Onshore fishing

The beautiful Northumberland coast provides a wide variety of fishing opportunities.

Rock edges at Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell, Embleton Bay, Craster, Hauxley, Newbiggin and Cambois can give good sport all year round, mainly for codling.

Typical sizes are between 1 and 3 lbs with the possibility of a catch of over 10 lbs in winter. From the same areas in summer, coalfish, pouting and wrasse may also be taken.

Take care when fishing from the rocks as an incoming tide can leave you stranded and rough seas are even more dangerous. As an alternative, the sandy beaches at Alnmouth, Warkworth, Lynemouth and Cambois can yield plaice, flounders, dabs and the chance of bass.

Please do not attempt to fish from the mud flats of Budle Bay and around Holy Island as these are National Nature Reserves. In addition, the tide floods at an alarming rate over the mud, often leaving nowhere to go for safety. Safe fishing from harbour walls is possible at Seahouses, Beadnell, Craster and Blyth but boats must always be given priority.

The best baits for shore fishing are fresh and frozen peeler crab, lugworm, ragworm, whiteworm, mussel, mackerel strip and razorfish and most are available from local tackle shops.

As in the boat, tackle losses can be heavy, especially from the rocks where your main line should be between 25 to 30 bs. From the beaches, you may drop down to about 15 bs but please use a shock leader.

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