Local Fishing
Fancy a days fishing in the Bristol Channel? Listed below are a few of the popular local marks with details of how to get there and what you may catch.
The Bristol Channel is subject to the second highest tidal range in the world and therefore a degree of care is needed on some marks. Fishing at high tide is normally fine but if you fish some of the low tide marks you must be fully aware of the rising tide and ensure that you exit is not cut off by the incoming tide.
The upper channel marks are particularly dangerous and we would not recommend venturing out on to any of the mud banks and sand bars without expert local guidance.
Great Local Fishing Spots
Spot:Brean Down
Access:Leave the M5 at J22 and follow signs for Burnham. At Esso garage turn right and just keep going for about 5 miles. Brean Down is at the very end of the coast road. Plenty of parking is available during daytime but both car parks are locked at night. Access to the Down is by climbing the long flight of steps and turning left towards the fort. Access the water by following the small paths which lead down on the north (Weston) side. Some of these paths lead to very steep access points so extreme care is needed although access at the far end just before the fort is slightly easier.
Tides:Can be fished any tide both high and low water
Species:Cod, bass, conger and ray
Spot:Brean - Berrow beaches
Access:Follow the same directions as for Brean Down and look out for the beach access points. The access to Berrow is opposite Unity Farm and the entrance to Brean beach is about 1 mile before the Down. Parking is available on the beach during the daytime (Normally free during the winter) but once again the car parks are locked at night greatly restricting access.
Despite their shallow apperance these beaches can fish very well but you are always on the move as the tide pushes you up the beach
DO NOT walk to far out on the mud as it is very soft in places.
Tides:Fish 3 hours in and 1 hour down. Springs are generally best and an old local guide was the bigger the tide the near to the down you should fish.
Species:Cod, whiting, bass, conger, flounders and ray
Spot:Burnham Lower Light
Access:Leave M5 at J22 and head into Burnham. Follow coast road as for Brean Down but after approx. ½ mile turn left into Allandale Road. Parking is on the roadside but take care not to block any entrances. Fish anywhere along the beach but do not go too far past the lighthouse as the mud can be very soft and there are some deep gullies which at times fill with soft mud making them impossible to see until you start to sink!
Tides:Best fished on neap tides from just after low water until high tide.
Species:Cod, codling, conger, whiting, flounders and occasional rays and bass in summer.
Spot:Burnham Sea Wall
Access:Once in Burnham follow signs for the sea front. Best area to fish is from the jetty (opposite Somerfields) south to the Yatch club. Parking is on the roadside and is free from October to March. This is a very easy access mark and can be very popular on Autumn evening high tides when some reasonable bags of whiting can be taken along with the odd codling and conger eel.
The ground here is mostly clean sand leading to some quite deep mud in the river channel. There are some rocky patches but if you arrive 2 hours or so before high tide you can easily see where the snags are and avoid them.
Tides:Best fished on spring tides for 1 � hours either side of high tide when you can fish from the wall itself. The mud in front of the wall can be very soft.
Species:Whiting, conger, flounder and odd codling. Bass can show in the summer
Spot:Stolford
Access:Leave the M5 at junction 23 and follow signs for Bridgwater and then A39 Minehead. At Cannington go into the village and turn right at the war memorial, sign posted to Hinkley Point. Follow this road for about three miles and Stolford is sign posted on the right. Carry on down narrow lanes until you reach a T. junction, turn right and then at a V in the road take the left hand fork. This will take you to the beach where there is a small car park. Fish from the shingle beach to the right. If you arrive early you can see where the sandy areas are and therefore cut down on lost tackle.
Tides:Best fished on spring tides for 2 � hours either side of high tide.
Species:Codling, whiting, silver eels and bass.
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