casting, bite detection and safe retreat impossible.
• Clear, calm summer water can favour flatter fish and more selective species, while coloured water is generally better for bait-hunting codling.
• Watch the tide throughout the session: the beach can narrow rapidly and some routes can become awkward or cut off near high water.

This is an exposed, eroding coastline and should be treated as a natural fishing mark rather than a managed harbour wall. The principal hazards are unstable cliffs, incoming tide, soft ground and severe weather.

• Never fish directly beneath the clay cliffs or stand near an undercut cliff edge; falls can occur without warning, especially after rain or frost.
• Keep a clear, familiar route back to the access point and leave before the tide removes the safe beach route.
• Clay, weed-covered surfaces, shingle and wet sand can be extremely slippery; boots with good grip and a headtorch for dark sessions are essential.
• Check wind, swell and tide forecasts before leaving. Strong easterly or north-easterly conditions can make this coast dangerous very quickly.
• Fish with a companion where possible, tell someone your plan, and carry a charged phone in a waterproof case.
• The uneven approach, variable paths and soft/loose beach surface mean this is unlikely to be suitable for wheelchair users or anglers needing step-free, firm access.

Facilities immediately at the beach should not be relied upon, and their availability can change with access arrangements and the season. Plan the session as though you will need to be self-sufficient.

• Check current parking arrangements, charges and closing times before travelling; do not obstruct roads, field entrances or emergency access.
• Take drinking water, food, spare clothing, a first-aid kit and a means of lighting for evening fishing.
• Toilets, bait supplies, fuel and broader shopping options are more likely to be found in nearby settlements or Withernsea rather than on the beach itself.
• Take all litter, discarded line, bait packaging and fish waste home. This is particularly important on a coastline used by walkers, residents and wildlife.

Tunstall often fishes better when anglers adapt to what the sea is doing on the day rather than relying on one fixed casting distance. A short walk at low water can be more valuable than adding another hundred metres to a cast.

• Look for darker water, seams of foam, depressions between sand ridges and the edges of any clay or shingle patches.
• In a coloured sea, start with bigger, scent-rich baits for codling and fish more than one distance if space allows.
• In calmer conditions, scale down hook size and bait bulk for whiting, dabs and other smaller species.
• Arrive in daylight for a first visit so that you can identify safe access, cliff hazards and a route above the expected high-water line.
• Give other beach users and anglers plenty of room, particularly when casting in crosswinds or when the tide has compressed everyone onto a narrow strip.

There is no clear basis for treating Tunstall Beach as a blanket no-fishing mark, but access and activity can be restricted locally or temporarily. Follow all signs on arrival and do not enter closed, private, unstable or operational areas.

• Check East Riding of Yorkshire Council information, landowner notices and any current beach-access signage before your trip.
• Observe national sea-fisheries rules, including current minimum conservation reference sizes, catch limits where applicable and rules protecting particular species; these can change, so consult official sources rather than relying on old charts or social-media advice.
• Return undersized, protected or unwanted fish promptly and carefully, and retain only fish that you are legally permitted to keep and will use.
• Do not light fires, drive on the beach or disturb wildlife unless this is expressly permitted by the relevant authority.
• If signs indicate a temporary closure, coastal works, erosion danger or restricted activity, choose another mark and comply without exception.