Filey North Cliff

Filey North Cliff is a rugged, open-coast rock mark north of Filey, valued by shore anglers for its kelp-covered gullies, broken ground and exposure to North Sea swells. It is primarily a rough-ground and winter-weather venue rather than an easy, all-tide family beach fishery.

• The mark can produce codling in the colder months, with summer sport from wrasse, pollack and mackerel when the sea is settled.
• It is best approached as a variable cliff-and-rock venue: the precise fishable ledges, casting room and safe route down can change markedly with erosion and sea state.
• The attractive scenery should not disguise the fact that this is a committing mark, particularly after dark or when a swell is running.

North Cliff lies on the coast immediately north of Filey and is generally reached from the clifftop and coastal footpath/country-park side rather than by driving to the water. Access to fishing level involves uneven, potentially steep ground and should be assessed in person before committing to a descent.

• Use established public paths and any recognised access routes; do not create new shortcuts down the cliff or cross fenced, signed or unstable ground.
• Parking, public toilets and refreshment options are available in and around Filey, but anglers should expect a walk from the clifftop and should carry all tackle in a manageable pack.
• Some sections beneath the cliff may be inaccessible, unpleasant or unsafe after erosion, rockfall, high tides or prolonged swell; have a backup mark rather than forcing access.
• A daytime visit at low water is the sensible way to learn the terrain, locate gullies and identify a safe retreat line before considering a night session.

The mark's broken kelp ground suits the usual Yorkshire rocky-shore species, with codling the principal cold-water target when coloured water and a manageable sea arrive. Species presence is seasonal and highly dependent on sea temperature, clarity and the amount of swell.

• Codling and occasional larger cod are the headline winter quarry, especially after an onshore blow has put colour into the water.
• Coalfish may show over deeper rough ground, while pollack can be available around kelp edges and clearer-water structure.
• Ballan wrasse and smaller wrasse provide useful summer sport close in over the rock and kelp.
• Mackerel can pass within casting range in settled summer conditions, particularly where there is depth and moving water.
• Dogfish, shore crab, small flatfish and mixed oddities are possible, but should be treated as opportunistic catches rather than guaranteed targets.
• Bass may occur along this stretch in suitable warmer, mobile-water conditions, although they are far from a certainty on a high, rough cliff mark.

Strong tackle, abrasion-resistant terminal gear and a willingness to fish close to structure are more useful here than chasing extreme casting distance. Fish according to the state of the sea: bait fishing is generally favoured in coloured water, while lures come into their own in clearer, calmer conditions.

• For codling, use a robust beachcaster or rock rod with a reel holding adequate line, a shockleader where appropriate, and a simple pulley or clipped rig designed to lift a fish clear of snags.
• Carry several spare rigs, hooks, leads and weak-link attachments; losses on kelp and rock are normal and it is better to lose a lead than to lock solidly into the bottom.
• Fresh or well-presented crab, lugworm, mussel, squid and fish baits are common rough-ground choices; secure softer baits carefully so they survive the cast and crab activity.
• Fish the near gullies, kelp fringes and the edges of deeper water rather than automatically casting as far as possible. A shorter, accurate cast can be the productive one.
• For pollack and mackerel in settled conditions, work metals, soft plastics or spinners through the water column, avoiding repeated blind retrieves through dense kelp.
• A long-handled landing net or drop net may be useful only where there is a genuinely safe, practical landing point; never lean over exposed edges to retrieve a fish.

A modest swell with some colour in the water is often the classic winter codling condition, provided it still leaves safe fishing and an assured exit. The mark can be poor or unfishable in a heavy easterly sea, and crystal-clear, flat water often shifts the emphasis towards summer species and lure fishing.

• The flood and high-water period can bring fish closer to the rough ground, but the exact usable ledges depend on the tide and the particular section being fished.
• Avoid becoming tide-bound: identify the route back while the tide is low and allow plenty of time to leave before waves cut across it.
• A north-easterly or easterly blow can quickly build dangerous swell on this coast; assess wave sets for a sustained period, not just during a brief lull.
• Moderate coloured water after the sea has begun to ease can be more productive and far safer than fishing at the height of a storm.
• Strong winds make casting, footing and line control difficult on the clifftop and exposed rocks; wind direction matters as much as tide time.
• Night fishing can be productive for codling, but only for anglers who already know the descent, the platform and the escape route in daylight.

This is not an accessible promenade mark: it involves cliff-country walking, rough rock, slippery weed and possible rockfall exposure. Treat it as a specialist shore venue and turn back if the route, tide or sea state is in doubt.

• Wear grippy boots, warm waterproof layers and a buoyancy aid when fishing close to the water; carry a fully charged phone, headtorch and a basic first-aid kit.
• Do not fish beneath visibly loose cliffs, after major rain or where warning signs indicate instability, erosion or rockfall risk.
• Never fish alone in a big sea, stand on weed-covered low ledges, or rely on being able to outrun a rising tide across slippery ground.
• Tell someone your intended mark and return time, and check the marine forecast, tide information and local conditions before leaving home.
• The terrain is unsuitable for wheelchair access and is likely to be difficult for anyone with limited mobility, poor balance or heavy, bulky tackle.
• In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard; do not attempt a rescue from a cliff edge or enter the sea for lost tackle or fish.

Facilities are concentrated in Filey rather than on the fishing ledges themselves, so plan to be self-sufficient once you leave the town or clifftop access area. Keeping the load light is particularly worthwhile on this mark.

• Filey has shops, food outlets, public conveniences and other town amenities, but opening times and seasonal availability can vary.
• Bring drinking water, food, a headtorch, spare batteries and enough terminal tackle for the session.
• There are no dependable facilities, shelters or safe tackle-storage areas at fishing level.
• Take all litter, discarded line, bait packaging and broken rigs home; this coast is heavily used by walkers, wildlife and other anglers.

Success at North Cliff usually comes from choosing a fishable window rather than simply arriving at a favoured tide time. Local knowledge of individual descents and rock platforms is valuable, because conditions can make one section sensible and another unsuitable.

• Reconnoitre at low water in daylight and note the safe route, likely casting channels, snaggy ground and the point at which the tide removes your retreat.
• In winter, look for a sea that has coloured after weather but is easing enough to fish safely; fresh bait and a mobile approach between gullies can outperform a single long cast.
• In summer, travel light and consider an early-morning or evening session for pollack, mackerel and wrasse when boat traffic, glare and beach activity are reduced.
• Keep casts controlled around the coastal path and avoid fishing directly beneath walkers or unstable cliff faces.
• If the North Cliff route looks marginal, use a safer alternative around Filey rather than allowing a planned session to override the conditions.

There is no clear basis to state that sea angling is universally prohibited at Filey North Cliff, but access and fishing can be restricted locally by temporary safety closures, land-management notices or protected-area rules. Anglers must check current signs at the access point and comply with any instruction from the landowner, local authority, Coastguard or other authorised body.

• In England, ordinary recreational sea angling does not generally require an Environment Agency rod licence, but this does not override site-specific access restrictions or fisheries regulations.
• Observe current national rules on minimum sizes, catch limits, protected species and any seasonal restrictions; these rules can change, so consult official UK fisheries guidance before fishing.
• Bass and other regulated species may have specific retention restrictions. If uncertain, photograph and release fish carefully rather than retaining it.
• Do not obstruct public rights of way, cross private land without permission, light fires, camp, or leave tackle where it could endanger people or wildlife.
• Respect any local notices relating to cliff instability, nesting birds, conservation management or closures, even if older fishing reports describe access as routine.