We take a look at the best places to go bass fishing in the UK and when to fish for the best results! Read on to learn about top coastal hotspots, how to find the perfect location, and expert safety tips for bass anglers.
Where to Fish for Bass
Not many years ago, purposely fishing for bass was really something that, with a few exceptions, was confined to the southern half of the UK. With changes in climate this is no longer the case. For example, the Scottish Highlands and Islands offer excellent bass fishing in stunning scenery with low levels of angling pressure.
It’s likely that with a little bit of detective work you will be able to find some great bass fishing within striking distance of your home. You can make a good start by looking at your target area of coastline on Google Earth.
Location, Tide and Conditions to Look For
- Rocky areas with bays and sheltered beaches – a lot of the things bass feed on will be attracted to this type of coastline.
- Headlands– these will break up the tidal flow and give shelter to shoals of baitfish.
- Estuaries– bass are often found and caught surprising distances inland beyond the reach of saltwater. The estuary habitat is a great larder for hungry bass of all sizes – it’s common to see bass feeding in very shallow water as they move upstream just ahead of the incoming tide.
- Man-made structures – I’m thinking of piers, breakwaters, harbours, marinas, groynes etc. Any kind of structure that will create a home for crustaceans, small fish and molluscs that will in turn attract predatory fish.
Once you have located some likely spots the next step is to visit – preferably at low tide. This will give you an idea of where the changes in depth are, where the weed is (great for attracting bass) and what kind of bottom you will be fishing over. You’ll soon get the hang of knowing what a ‘bassy’ area looks like.
Top UK Bass Fishing Locations
- South West England (e.g. Cornwall, Devon)
- South Coast (e.g. Dorset, Sussex)
- Welsh Coast (e.g. Pembrokeshire, Gower)
- Irish Sea hotspots
- North Devon & Bristol Channel
When to Fish for Bass
This is a difficult topic to address in a short article. There are a lot of variables that need to be considered once you have your bass tackle ready to go – of course putting in the hours is one way of getting to grips with an unfamiliar area.
The first step is to get an understanding of the tides – there will be a window in the tidal range that gives you the best chance of success. This could be because bass are only present at some states of the tide, so they can only find their chosen prey either when the tide is flowing or the current has subsided. For instance, sandeels will be out and feeding when the tide has slackened, when the tide starts to flow they bury themselves in the sand to hide from predators.
There are plenty of tide table websites, I like easytide.admiralty.co.uk. This is very clear and easy to use. There are also lots of apps available – ideally find one that will give you the times for high and low tides together with graphs showing the changes between spring and neap tide sets. These graphs will also show any tidal peculiarities that may occur in that area.
Weather will also play a part, e.g. strong winds from a certain direction can make an area unfishable and possibly dangerous. Experience will teach you where to go in a particular set of conditions and when to stay at home.
Dawn and dusk are always a good time to be fishing, tides permitting. It’s generally quieter, easier to park and when fish are more active.
Top Safety Tips When Fishing for Bass
Fishing from the shore on a rocky coastline is not without its hazards. It pays to be cautious especially if you are fishing in an unfamiliar area. Here are some tips that will make your fishing safer and more enjoyable.
- Always check the weather together with tide times and heights before you set off. If the tide is rising there is potential for getting cut off, or worse if conditions change and the wind increases larger waves can prevent you from escaping if there are steep or unstable cliffs behind you.
- Work out the wind direction the area you are fishing will be exposed to. When strong winds are predicted from that direction be very careful. Look for signs that the wind direction has changed from what was forecast.
- If you are fishing alone let someone know exactly where you are going and how long you expect to be there. Call or message them when you are heading home.
Basic safety equipment includes
- Mobile phone to call for help and check weather forecasts. Make sure it’s fully charged and keep it in a waterproof case that will stop it from being damaged if you drop it or fall on it. Check to see if you have any signal regularly.
- Lifejacket – this is a must if you are wading and/or fishing on your own in an isolated place.
- Drinks, food and snacks.
- Basic first aid kit.
- Waterproof fishing clothing plus a change of clothing left in the car to change into if you fall in.
It’s essential not to take any unnecessary risks and keeping an eye on what’s going on around you. I’ve had one near miss myself – one of those times when a chain of events spirals out of control. I escaped with a good soaking (very unpleasant on a cold November night) and a broken rod but learnt my lesson.
Please take care and enjoy your fishing safely! Tight lines.
