Fishing at Southend-On-Sea/Canvey Island

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:42 pm

Hi all, can any member help?

Do I need to have a current fishing rod license to fish the Southend/Canvey area. As this is part of the Thames estuary, and it falls within the durisdiction of the Thames Water Authority, does this mean I have to abide by the rules for river/freshwater fishing. I would not like to fall foul of the law and have to pay the penalty for fishing without a rod license. Or is this area recognised as being 'sea', and therefore no rod license would be necessary.

Puzzled and worried.

Guest

Hi Fish4fish,

Have fished all along here and you don't need a license. Don't go bait digging though as there are quite stiff penalties for doing this without a permit. You have to pay a fee on the pier or you can get a day, night or combined permit from Southend Council. Last I saw, the combined day/night permit was about £90 for the year. Round by the old gas jetty is producing school bass at the mo. Don't stray into the MOD areas which are clearly marked at West and East Beach.

The Drop at Canvey yielded a fair amount of Cod last winter but only fish it on the ebb (flood tide will quickly cut you off) and be prepared for tackle losses as its a bit snaggy.

If you are local to the area, why not try the Crouch. It's a bit of a walk if you go to Wallasea but South Fambridge and Paglesham are also quite good and not miles to walk.

Bradwell waterside is about an hours drive but again it's a trot to the best fishing which is down by the old power station.

Recently, we've had some reasonable night fishing down at Holland on Sea near Clacton (well, my mate has, all I've caught is a cold!).

Hope this helps.

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:53 pm

Hi Dunc
i fish canvey a few times a year and have heard 'the drop' mentioned before by other anglers, i always presumed this to be the same area also known as scars elbow,can you confirm this for me please as i think i'm confused as to how you get cut off by the incoming tide or have i had it wrong for all these years?
many thanks

Guest

Hi Dobber,

Scars Elbow is a bit further round to the East I believe. If you go to the bay (you know, the obviously man made very square one) and walk west along the sea wall, the drop is right next to the first jetty that you come to. Scars Elbow is to the east of the bay so I've been told. The problem with the drop is that the groyne is a semi circular shape running out to the jetty which forms a sort of shallow lagoon against the sea wall. The drop itself is seaward towards the jetty and is about 60 feet deep. As the tide floods, the jetty end and the wall end of the lagoon fill at the same time leaving the groyne exposed but cut off.

I'll check for definate on the scars elbow location but the drop is a completely seperate fishing mark from it.

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:26 pm

many thanks for that, took the dog for a walk along there earlier today and i see exactly where you mean now,went at low tide and it certainly looks deeper than any other marks along that stretch,looking forward to trying it out on a night session later this week,
Thanks again Dunc, most helpfull

Guest

No worries dobber. Best fishing there is supposed to be in the winter. Apparantly it's full of cod!