Tips for a novice near Bristol...

kimma · Member Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 5

Hi,

I've done a fair bit of coarse fishing and a bit of fly but am new to sea fishing.
I live miles from the sea but my girlfriend lives in Bristol and I am looking for somewhere close(ish) where I can sneak off to and try a bit of sea fishing.
I've borrowed some kit, a fairly short rod with a fixed spool reel. I've been told that I therefore need a pier/harbour wall that I can cast off.

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice on:

a) where to fish
b) what bait to use/and must know rig info
c) most importantly what can I expect to catch!!

Also, I've been told it is best to fish about two hours either side of high tide, is this right? if so where can I get tide info?

I realise this is a lot of questions, but would really appreciate a bit of advice just to cut down the inevitable process of trial and error.

Cheers,
Kim

crazy-dude · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:18 am Post subject:

A) Try portishead or clevedon as they both have a pier.

B) Frozen baits ( lugworm, squid, mackerel, peeler crab).
Live baits,( lugworm, ragworm)

Check out this link for baiting info http://www.allaboutangling.co.uk/page7.htm

Check out the side menu on this site for rigs.

C) Possible species available: eels, cod/codling, rays, whiting, flounder, bass?

You are right about the tide
For tide times check out the side menu on this site.

Hope this points you in the right direction, I usually fish the channel but find that you get a better quality of fish if you head further down the coast, Minehead being one of my faves. It would be worth calling into a Bristol tackle shop as I don't know too much info on the piers that I have mentioned.

leeman · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:54 am Post subject:

Good advice from crazy dude.

I would also advise you do a info gathering session 1st. The BC can be a very dangerous place to fish - particularly alone. There is mud, slippery rocks and weed and debris and a massive tidal swing. Stick to places that have no risk of being cut off by the tide.

Tackle wise you will need a strong beachcaster with around 15 - 20lb mainline and a leader. You will also need a 5 - 6oz lead to hold the bottom. Bigger tides are unfishable due to speed of the current. Even on small tides once it starts to ebb the pull is horrendous.

Have a read down this forum as this question comes up a lot and together you should be will set up for some safe productive fishing.

cheers

lee

kimma · Member Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks for this advice guys, I think that I will probably try either Cleavedon or Portishead pier on Sunday morning. Are there no restriction?

I've been looking at the rigs that are list on the left, they a different from what I was thinking of making from the kit I have. I have been given some big slider floats and I was going to make something that I can best an oversized pike rig. Is this likely to work?

Also, am I right in thinking I can eat what I catch?

kimma · Member Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 5

I just had a look at the two piers on Google Earth and I think that I will fish Portishead as it looks a bit easier to fish.

-K

mrwobble · Member Joined: Jan 10, 2008 Posts: 11

Some advice. Both piers are great. You would need to pay a nominal amount to fish Clevedon pier. However, it is a good place to start. Comfortable seating as well! Never fished Portishead, but can tell you the bottom is mainly if not all mud.

In this part of the channel fishing the bottom is pretty much the only way to go. The vast majority of the fish in the area are bottom feeding.

If you are not sure on the rigs my advice is whilst at the tackle shop getting your bait ask for a few ready made rigs. A pulley pennel is what I use from the rocks, sadly not a pier angler. However, fishing with a float probably won't be successfull. If you go to Clevedon, call into Colins Angling. Really helpful chap, who would I am sure give you a good chance of catching something.

Best of luck to you, hope that this has been of help.

thebigbassman · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

welcome mrwobble

leeman · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:42 am Post subject:

Clevedon Pier does incur a charge and i believe it closes around 4.45pm. I also believe the end of the pier can only be fished by the Clevedon Pier SAC.

Portishead Pier has a locked gate that has a code to input. I always get confused but it is either 5213 or 5312, if it has changed the local tackle shop Reel Fun can give you the number.

WARNING - WARNING - Portishead Pier does become submerged on a tide around 12.6 and above so do not fish it on these tides. There can be alot of boat traffic less then 6ft from one side of the pier ( this is the non fishing side due to boat traffic toing and froing from the marina ). Because of this the wash of these boats will wash over the pier on tides just below 12.6. Because the pier becomes submerged it leaves alot of slippery mud on the stones and ground of the pier. In the winter when it does not dry out make sure you wear a strong pair of boots as on the pier edge it can be quite muddy and slippery with the odd pool of water still hanging around.

The pier is not fishing well at the moment with little beig caught i understanding is that more is being caught further down the BC.

cheers

lee

kimma · Member Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks everyone.

Especially Lee - I was going to head down to Portishead for around high tide!

I think I will probably go to Cleavedon Pier, although somebody suggested Littleton but I don't really know where that is.

I'll pop in to a Bristol tackle shop today and have an ask around.

Cheers guys