Fishing the Isle of Sheppey ?

mattyguk1 · Member Joined: Mar 21, 2008 Posts: 21

hi all, can anybody point me at some good fishing venues on the isle of sheppey as i fancy a trip out cheers matt

Seaspray · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Fishing the Isle of Sheppey ?

Gonefishin · Member Joined: Nov 19, 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Kent

Caught my best ever Bass (not much competition for it mind!) off the shingle at Barton Point last year. That's between Sheerness and Minster. Pay to park on the shingle or free parking on the grass opposite. The Swale at the bridges is good, as is Queenborough. Eastchurch Gap is often mentioned as a venue for Thornback Rays in "Sea Angler", but I'm not sure where this "Gap" is. Anyone know? Don't say Eastchurch!!!! You will have to fish at high tide, unless you can cast 3 miles or walk on mud, but arriving at low tide allows for bait grabbing and checking for likely snags. Good luck!

PootyTang · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

I'm in the same boat as you having tried to find the Gap a few times but no joy so ended up fishing Bartons or Leysdown . Where is the Gap??? Also Sheerness is not too bad and you can park in the Tesco car park and just walk over the wall.

Gonefishin · Member Joined: Nov 19, 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Kent

Glad I'm not the only one with the gap problem PootyTang. I've looked out over the wall at Tescos at low tide and it looks like a tackle graveyard, how do you cope.
PS. If Tescos manager is reading this, I buy your sandwiches and use your "fresh" mackerel for bait . Can't be to careful!

PootyTang · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:30 am Post subject:

I fished a friendly match there in the early winter and bagged 13lb 9oz and took the money . I had no snags but i was fishing at distance . The Islands a funny place , my boy was fishing next to me and had 1 fish on the last cast of the match . I was taking 2 sizeable whiting a cast with 2 rods and i got a bonus codling for approx 3lb . The next fella down from me had 5 lb ish . The method i used was find the distance where the fish are feeding but don't strike on the first bite as we were fishing 2 hooks per rod . Leave it and bring in 2 .Double patting it was like a conveyer belt .The only time i had 1 fish on was the last cast of the day . The only problem when you keep catching like that is you end up totally knacked running up an down the shingle un-hooking and re-baiting . Make no mistake i slept well that night . not talking

Gonefishin · Member Joined: Nov 19, 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Kent

I could put with being knackered after a day like that! Well done!

coastguard · Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 2

For Eastchurch gap drive up into the village of Eastchurch then turn left between the church and the shurland hotel. Following this road down the hill for 300 yards then turn right into Warden Rd. Follow Warden Rd for a quarter of a mile then turn left into Fourth Avenue (the Dickens pub is immediately on your left) Drive up Fourth Avenue until you reach the top (about 200 yards) then go straight over at the crossroads with the sunnymede club on your left. Go straight down the hill for 100 yards then turn right into First Avenue (unmade road) Follow this road (with care) for about 400 yards or until you reach a sharp right hand bend. Park here and the sea is directly in front of you. Walk to the left down the hill with the sea on your right for about 75 yards and you will see a path leading down the cliffs. Its not steep but can be slippery when wet and the cliffs are soft so erosion is ever present. This is Eastchurch gap.......be careful at high water especially on spring tides as you will be pushed right back against the cliff face. Best of luck....

poltacrab · Joined: May 05, 2008 Posts: 3

caught a 1lb 4oz bass from bartons point last thursday. caught on lug, at high tide at dusk. the bass was followed by about 20 very small whiting.

great night...

pc

Gonefishin · Member Joined: Nov 19, 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Kent

Cheers Coastguard, think I've got it on the map now. Is it a high, moderate or low chance of drowning on a night spring high tide? Sorry didn't respond earlier, been away. Not Fishing.

Well done poltacrab! This time last year I had trouble with crabs scoffing the bait out there. Still better to fish than not to fish.

coastguard · Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 2

Personally I would fish it in daylight first to get a feel for the place and to check out the beach at low water, this will give you far more idea of where to fish rather than just choosing a spot randomly. With the exception of a few areas the cliffs here shelve quite gradually down so in the event of a big spring its easy to move to or fish from an elevated position.