An Iconic view of the New Severn Bridge isn't all this 'Beach' has to offer.

If I'm brutally honest I didn't initially rate Severn Beach as one of the better marks on the Bristol Channel, although many do I don't like to be a Sheep and prefer to make up my own mind. For a start you can see the Avon Mouth Tanks, Portishead, New Passage, Aust, and even Cardiff docks on a good day - so why not fish there?   Simple, put some work in on this venue and your soon be rewarded with some good catches, but do your homework first! Doing so could well result in a 4lb Codling when all other venues fail to produce and when the Cod are around expect to take fish to mid Doubles if your luck is in . . . . but then it's been a while since the Cod were around and it's been longer since my luck was in!

The Marks:

Ramp at Beach Rd towards the New Severn Bridge: You can fish to the right of the ramp on the 'Lower Promenade' and off the rocks piles that can be seen in the banner image at the end of the sea wall. A good path runs towards the Bridge but the rocks are not as friendly as they could be, but there job is to act a barrier and not a fishing station! A 9m tide will reach the bottom of the rocks and a good Spring of 13+ can flood the walk way!

Ramp at Beach Rd to Station Rd is the Sea Wall, this like the Promenade is popular and more so on the 9m + tides. Image below was taken from midway along the wall and looking back to Portishead. You can fish off the Grass banks to the left but like all fishing keep safety top of the agenda.

[Image Below shows the tide points, note the grass clumps that can hold some good fish on a Spring Tide]

If you don't a first succeed . . . . Don't cast too far!

The first two times I fished Severn Beach I traveled home trying to work out what I'd done wrong! I'd fished hard and on each occasion only just managed to avoid the dreaded blank with the odd Pin Whiting or hand sized Codling? I'd lost a Big Cod in a strong flooding tide that was more than a match for me.

I knew the venue had more to offer but couldn't get my head around what I was doing wrong. I'd studied the water at low tide and was certain to have noted some good fish holding spots [One being the 1ft small ledges border a Channel of water that is the first to Flood on the tide - about 30yrd out from the waterline you can see in the above banner image!] I wanted to sort this venue out as it's the closest mark to my home! It's shameful I find myself on the Pebbles of Chesil so often when there's so much more to offer in the muddy waters of the Bristol Channel.

After a couple of trips the conclusion was drawn that I was fishing to long. I had spent the evening tides casting over the fish's heads into impossible flows and a collection of tackle eating broken pipes and other indescribable lumps and bumps on the Bristol Channels luna like bottom. It wasn't until recently that an effort to cast much much shorter resulted in a bite a chuck and left me pondering the potential for my next visits. You can catch big Cod as close in a 20yrds, less common to catch them at 120yrds!!

Tides Rigs and Baits!

The Severn Beach is fished on those tides just before a spring, say around 12-13m when the water will breach the rocks below the sea wall at the Severn Beach Rd End [ Avonmouth prediction is spot on for Severn Beach Tides - Link Here]

I prefer to fish anywhere to the left of the rocks back towards Station Rd End from the polished modern railings that stop the 'Hoodies' and Anglers falling in at night! Don't forget to take a Pier Rest or a Large Cloth to tie around the railing for a rod rest/protector. You'll find a few there already, if it's very windy you'll need to lash your to the rest too!

When the Cod are on you'll want a good friend to help with retrieving a decent fish, but remember a fish isn't worth a broken leg or worse. I'd be mad to recommend a way of getting a good fish back other than using common sense on the tide state and employing the upper most safety practices in doing so! . . . don't ever go round the front wall on a rising tide that will reach the steps - work out a plan before you catch the fish!

Rigs can be quite simple but this is down to personal choice. Until recently I would use a Pennel on just about all my Bristol Channel fishing. Having a bait pinned on the deck seemed to as key as putting down a good scent trail. However, in the case of Severn Beach I'd start on a 3 hook Flapper and see what size fish and which snood the fish are being taken. If I'm taking 2lb+ fish on the lower snood I'll revert to the pennel with a BIG Worm bait. The Flapper would have 1/0 hooks to start and I'd quickly move to 2/0 if there were lots of small Codling about. You can fiddle around with smaller hooks and take 3 Whiting a chuck on the Flapper but there's always a good chance of Cod from Oct to Easter [and later] so make your own choice. A double runner is a rig that could work very well with the lower bait fishing like a running ledger and the top Bait will act a a Pulley and fish just off bottom depending on setup.

Bait is Simple. WORM, WORM, WORM. You can tip off with Squid or Macky as you wish but it's the Worm that'll draw the fish into you scent trail. Big Lug baits fished at 20m are well noted for taking the biggest of fish at this mark. You note some Grass clumps at about that distance to the left of the rocks, pick a clear patch and aim off to drop a bait around there - that could mean casting towards Portishead or the Bridge when the tide's running hard!

Location, Location! Getting There - Couldn't be easier, it below the New Severn Bridge on the English Side. Take Jnc 17 off the M5 towards Severn Beach on the B4055 and turn right into Beach Road or follow down onto Station Road. Here's a Map and a Link for those that want a bit more detail. Put Beach Road into your TomTom for Severn Beach. The Google Maps Link - <Click Here or Image for Google Map>

There's more than a good chance of taking conger with the slip entrance at the bridge end offering a known 'Conger Hole' on the mud ledges that mark the start of the a deeper channel of water. All the cliche conger baits will work with Squid/Cuttle or Macky making the top of my list. A small live bait is always worth the effort with the chance of a better Cod an outside bet as a big bonus. The lower promenade will produce some good Eels all year round and some better Cod in Winter.

The limited time on the tide leaves you wanting more on both good and bad sessions - not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing? The smart angler will make full use of a low water mark close by and make the 1 1/2 Up and 1 down on this challenging 'Beach'

Severn Beach Facilities?

I think my kids would kill me if I took them to this beach, but my fishing buddies would have a different reaction! The amusement park is far from amusing but a bonus is the public toilet block that is well maintained, a well stocked local shop/newsagent and a Cafe that makes a brilliant Breakfast and Hot Drinks [the hot Steak & Kidney Pies shouldn't be overlooked either!] - all facilities are on the road that runs behind the 'Beach'.

There's good FREE parking on the corner of Beach Rd and Beach Ave and also around the end of Station Rd/Riverside Park.