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updated
18/11/2006
The following information has been
compiled by D.K.Holmes
The information has been collated
after fishing all the listed venues over the
last forty years and lots of fellow anglers have
contributed to its authenticity.
Did
you know?
Frozen fish
– In order to prevent your fish forming a block in
the freezer place them in a polystyrene box or on a
piece of cardboard for 3 hours. Then place them in a
bag – they will not stick together.
Fishy facts=
The common sole
(solea
solea
or
solea vularis),
like the flounder, plaice and dab, belongs to
 the Pleuronectidae order. These flatfish lose their
lateral symmetry when the eye originating on the
blind side shifts around the edge of the head during
the development of the young fish to permit a
benthic lifestyle with the blind side lying flat on
the bottom…
The Needles
and Western Wight are to the West and Bembridge to the East of the
Island.
The coastline with its 65 miles of
beaches, fishable bays and four rivers offers to the sea angler fishing of every type and species
of fish to match. A major benefit of its shape is that there is always a shore sheltered from the wind,
from which to fish. The
predominant wind is westerly.
The
two front coasts of the island face the Solent from the Needles to Ryde and the shore line
at the back of the island face the English
Channel.
From January to March Flounder and Plaice are the main quarry. Then April to May Thornback Skate and Bream until the shoals of Mackerel and Bass appear, then until October almost
all known species can be caught around our coastal waters.
When the water temperature drops Cod and Channel Whiting are the favourite target.
For up to date local knowledge and seasonal baits contact tackle shops as listed on
SITE PREVIEW page: all are
run by competent anglers who will be pleased to advise.
The Solent From The NEEDLES to RYDE
Starting at the Needles, ALUM BAY is the first fishable point in the WEST WIGHT it is accessible by steep steps
or in the summer a chair lift operates, but only during the day. Large Bass can be caught near the old pier site and towards the Needles Cliffs after dark Conger and
Skate are
caught.
Travelling northwards along the coastline from the Bay to Atherwood Point is pretty rugged although
it can be fished with local knowledge, it is tough going and virtually virgin
territory and little fished from the shore, but the
rewards are great for the brave and the foolhardy.
Atherwood Point:
Check this venue at low water then fish high
water springs when it coincides with early evening
then it fishes well for Bass, Mullet and Bream
and big Pout. Lug or Rag worms the favourite bait
and
try sand eels close in.
Totland Old Lifeboat Station is the next mark worth a cast or two:
from sign on side
of lifeboat station:
When
full or new you see the moon, the tides far out in
the afternoon
But
when the moons at either quarter at tea the beach is
under water
Six
hours the water ebbs away an hour later every day.
Get
down to the beach as soon as you can- Time and Tide
wait for no man.
Bass and Flat fish are caught
here using light tackle, sand eels for bait
and strips of squid or cuttle-fish.
Totland Pier depending on the state of the tide, when it is rising to high water, casting from the shore along side the pier produces
Bass, Pout, Wrasse, Mullet and Pollack for the canny angler. The water is usually very clear so light tackle is essential.
Follow the sea wall to Colwell with Warden Ledge visible at low water. Mullet and school Bass can be caught from the wall
However, the Ledge is best fished from a dinghy. Dinghies can be hired from Colwell Slipway.
Heading towards Fort Albert, a huge square monstrosity, which has been transformed inside into flats. The sandy beach fishes well in the evening for Sole and Flounder.
Between Albert and Fort Victoria it is difficult to fish without local knowledge with a fast tide race, endless rocks, blue slipper clay and no beach during spring
tides. The sea wall from Victoria via Norton to Yarmouth is very popular with local anglers for its ease of access and as dark approaches
the Wrasse go off the feed and specimen fish arrive in close to
the wall Bass, Pout, Conger and a variety of Flatfish.
Yarmouth Pier fishes well early morning half way up for Bass,
strips of parchment paper for bait or shrimps/prawn. On the extreme end of the pier to the east casting 75 metres out at a 45 degree
angle to the pier end Thornback Skate can be caught during April/May.
They are there feeding on mussel beds, but can be enticed with herring, squid or sand-eels as bait.
Fishing very light, Smelt can be caught for bait from the pier. For
Smelt freshwater tackle is required 3lb line a size 14 hook or smaller,
and a
slither of squid or cuttle-fish as bait.
The Green at Yarmouth on the top of a spring
tide produces good Bass, Sole and Flounder and at low water the prawns can be caught with a net. It can be good fun at dusk
collecting prawns with a net and a torch,
they are attracted by the light and can be collected easily, if you do not mind some wet pants as it is simple to slip with the thrill of the chase.
Bouldnor to Hampstead Fishing with caution is
advised with little to no access and slipper clay
when you get there, BUT the fishing by the defence boom
although difficult can be rewarding with
monster bass the main quarry - use peeler crab as top
bait.
Outside Newtown Entrance to the right good bags of Flounder and Plaice can be caught from a boat.
Newtown to Gurnard is private or holiday camp controlled beaches so can only be fished from a boat.
Gurnard to Cowes Esplanade fishes best on
high spring tides along the sea wall with good parking. It is very popular, but it is only towards sunset are fish caught in any quantity. Egypt Point fishes
well on a rising tide for Mackerel, Bass and Flatfish for the very fortunate large lobsters have been known to hook themselves when fishing from the shingle beach, by the green, inside the rocks
towards Cowes Esplanade.
The Esplanade fishes well when the crowds of people permit. In the day trolling a live rag worm on light tackle produce Bass over the numerous slipways and from sunset Pout,
Bass, Mullet and Conger may be caught, casting into deep water in the wake of the local ferry.
The Medina flows from Newport to Cowes and most fish can be caught in the deep water from the Floating Bridge to the Power Station. Then into
Newport along the Medina, Flatfish and Mullet hold their own from the shore or trolling from a dingy Rag worm the
favourite lure. Sea Trout reach the Newport Quay
late in September and can be caught on a fly rod for the very patient and watchful.
East Cowes to Norris Castle fishes well most times of the day from the esplanade Bass, Mullet, Wrasse, Flatties and after dark in move the Pout and Conger. Small
Pout can be
caught using light tackle during the day near the chain ferry and make good bait after dark.
From Norris Castle eastwards to Fishbourne
and Wootton Creek the shore line is private but good fishing from a boat. Wootton Creek offers on a good tide Mullet,
Bass and Flatties both from the shore and from a dingy
- Rag or Lugworm the preferred baits.
Fishbourne,
the
beaches are less crowded and the sandy bottom gives
way to a mixture of clay, mud, shingle and rock,
fish here during spring and summer for the chance of
a good sized Plaice, Eels and Bass or during the
winter and early spring for Flounder.
Ryde Pier:- All anglers require a permit
before fishing on the pier and for safety reasons
must comply with the restrictions on where you can
fish. Spring tides are best because the sea recedes
a long way and so fishing is limited to two hours either side
of high water. The pier produces a variety of
species for the patient angler , bottom fishing will
account for Flounder, Plaice, Pout, Wrasse,
Smoothound and small Cod. Spinning or float tactics
using sand eels as bait catch Pollack, Mackerel and
Bass. The beaches on
either side of the pier are also popular marks for
Flounder, Plaice and Bass. To the east, there is a
long stretch of sea wall. The tide run can be strong
and a grip lead is necessary to hold bottom.
Further east, the shore at Seaview, provides a
pleasant location to fish at high tide. The sea bed
is more broken here, and a good variety of species,
including Flounder, Eels, Wrasse and some big Bass
can be taken, mainly on crab baits
Appley
Beach. Light tackle is preferred and local dug lugworm is the best bait. The lug can be dug
at low water east of the pier.
The sea wall from Appley to Seaview attracts Bass and Mullet in the warmer months and can be caught yards from the wall overcasting results in blank fishing. Best baits bacon
rind, sand-eels and local lug-worm; do not forget to try cheese if all else fails.
The wall at St Helens on the entrance to Bembridge Harbour attracts local
fishermen in the late summer months catching Bass, Mullet, Flatties and Silver Eels
- best bait worms and sand eels.
Bembridge Harbour is where most boats leave to fish Bembridge Ledge and the Nab Tower.
If there are any fish left in the sea they can be caught from one of these marks. You name the fish and the local boatmen will show you how to catch it from Sharks to Bream, they all
pass here and are caught.
The English Channel From Sandown to the Needles
Sandown to Shanklin supports long sandy beaches and rocky formations, most fish are caught along this stretch, local knowledge is an advantage, ask at
the tackle shops for
information on good fishing marks and seasonal baits, this will give you an edge as we do not live long enough to find out all the tricks for ourselves.
Leaving Shanklin we find Luccombe, Bonchurch, Wheelers Bay and Ventnor all venues worthy of a visit, good fishing although access is not always easy.
Rocken End is the start of big fish country and heavy tackle is necessary. From here onwards to Chale Bay, Atherfield and
Dutchman's Hole the fishing can
equal anywhere in the south with rocks, shingle and sandy beaches and records waiting to be broken. The water can be very deep close in and large Tope can be caught off shore. A
reconnoitre at low water would prove beneficial as even old shipwrecks are located within a hundred yards of the beach and rocky outcrops everywhere.
Do not overcast as the fish feed under your feet at
high water.
Brightstone to Freshwater Bay it shallows up considerably with long shelving sandy beaches, but look for the fresh water running down the chines as
big Bass favour the
shrimp located near these inlets of fresh water.
Do not over cast - the third wave is far enough to catch most fish.
Freshwater Bay is the last shore fishable spot before the Needles. The Bay fishes well in the evening when the bathers have departed.
Close in from the wall catches Bass. Pout and Silver Eels, in the middle by the slipway. On the far left under the cliffs
fish for Conger at night, but mind the rocks, tackle losses can be
heavy.
The Bay to the Needles can only be fished from a boat, as the cliffs are inaccessible.
Fishing boats leave from Yarmouth to fish this area.
for additional
information contact:
iowdkh@btopenworld.com
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