Long Nab

Long Nab is a rugged, rough-ground rock mark on the Scarborough/Scalby Ness stretch of the North Yorkshire coast. It is valued more for its deep, kelpy and broken ground than for comfort: in the right sea it can produce quality fish, but it demands sensible timing, secure footing and tackle that can cope with snags.

• It is principally a bait-and-lure mark for anglers prepared to walk and fish natural rock ledges rather than a promenade-style venue.
• The mark is at its best when there is enough movement in the sea to bring fish close, without making the ledges unsafe.
• Conditions change markedly with season, tide height and swell, so it rewards repeat visits and local observation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Long Nab lies on the rocky coast immediately north of Scarborough’s North Bay/Scalby Mills area, around the Scalby Ness coastal stretch. Anglers normally approach via the public coastal footpath network and then use established descents or ledges, but the final route can be steep, muddy and altered by erosion.

• Start by checking current parking and pedestrian access around Scalby Mills, Scalby Ness and the nearby coastal path; do not assume that a route shown in an old report remains safe or open.
• The walk to a workable ledge is uneven and can involve wet rock, loose earth and a meaningful carry of tackle.
• Avoid creating new cliff descents or crossing private land. Use only obvious, lawful access routes and respect gates, crops, livestock and residents.
• First-time visitors should inspect the mark in daylight and preferably go with an experienced local angler who knows the safe ledges and exit lines.

Long Nab’s mixed rock, kelp and deeper water give it a useful seasonal species list. Cod and codling are the main cold-water targets, while summer brings the more mobile rock-fish and pelagic options.

• Cod and codling are the headline target from autumn into winter, particularly when a moderate coloured sea is working over the rough ground.
• Pollack can be taken around kelp edges and drop-offs, especially on lures or lightly presented baits in clearer, warmer water.
• Mackerel may show in summer and early autumn when shoals are moving along the coast.
• Ballan wrasse and other wrasse species are possible over the kelp and broken reef in settled summer conditions.
• Bass can occur, most plausibly in warmer months and when food is being pushed through the rough water, although they are not a guaranteed catch.
• Rockling, shore crab-feeding fish and occasional flatfish may feature depending on the exact ledge, depth and ground fished.

For bait fishing, use robust rough-ground tactics and accept that tackle losses are part of fishing this type of venue. For lures, concentrate on the edges of kelp, gullies and any darker seams or changes in depth rather than simply casting as far as possible.

• A clipped-down pulley or other snag-resistant rig with a strong hook pattern is a practical starting point for codling and mixed-ground fishing.
• Carry sufficient leads, hooks and rigs, and use a sensible weak-link or rotten-bottom arrangement where the ground permits; never use a setup that risks leaving excessive line or lead behind.
• Fresh crab, mussel, lugworm, ragworm, squid and mixed cocktail baits can all be useful, with crab and mussel particularly relevant when fish are feeding hard in rough water.
• Keep bait casts controlled and aim for fishable channels, kelp margins and the near-to-middle ground; an extreme cast into the worst snags is often less effective than a well-presented bait.
• For pollack, use metal lures, soft plastics or plugs worked steadily over and alongside kelp, keeping contact with the lure without dragging it through every weed bed.
• A landing net is rarely practical from higher rock; only fish positions from which a safe landing or release is genuinely possible.

The usable part of Long Nab is governed as much by sea state as by the tide. Many anglers favour fishing with increasing water over the rocks, often through the latter flood and around high water, but the best window varies between individual ledges.

• Fish a moderate swell only if the ledge remains well clear of breaking water and there is an unquestionably safe route out; a large sea can make the mark dangerous very quickly.
• A coloured, moving sea after onshore weather can improve winter codling prospects, while clearer and calmer water is generally kinder for pollack, wrasse and lure fishing.
• Check the full tidal range before setting off. Some lower shelves are cut off well before high water, and retreat routes can become slippery or wave-washed.
• Strong wind against tide, sea fog and fading light all make navigation and escape harder; do not let a promising bite delay an early retreat.
• If waves are reaching the intended fishing platform, regularly washing its back edge, or removing a clear exit route, do not fish it.

This is not an easy-access fishing mark and should be treated as serious rock fishing rather than a casual shore session. The principal hazards are cliff-path terrain, slips on weed, sudden swell, tidal isolation and an awkward exit with tackle.

• Wear grippy boots or rock-fishing footwear, warm waterproof layers and a buoyancy aid; a helmet is sensible where there is any exposure to loose cliff or rockfall.
• Tell someone exactly where you are going and when you expect to return, carry a charged phone in a waterproof case, and take a headtorch even for a daytime trip.
• Never turn your back on the sea, fish alone in marginal conditions, or climb down an unfamiliar route after dark.
• Keep well away from cliff bases where rockfall is possible, especially after heavy rain or freeze-thaw weather.
• The walk, uneven surfaces and likely need to negotiate a descent make Long Nab unsuitable for wheelchair users and difficult for anyone with limited mobility.
• If in doubt, fish a safer nearby shore venue instead; no catch is worth being trapped by the tide or swept from a ledge.

Facilities are limited once away from the road and coastal-path approaches, so anglers should arrive self-sufficient. Nearby Scarborough and the Scalby Mills area offer more services than the mark itself, but availability can be seasonal and subject to local restrictions.

• Check current parking rules, payment arrangements and closing times before leaving a vehicle; do not block narrow roads, gateways or access tracks.
• Do not rely on toilets, shelter, fresh water, tackle supplies or mobile signal being available at the fishing ledge.
• Pack out all litter, discarded line, bait packaging and damaged rigs. Take particular care to remove line from rock pools and kelp, where it is hazardous to birds and marine life.
• A rucksack is generally more practical than carrying loose buckets and boxes over the approach, although it should not be overloaded for a difficult descent.

The most productive approach at Long Nab is usually to match the session to the sea rather than forcing a visit in unsuitable weather. A daylight recce at low or moderate water can reveal likely kelp edges, gullies and safe standing areas, but those observations must be reassessed as the tide rises.

• Ask local tackle shops or experienced Scarborough anglers about the current state of access, recent cliff erosion and which ledges are safely fishable; these details can change.
• Travel light enough to move safely, but bring spare terminal tackle because the ground is genuinely rough.
• Watch the water for several minutes before setting up. Sets of larger waves can arrive well after an apparently calm spell.
• In a coloured winter sea, prioritise secure bait presentation and a safe platform over delicate tactics; in settled summer water, scale down and work lures or lighter baits around the kelp.
• Leave enough time to pack up and walk out before the route becomes dark, wet or tide-bound.

There is no general, clearly established prohibition on sea angling at Long Nab, but access and conservation rules can be site-specific and may change. Anglers should treat any official notice, land-management instruction, temporary closure or safety signage as definitive.

• Check current North Yorkshire coastal-access information, local signage and any landowner restrictions before using a descent or parking area.
• Marine protected-area designations do not automatically mean that all angling is banned, but they can carry restrictions on particular activities; check the relevant official conservation and fisheries information for the exact area.
• If retaining fish, follow the current national and local fisheries rules, including any applicable minimum sizes, catch restrictions, seasonal measures and protected-species provisions. These rules change, so verify them with official MMO and local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority sources.
• Return undersized, unwanted and protected fish carefully, minimise handling time, and do not remove more fish or bait than you can lawfully and responsibly use.
• Do not collect bait, disturb wildlife, light fires or leave equipment in a way that conflicts with posted rules or harms the coastal habitat.