Thames treats
Anyone looking for some easy access venues on the Thames Estuary should try Greenhithe or Lazer Quay, says
On the banks of the River Thames close to the Dartford Crossing, Greenhithe is great for a quick session. Parking is free and you can almost fish from your car.
The best thing about this venue is you have a disused boat ramp, which means you can walk down to cast or retrieve your tackle. This can be fished at any state of the tide. I like to fish early into the flooding tide for bass, but there are also eels, soles, bass and flounders.
I use ragworms and crabs in summer, or lug tipped with fish in the winter for whiting. Lug tipped with maddies works well for flounders during January and February.
Keep the rigs simple. Use two-hook flappers with size 2 hooks or loop rigs. The hook snoods are made with 15-20lb clear Asso Oblivion, with a couple of sequins to add attraction and movement to the bait.
The concrete platform will fish four people comfortably. I like the right-hand side of the wooden boat ramp because it has an added advantage of a pub just behind the parking area. Be conscious of leaving room for residents’ parking and accessing their houses. Take a bag with you to remove any rubbish generated by the session.
LASER QUAY
One of a few marks you can fish on the Medway city estate at Rochester, the area consists mainly of car parks for office workers. It is busy during the day, but you can fish out of your car or van in the evening.
You are fishing into the River Medway, which is about 200 metres wide, opposite Chatham. Fish on almost any state of tide, but I prefer the first of the flood, which is good for bass and eels. I head towards the timber yard corner on the right-hand side as you look out towards the river. Take a drop-net because you are standing about above the river at low tide.
Use two-hook flappers or loop rigs with size 2 Cox & Rawle Match hooks on 15-20lb snoods. Best baits are crabs and ragworms in summer, and lug and fish bait in winter.
You may have to use slightly heavier lead weights because there is a good tidal push at this narrow part of the river. It can be snaggy in places, so use heavier mainlines and fast-retrieve reels.
Again, please take your litter home. ■