Hawsker Bottoms

Hawsker Bottoms is a rough, open-rock shoreline below the Hawsker cliffs south of Whitby, valued by local sea anglers for proper North Yorkshire rock fishing rather than easy, tidy beach casting. It can produce very good sessions when sea and tide suit it, but it is a committing mark where access, swell and the return route deserve as much attention as the fishing.

• Expect kelp, broken rock, gullies and rough ground rather than a clean sand beach.
• It is principally a bait-and-lure venue for anglers prepared to lose some tackle and fish mobile water.
• The name is used locally for the foreshore/bottoms below Hawsker, so the exact ledge or descent used can vary between anglers and with changing cliff-path conditions.

The mark lies on the coast below Hawsker, on the stretch of rugged shoreline south of Whitby. Reaching the water normally involves using public coastal access routes and then negotiating a steep, uneven descent; do not assume that every worn track to the bottom is public, safe or still usable.

• Start from legitimate public parking or public rights of way around Hawsker and use the signed coastal network where possible.
• The final approach can include sloping grass, mud, loose rock, wet limestone-like shelves and boulder-hopping; it is not suitable for carrying excessive gear.
• Cliff erosion is an ongoing issue on this coast. A route that was usable in a report, video or old guide may be fenced off, undercut or unsafe now.
• Keep clear of private land, cultivated fields and any temporary closures, and do not create new paths down the cliff.
• Plan the walk back before fishing: leaving late with a heavy catch bag, wet boots and a rising tide is a common way for a manageable descent to become a serious problem.

Hawsker Bottoms is best known as a mixed rough-ground mark, with cod and coalfish the headline cold-water species when there is colour and movement in the sea. Pollack, wrasse and mackerel provide much of the sport in clearer and calmer summer conditions, while other fish can appear according to season and the particular gully being fished.

• Cod and coalfish: most realistic after autumn and winter seas have stirred food from the rough ground; small cod, larger fish and coalfish can all show depending on conditions.
• Pollack: a good prospect around kelp edges, deeper gullies and rock faces, especially on worked lures or a carefully presented bait.
• Ballan wrasse and corkwing wrasse: common summer targets around kelp and boulders; handle gently and return them promptly.
• Mackerel: can pass within casting range in settled weather, particularly where there is deeper water close to the rocks.
• Bass, flatfish, dogfish and other occasional visitors: possible in suitable summer/autumn conditions, but should be treated as bonus catches rather than guaranteed residents of every ledge.

Fishing needs to be adapted to the rough bottom. Strong, simple rigs and a willingness to change position are generally more productive than trying to force long casts into snaggy kelp.

• For cod and coalfish, use a robust rotten-bottom or weak-link lead arrangement with a clipped or pulley-style bait rig, sized sensibly for the tackle and sea state.
• Productive natural baits commonly include crab, lugworm, ragworm, mussel, squid and fish strips; fresh, securely bound bait matters in moving water.
• Cast into a gully, along the edge of a kelp bed or across a change in depth rather than simply aiming for maximum distance.
• For pollack, work soft plastics, metal lures or a light baited rig through clear channels beside kelp, keeping in contact with the lure but avoiding prolonged dragging across the bottom.
• For wrasse, a short-range bait presentation close to visible kelp and rock often out-fishes a long cast; use tackle heavy enough to stop fish reaching cover.
• Carry spare rigs, leads and hooks. Snags are part of fishing this sort of ground, and attempting to pull free aggressively near an edge can be dangerous.

The mark is highly dependent on sea state and tide. A moderate coloured sea can improve the rough-ground fishing, whereas a large swell can make the rocks unfishable and remove any safe route off the foreshore.

• Fish only when there is a safe, dry-enough stance with a clear retreat route above the incoming tide.
• Mid-tide through high water can bring fish closer over the rough ground, but the best timing varies greatly between individual gullies and the height of the tide.
• A gentle to moderate easterly or north-easterly sea can put colour into the water and encourage codling, but it can also make the ledges dangerous very quickly.
• Calmer, clearer water is generally better for lure fishing for pollack, wrasse and mackerel.
• Check the local tide table, weather forecast, wave height and swell direction immediately before travelling; wind strength alone is not an adequate guide to conditions at the rocks.
• Avoid fishing after dark unless you already know the exact access and escape route in safe daylight conditions.

This is an exposed, physically demanding rock mark and should not be treated as a casual family beach venue. It is unsuitable for wheelchair access and is a poor choice for anglers with limited mobility, poor balance, unsuitable footwear or no experience of tidal rock fishing.

• Wear studded rock boots or other footwear with reliable grip, warm waterproof layers and a properly fitted buoyancy aid.
• Take a charged phone in a waterproof pouch, a headtorch even for daytime sessions, and tell someone exactly where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Never turn your back on the sea: occasional larger sets can reach well beyond the apparent waterline.
• Do not fish beneath unstable cliff faces, directly below overhangs, or where fresh rockfall, cracking ground or warning signs are present.
• Go with an experienced angler on a first visit, especially if using a cliff descent or fishing a ledge that can be cut off.
• If swell, spray or a rising tide makes the exit doubtful, leave early. Fish are never worth gambling with a tide-locked ledge.

There are no dependable facilities on the foreshore itself, so Hawsker Bottoms should be approached as a self-sufficient session. Shops, toilets, food and more substantial public services are found away from the mark, principally in nearby settlements and Whitby.

• Bring all drinking water, food, bait, spare clothing, a basic first-aid kit and enough light for an unplanned delay.
• Parking arrangements vary around Hawsker; use designated public parking where available and avoid blocking farm entrances, lanes or access for emergency vehicles.
• There is no safe assumption of bins, toilets, tackle supplies or mobile signal at the bottom.
• Pack out discarded line, bait packaging, cans and fish waste. Loose line is particularly hazardous around seabirds and dogs using the coast path.

The most successful approach is to travel light, assess several possible fishing positions from a safe distance and let the sea dictate the session. Hawsker Bottoms rewards anglers who can identify fishable water among the kelp and who are prepared to move rather than persist from a poor ledge.

• Arrive in daylight on a first visit and inspect both the fishing stance and the route home before setting up.
• A modest cast into a deeper, cleaner-looking channel is often better than launching a bait over a high kelp plateau.
• Keep a landing plan: a long-handled drop net, sensible tackle strength or a lower, safer gully may be needed, and no fish should tempt an unsafe climb or reach.
• In rougher conditions, concentrate on secure positions with water moving over rough ground rather than exposed points taking the full force of the swell.
• Keep catches only when you can identify the species confidently, dispatch and store it properly, and use it responsibly; releasing surplus fish helps maintain the mark.

There is no known blanket prohibition on sea angling at Hawsker Bottoms, but access and fishing can be constrained by landowner rights, cliff-safety closures, coastal-path diversions and any temporary notices on site. Rules can change, so treat current official signage and local authority or harbour guidance as authoritative.

• Respect all warning signs, fenced areas, access restrictions and path diversions, particularly those associated with cliff erosion or land management.
• Recreational sea anglers in England do not normally need an Environment Agency rod licence for ordinary sea fishing, but this does not override local restrictions or rules affecting particular species and areas.
• Check current national and regional rules for retained species, including any minimum sizes, catch limits, seasonal protections or restrictions on protected fish and shellfish, before taking anything home.
• Do not collect bait, shellfish or other marine life where notices, local byelaws, conservation measures or landowner restrictions prohibit it.
• If intending to fish close to harbour approaches, commercial gear, nesting birds or managed coastal land, give these areas a wide berth and follow any posted directions.