Saltwick Bay

Saltwick Bay is a rugged, tide-dependent shore mark just east of Whitby, combining a small beach with extensive rocky scars, kelp and broken ground. It can produce good Yorkshire mixed fishing, but it is far more suited to anglers comfortable with rough ground, a longish walk and rapidly changing sea conditions than to a casual, easy-access session.

• The mark is most often approached as a rock-and-gully venue rather than a clean beach cast.
• Expect snags, weed and awkward footing; fish it for the ground in front of you rather than attempting extreme-distance casting.
• It is especially attractive when there is some colour and movement in the sea, provided the swell remains safe enough for the chosen ledge or beach area.
• The surrounding coastline is scenic and geologically important, so anglers should leave no trace and avoid disturbing cliff or foreshore features.

Saltwick Bay lies on the North Yorkshire coast close to Whitby, beneath high cliffs and beside the coastal footpath network. Access normally involves a descent to the shore and should be treated as a proper coastal walk rather than a drive-to-the-water mark.

• Public coastal paths from the Whitby direction provide the most dependable way to plan an approach; check the current route before travelling, as erosion, maintenance and diversions can affect cliff-top paths and steps.
• Parking arrangements around nearby holiday accommodation, private land and roadside areas can change. Use clearly permitted public parking or obtain permission where required rather than assuming access through a business or private site.
• The beach, reef and individual fishing positions alter substantially with the tide. A low-water recce is worthwhile, but do not let a rising tide cut off your return route.
• Carry gear in a rucksack or compact trolley only where the path allows it. A heavy barrow, large box and excess tackle are impractical on steep or uneven access.

Saltwick Bay's kelp, gullies and mixed rough ground can hold a useful range of North Sea shore species, with the best prospects changing sharply with season, sea state and tide height. Codling and other rough-ground fish are the traditional cold-water targets, while summer offers more varied sport.

• Codling may show in autumn and winter, particularly after a moderate to rough easterly sea has coloured the water; bigger fish are possible anywhere along this type of Whitby coastline, but never guaranteed.
• Pollack are a realistic target around kelp edges, deeper gullies and cleaner rock faces in the warmer months.
• Ballan wrasse, smaller wrasse species and occasional rockling are available over close rough ground in settled conditions.
• Mackerel can move within casting range in summer when baitfish are present, especially from deeper water or elevated rock positions.
• Flatfish, including flounder and dab, may occur over the sandier pockets and beach sections, though this is not primarily a clean-ground flatfish venue.
• Bass and sea trout are occasional possibilities along this coast in suitable seasons and conditions, but neither should be regarded as a reliable Saltwick Bay target.

Tackle should be chosen to cope with kelp and rock rather than for maximum casting range. Strong, simple terminal rigs and a willingness to lose the occasional lead are more useful than delicate beach presentation.

• For codling and mixed rough-ground fishing, use a robust beachcaster or rock rod, a suitably powerful reel and abrasion-resistant main line or leader. A pulley-style or other lifting rig can help raise fish and weight over kelp on retrieval.
• Pennel or single-hook bait rigs carrying fresh or well-presented crab, lugworm, mussel, squid or fish baits are sensible options; match hook size and bait bulk to the target species and conditions.
• Keep casts controlled and place baits into sand channels, the edge of kelp beds or the mouths of gullies identified at low water. Blindly casting into the roughest visible kelp is a quick way to lose tackle.
• For pollack, work a soft plastic, metal lure or small baited rig steadily along the kelp fringe. Use a lure weight that maintains contact without repeatedly ploughing into the bottom.
• For wrasse, fish a short-range leger with crab, worm or shellfish bait close to structure. A landing net is useful where a safe netting position exists, but do not attempt to climb down unstable rock to land a fish.
• Take spare leads, hooks and rigs, and retrieve steadily rather than striking hard into a snag; releasing pressure or changing the rod angle can often free a lead from kelp.

The bay fishes differently at each stage of the tide, and safe water is not necessarily productive water. A manageable swell with a little colour is often preferable for codling, whereas clearer, more settled water favours pollack and wrasse.

• Low water exposes much of the scar and reveals channels, kelp lines and cleaner patches; use this time to learn the ground only if it is safe to do so.
• Mid to high water commonly gives access to deeper water from the shore, but also removes escape routes and can make ledges exposed to wash.
• A rising tide is productive around gully mouths and newly covered ground, but it demands strict attention to the route back.
• Easterly or north-easterly weather can build sea conditions quickly on this open coast. Avoid the mark in heavy swell, when waves are reaching the base of the cliffs, or when spray makes the rocks slippery.
• Offshore or settled conditions can bring clearer water and better lure opportunities, though kelp growth and weed can still make fishing difficult.
• Check a current tide table, weather forecast, wind direction, swell forecast and daylight window before setting out; do not rely on a generic tide rule for a particular ledge.

Saltwick Bay is not a highly accessible shore mark and should be approached conservatively. Cliff paths, uneven rock, wet weed, falling-stone risk and tide cut-off are all genuine hazards.

• Wear footwear with strong grip, carry a headtorch even for a daytime session, and take warm/waterproof layers; mobile coverage can be variable beneath cliffs.
• Fish with a companion where possible, tell someone your intended return time, and keep a continuous eye on the sea rather than concentrating solely on the rod tip.
• Never fish directly below unstable cliffs or overhangs, and move on if fresh debris, cracking ground or warning signs suggest rockfall risk.
• Do not cross a wet reef or climb onto isolated rocks merely to gain a few yards of casting distance. Waves can wash over apparently safe ground without warning.
• The steep and uneven approach, combined with rough foreshore terrain, makes this a poor choice for anglers with limited mobility, young children, or anyone carrying excessive equipment.
• In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard; do not attempt a hazardous self-rescue from a tide-cut position.

Facilities should be assumed to be in Whitby or at authorised nearby visitor sites rather than on the foreshore itself. The bay is best treated as a self-sufficient, wild-coast session.

• There are no facilities to rely on at the fishing position, so bring drinking water, food, a first-aid kit, charged phone, spare light and a means of taking all litter home.
• Public toilets, shops, tackle supplies, food outlets and more substantial parking are available in and around Whitby, subject to opening times and seasonal changes.
• Do not use holiday-park, accommodation or business facilities unless you are a customer or have explicit permission.
• Avoid leaving valuables visible in a vehicle and allow ample time to return before dark, especially if parked some distance from the coastal path.

Saltwick rewards preparation more than brute-force casting. A first visit in calm daylight, ideally around a falling tide or low-water period with plenty of time to return, will make later fishing sessions safer and more productive.

• Travel light and take only the rods, bait and terminal tackle needed for the session; the walk and descent feel much harder after dark or in wet weather.
• Spend time identifying a safe, dry fishing stance above the expected wash line before setting up. If there is no safe stance, choose another mark.
• Keep baits and catches away from the cliff base and do not leave discarded line, hooks, bait packaging or broken tackle on the shore.
• Fresh bait and regular changes are generally more effective than leaving a large bait to wash in kelp for hours.
• If the bay is carrying too much swell, do not try to force a session. Whitby's harbour-side or more sheltered alternatives may be safer, though they will fish very differently.
• Respect walkers and other coast users on narrow paths, and keep rods broken down or carried safely until reaching the fishing area.

There is no clear general prohibition on recreational sea angling at Saltwick Bay, but access, conservation designations and fishery rules can impose restrictions that are not obvious from the waterline. Anglers should check current official information and obey all on-site notices before fishing.

• Observe any temporary cliff-safety closures, path diversions, private-land restrictions, harbour or landowner signage, and instructions issued by local authorities or coast managers.
• Check current rules from the Marine Management Organisation and the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority for species-specific minimum sizes, catch limits, seasonal measures, bait collection and any local byelaws.
• National rules for species such as bass can change, so verify the current recreational restrictions immediately before fishing rather than relying on old reports or social-media advice.
• Recreational sea anglers do not normally need an Environment Agency rod licence solely for sea fishing in England, but this does not override local access conditions or fisheries legislation.
• Do not remove fossils, disturb geological exposures, damage vegetation or collect bait in a way that breaches site rules. Check whether any part of the area has a protected-site condition affecting the activity you intend to undertake.
• Return undersized, protected or unwanted fish carefully, retain only fish that are legal and genuinely needed, and follow any current guidance on handling sensitive species.