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:Hinkley Point
Access:As Stolford but rather then turn right into Stolford stay on the main road which will take you straight to the power station. There is limited roadside parking outside of the gates.(DO NOT PARK INSIDE THE POWER STATION WITHOUT PERMISSION) There is a stile just to the left of the main gate. Cross this and follow the footpath around the perimeter of the station and it will eventually bring you to the foreshore midway between Hinkley and Shurton. You will see the reefs in front of you. The best areas are either straight out in front of the power station or the long reef which runs off to the West (Shurton reef)
Tides:Can be fished on any sized tide for 2 � hours either side of low water. Weed can be a problem on large tides and take care not to get cut off by the rising tide.
Species:Cod, codling, thornbacks, conger, whiting and bass.
Spot:Lilstock
Access:Take the A39 Minehead road from Bridgwater until just after Holford where there is a sharp left hand bend. On this bend a lane goes straight ahead and is signed to Lilstock. Follow the lane to Kilton and by the church turn left. Keep on this lane and just past Lilstock farm the road bends sharp right and a track on the left leads to the beach car park. Walk up the track past the gate and this will lead to the beach. You can either fish over high tide by the pipe or walk to the left and fish off of the low water reefs.
Tides:The reef fishes best 3 hours either side of low water on spring tides whilst many prefer to fish for 4 hours in and 2 hours out on neap tides by the pipe as a very long cast is needed to clear the rocks on spring tides
Species:Cod, codling, conger, thornback, dogfish, pouting , whiting and smoothhounds
Spot:Kilve
Access:Kilve is on the A39 between Bridgwater and Minehead. Turn off by the shop and the lane will take you straight to the beach car park. Walk through the gate and over the stream and go across the grass keeping the stream on your right. Fishing is from any of the reefs over low water. This is a bit of a tackle graveyard so take plenty of leads.
Tides:Spring tides are best and most reefs are Fishable for 2 hours either side of low water
Species:Cod, codling, conger, dogfish, pouting and thornbacks.
Spot:St. Audries
Access:Turn right off the A39 just past the Windmill Pub, signed for Watchet. After about ½ mile there is a S bend. Right on the bend is a right turn to Home Farm holiday park. Go down the track and the pay and display car park is marked on the right with the path to the beach opposite. At the bottom of the steps turn right and walk past the waterfall. The best fishing is over high tide from the shingle bank in the main bay. There is a low water reef to the far side of the bay but extreme care is needed as the tide will cut you off very quickly.
Tides:Medium high springs are best. Very big tides and strong winds can push the tide right up to the cliffs so care is needed.
Species:Dogfish, conger, pouting, whiting and codling.
Spot:Doniford
Access:On the same road as St Audries if you go to the bottom of the steep hill and over the bridge there is a bus stop on the left. Just past here is a hidden entrance on the right which leads to a small car park. If you get to the railway bridge you have missed the turning! Best fishing is over low water either from the sewer pipe or the reef in front of the holiday camp.
Tides:Neap tides are best for the pipe whilst the holiday camp can be fished on springs.
Species:Cod, codling, conger and pouting with a few bass in the summer.
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