Cloughton Wyke

Cloughton Wyke is a rugged, rock-ledged North Yorkshire shore mark beneath the cliffs around Cloughton, north of Scarborough. It is principally a rough-ground venue, valued most for autumn and winter codling fishing but capable of producing varied sport in calmer summer conditions.

• Expect kelp, gullies, broken rock and snaggy ground rather than an easy clean-sand beach.
• It is a mark for anglers comfortable with uneven coastal terrain, long casts when needed, and the likelihood of losing tackle.
• The fishing can be very tide-, sea-state- and weather-dependent; a productive session often follows the right amount of coloured water rather than simply a calm forecast.

The wyke lies on the exposed Yorkshire coast below the Cloughton area, with access normally involving coastal public paths and a descent towards the shore. Treat the route as a serious part of the trip: the shoreline is remote-feeling, the ground is steep in places, and the return walk can be harder than the walk down.

• Approach via recognised public routes, including the coastal-path network where appropriate, and do not cross fields, tracks or cliff-top land unless there is a clear public right of way or the landowner permits it.
• Parking is generally sought in or around the Cloughton area rather than at the water's edge; park considerately and never obstruct gates, farm access or passing places.
• Allow enough daylight for the walk out, particularly in winter. Phone signal can be variable below the cliffs.
• The final approach and fishing area may be slippery, muddy or overgrown after rain, and the route can change with erosion, fallen trees and land management.

Codling are the headline quarry when autumn and winter seas put colour into the water, while summer opens up more mixed rock-fishing opportunities. The exact species mix changes greatly with sea temperature, bait fish, tide and the amount of kelp on the ground.

• Codling and occasional larger cod are the main targets during the colder, rougher-water period.
• Pollack may show around kelp edges and deeper rocky channels, especially in clearer water.
• Mackerel can be available in summer when shoals are close in, although numbers are never guaranteed from a low, rough shore.
• Ballan wrasse, smaller wrasse species, rockling, shorthorn scorpionfish and other mini-species are realistic possibilities close to the rocks.
• Bass, dogfish and flatfish are possible on suitable tides and in more open or mixed patches, but they should be regarded as occasional rather than dependable catches here.

Tackle should be chosen for rough ground and for getting a bait through kelp without giving fish too much freedom. A straightforward, robust approach is usually more effective than over-complicating rigs.

• For codling, use a beachcaster or powerful shore rod, a reliable reel, abrasion-resistant main line and a pulley-style or similar snag-resistant rig.
• Fish a single substantial bait close to rough ground rather than trying to fill the rig with hooks; lugworm, ragworm, crab, mussel, squid and fish baits can all have a place according to season and local availability.
• In coloured autumn or winter water, large fresh or cocktail baits often merit patience. Keep the line as direct as the ground and swell allow, then retrieve steadily and firmly.
• For pollack, work a jelly lure, metal lure or baited rig along the edges of kelp and deeper gullies; avoid blindly dragging lures across the bottom.
• Bring plenty of spare leads, rigs and hooks. Breakaways or other releasable lead systems can reduce losses, though they do not make the ground snag-free.
• A long-handled drop net may be useful only where there is a safe, practical landing point; do not rely on being able to lift a good fish over rock or through surf.

Cloughton Wyke generally fishes best when there is enough movement and water depth to cover the rougher features, while a modest to lively sea can improve codling prospects by colouring the water. Conditions can deteriorate quickly, however, and an over-large swell makes the mark dangerous rather than productive.

• Fish the tide with an exit plan: low water can expose extensive, slippery reef, while the flood can cut off routes across lower rock shelves.
• Mid-tide through high water is often the more practical period for reaching fishable depth from the shore, but the best stage varies between individual ledges and gullies.
• A northerly or north-easterly sea can put colour into the water and bring codling closer, yet these are also the winds most likely to create hazardous surf and spray.
• Clear, settled summer water is better suited to lighter mixed fishing, pollack and mackerel than to classic rough-weather cod fishing.
• Check the local tide table, wind direction, swell forecast and daylight before leaving home; do not make decisions from wind strength alone.

This is not an easy-access mark. Uneven boulders, kelp-covered rock, cliff-backed terrain, swell and a potentially demanding walk mean it is best suited to fit, properly equipped anglers who are confident on rough coasts.

• Wear grippy boots with firm ankle support; ordinary trainers are a poor choice on wet weed and polished rock.
• Use a buoyancy aid where there is any realistic chance of being washed from a ledge, and keep well back from wave-washed edges.
• Never fish beneath unstable cliff faces or directly below recent falls. Coastal erosion is an ongoing risk on this part of the coast.
• Avoid solo fishing in rough conditions, tell someone your plan and expected return time, and carry a charged phone in a waterproof case.
• Take a headtorch, warm waterproof layers, first-aid kit, drinking water and a means of calling for help. In an emergency on the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
• The steep, rough approach and inaccessible shoreline make this mark unsuitable for wheelchair access and difficult for anglers with limited mobility.

There are no reliable fishing-specific facilities at the wyke itself, so anglers should arrive self-sufficient and leave the coast exactly as they found it. Shops, toilets and other amenities are more likely to be found in nearby villages or in Scarborough, not on the shore.

• Carry all bait, water, food, spare tackle and weather gear with you.
• Do not assume there will be public toilets, bins, lighting, fresh water or mobile reception at the access point or shore.
• Take every item of litter home, including discarded line, bait packets, broken rigs and cigarette ends.
• Keep vehicles clear of private entrances and agricultural access, and avoid changing or sorting tackle in places that block narrow roads or paths.

The most consistent approach is to match the trip to the conditions rather than treating Cloughton Wyke as an all-weather venue. A careful recce in daylight on a manageable tide can be more valuable than arriving for a first visit after dark in a big sea.

• Look for deeper gutters, cleaner tongues between kelp beds and water moving around the ends of rock spurs; these features are often more useful than casting blindly as far as possible.
• Travel light enough to negotiate the path safely, but do not economise on spare terminal tackle, footwear or safety equipment.
• If the sea is too rough to stand comfortably well back from the edge, choose a safer mark rather than trying to force the session.
• Be considerate around walkers, residents, farmers and other anglers. Keep noise low, close gates where required and give cliff-top livestock a wide berth.
• Check recent local catch reports for a broad indication of seasonal activity, but judge the final decision by the actual swell, tide and access conditions on arrival.

There is no general indication that sea angling at Cloughton Wyke is universally prohibited, but access rights, temporary closures and fisheries rules can change. It remains the angler's responsibility to establish that the route and the place being fished are lawful and that any retained catch is legal.

• Obey all on-site signs, landowner instructions, coastal-path diversions and any temporary cliff-safety or conservation closures.
• Do not assume that a path to the coast grants permission to cross adjacent private land, park on private ground or use a restricted descent.
• Check current official rules for any applicable minimum sizes, protected species, seasonal restrictions, catch limits and shellfish collection controls before retaining fish or collecting bait.
• Return protected, undersized or unwanted fish promptly and carefully, and avoid removing large wrasse or breeding fish from a fragile rocky-shore habitat.
• If you encounter signage stating that fishing or access is prohibited, treat that notice as controlling and select another mark.