SOUTH WALES

FISHING

In the Bristol Channel, the second largest tidal range in the world means even neap tides can be very strong. Fishing needs a bit of planning because the conditions can change quickly. e water is almost always murky because of the constant tidal scouring of the sandy bottom, but there is excellent cod, ray, smoothhound and spurdog fishing pretty much all year round. Most boats head down channel, fishing up-river requires a good deal of local knowledge, partly because large areas dry out at low tide. e bottom is a mix of sand and mud, but some broken ground can be found around headlands. Most local anglers fish with uptide tactics as they are more effective.

PENARTH

A big marina on the south coast of Wales, formed after the construction of the Cardiff Bay barrage it has excellent access to the Bristol Channel – a venue which offers some fabulous and often underrated fishing. e marina can be accessed at any time

Marina: Penarth Marina - www.boatfolk. co.uk/penarth-marina-cardiff

Launching Facilities: Located at Grangetown in Jim Driscoll Way by the local council. £15 for a single launch, £189 for an annual ticket. It includes secure parking for vehicle and trailers. Opening times vary so call the Channel View Leisure Centre reception on 02920 373181

Tackle: Gary Evans Tackle - 02920 619838 Bait2 Go - 02920 453274

Anglers Supplies - 02920220723

Clubs: Our friends at the Cardiff Bay Yacht Club have an active fishing club which runs regular competitions including their very popular Winter Cod fishing competition. Charter Boats:

Anchorman Charters - 07974101888 Escape Charter - 07890 782 344 / www.escape-charters.com DevOcean Charters - 07989 748701 / www.dev-oceancharters.com

White Water Charters - 07970 936443 Tuskar 2 Fishing Charters - 07710 234816

SWANSEA

Swansea Marina was the first to open in the Bristol Channel. and was a premier cod fishing port. Sadly, those days are long gone but it still offers some of the best fishing the Bristol Channel has to offer, particularly in the summer. ree charter boats (down from 15) operate from Swansea offering an array of fishing opportunities. e marina has

550 berths, a boat yard, marine engineer, chandler and plenty of parking and a hoist but no slipway. e nearest slipway is located at Mumbles five-minutes away. ere are plenty of marks in Swansea Bay, which offers good fishing opportunities with reefs, sandbanks and a wreck. Swigg Buoy is in the Bay with a sand bar to anchor for rays, bass and flatties. White Oyster Reef is a deep gutter running parallel to the shore between Landland Bay and Pwlldu Head with good bass, bream and smoothhound fishing. It’s a rocky mark and not easy to fish on big tides. Stronus wreck, Oyster ledges and Scarweather sands are other marks, and past Mumbles is the well-known Oxwich Bay.

Tackle: Mainwearings Angling Centre www.mainwaringsfishing.co.uk Swansea Angling Centre - 01792 773578

Charter Boats:

Susan Jayne, Ceri Stevens - 07774 906390 Lyn Marie, Tony Grey - 07970 685038 Wayne Morgan - 07943 542343 / www.lynmariecharters.co.uk

Blue under, Mark omas - 07703 797974 / mark20thomas@hotmail.co.uk / www.bluethundercharters.co.uk