Four more marks in South Wales...
Dave Lewis chooses four amazing venues for you to visit between Nash Point and Witches Point
The stretch of coastline running between Nash Point and Witches Point in South Wales is productive for a wide range of species, many to specimen size.
You will be fishing an area of immense scenic beauty, and while access is for the most part good, reaching these marks does involve a relatively long walk.
NASH POINT
Also known as Marcross, this is a venue best suited to experienced shore anglers. You need to be capable of casting a large bait a good distance, and be able to manage tacklehungry ground with the added component of a fast-running lateral run of tide.
The cliffs along this entire stretch are constantly crumbling, and rock falls are common. Do not fish or walk directly beneath the cliffs.
■ SPECIES: This is a productive mark for bass, conger eels, bull huss and rockling, with whiting and codling showing throughout the autumn and winter. Smoothhounds are abundant from May to September.
■ BEST TIMES: Two to three hours either side of low water on mid-range tides.
■ BAIT: Peeler crabs, squid and big worm baits are productive, depending on species. Mackerel or sandeels are good too.
■ GETTING THERE: Exit the A48 at Cowbridge and take the B4270 south towards Llantwit Major, and then the B4265 west towards Marcross. Turn left when you see Marcross signposted and then take a right, following the sign towards Monknash.
Head for the Plough and Harrow pub and park in a field (honesty box on gate) just down the lane from the pub. Follow the lane from the field for a few hundred yards and the pathway down to the beach. It’s not a tough walk, but takes 15-20 minutes, so travel light.
WICK
Located between Witches Point and Monknash, Wick is one of the very best shore venues in South Wales.
Due to the relatively short window of opportunity available on the main low water ledge at Wick, most anglers arrive a couple of hours earlier than necessary, and fish the other ledges to either side, which are also accessible on smaller tides.
If you stand on the high cliffs that flank this stretch of coastline when the tide is out, you will see that the entire area consists of a series of shallow, undulating ledges, gullies and countless rock pools that are liberally punctuated by pockets of clean sand.
The ability to be able to punch a decent size bait out as far as possible is always a distinct advantage.
■ SPECIES: Smoothhounds, bass, rays, huss, dogfish, cod and whiting.
■ BEST TIMES: A couple of hours either side of low water on the biggest tides. You can fish near the popular ledge on smaller tides, but most anglers focus on the spring tides, with the larger tides considered the best.
■ BAIT: Use crabs for smoothhounds and bass. Use sandeels and squid for rays, congers, huss and dogfish. Use a Pennell pulley rig for catching large fish at long range. ■ GETTING THERE: Exit the M4 at Junction 35, and drive towards Bridgend. After about four miles you see a sign to the left for Ogmore. Turn here, then a few hundred yards down the road take a right, also signposted, and follow the road down to the coast.
Continue through Ogmore-by-Sea, heading east to Southerndown beach.
Follow the path straight ahead from the beach car park until you arrive at the cliff top. The path that leads down to the beach is located within the woods to your right. There is a nominal charge to park during the day.