Northumberland On Shore 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.

Don't attempt to fish from the mud flats of Budle Bay and around Holy Island, 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, Amble 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.

THE WATERWAYS CODE

As more and more people discover their charm and tranquillity, there are increased risks of conflict anddamage to the environment. So please follow the advice hereand enjoy your visit to the waterway safely. For more information, contact the local waterway office direct (their details are in local phone books).

Take care .. Spot the dangers. For example...

Not all towpaths give smooth, easy walking or cycling. If the water appears frozen, never trust the ice totake your weight.Watch out for concealed mooring pins or ropesacross the path beside moored boats. The risks are small, but tell your doctor if you become ill within two weeks of getting canal, river or reservoirwater into your mouth or an open wound. Be prepared for changes in weather and local water conditions.Always keep young children under supervision.Swimming is prohibited - it’s dangerous.Take safety advice.Watch out for warning signs.Children: don’t go alone. Go with a friend who can help you if you’re in trouble. Always make sure an adult knows where you aregoing and when you will be back.BE SAFE- Stay Away From the Edge.Learn what to do in an emergencyDo not dive into the water.Keep calm - think before you act. Don’t put yourself in danger.Raise the alarm Get help on the towpath.Phone the emergency services and follow the advice they give.Talk to the person or animal in the water Urge them to swim towards the bank. Look after your waterways and consider othersProtect the waterway environmentKeep noise to a minimum.Don’t damage the vegetation or banks.Take home everything that you brought with you, and leave the site as you found it.Never dump rubbish, sewage or oily bilge water intothe water or onto the bank.Clean up after your dog and keep it under control.Don’t light fires.Things can go wrong on canals. If you see somethingdangerous such as serious damage to structures or water escaping, call the British Waterways emergency helpline 0800 47 999 47. For other emergencies call 999.

Report pollution, fly tipping or fish in distress to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.

Report birds or animals in distress to the RSPCA on0990 55 59 99 (24 hrs) or the Scottish SPCA on 0131 33 90 111.

THE WATERWAYS CODE

source - britishwaterways.co.uk

As more and more people discover their charm andtranquillity, there are increased risks of conflict anddamage to the environment. So please follow the advice hereand enjoy your visit to the waterway safely. For more information, contact the local waterway office direct (their details are in local phone books).

Your boat needs a licence, Boat Safety Certificateand insurance.Look after your waterways. Avoid creating a breaking wash and don’t run yourpropeller while moored.Help keep the water clean and free from oil, diesel,petrol, detergents and other harmful substances. Follow Navigate with Nature advice, call 01784 47 33 77 for a copy.Consider others

Take care to position mooring pins, ropes and cablesso they are not a danger to towpath users - ifpossible, make them conspicuous with a marker or cover. Don’t obstruct locks, bridges, water points or turning points.When passing anglers, unless they politely request otherwise, keep to the centre of the channel, reduceyour wash but maintain a steady pace. Slow down when passing moored or unpoweredboats.Please note local signs concerning fishing matches.Take careYou and your crew must understand how to operateyour boat and navigate locks, bridges and tunnels. Read the Boater’s Handbook before setting off.Watch your footing to avoid falls.Pay attention to avoid collisions.Don’t use your body to try and stop the boat, you could get crushed.Take things easy. Don’t strain.Understand the risks of fire and explosions on boats.You need a permit and information telling you whichstretches are open to cyclists.Look after your waterwaysAvoid cycling where your tyres would damage thepath or verges (eg when they are wet or soft).Consider othersGive way to others on the towpath and warn them of your approach. Pedestrians have priority. A polite‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ mean a lot.Watch out for anglers’ tackle and give them time to move it before you try to pass.Dismount under low, narrow or blind bridges.Never race one another or perform speed trials.We recommend you obtain third party liabilityinsurance and equip your bike with a bell or hooter.Take careAccess paths can be steep and slippery. Join and leave the towpath with care.You must get off and push your cycle beneath low or blind bridges, and where the path is very narrow.We strongly advise against cycling the towpath afterdark, but if you have to, use front and rear lights.Thorny hedge trimmings can cause a puncture. We recommend plastic-reinforced tyres.Only cycle on stretches where it is permitted. Check with the local waterway office or www.britishwaterways.co.uk .Most stretches are leased to angling clubs andmany sell day tickets.Look after your waterwaysDiscarded hooks and lines, bottles and tins can killor injure wildlife. Gather them up and take themaway with you.Consider others. Make sure the towpath is easily passable bykeeping your fishing tackle tidy.Don’t obstruct locks, bridges, designated moorings,water points or turning points.Boat crews need access to the bank within 25 metres of locks or moveable bridges so do not fish there.Use a pole cup if you need to feed close to boats:don’t throw or catapult groundbait onto the decksor against the hulls of boats - it damages paintwork.Don’t bounce tackle off boats or tap them with poletips - chipped paint is expensive to repair, andhooks in ropes can be very dangerous.Boats are people’s homes so please respect theirprivacy, including those on the opposite bank. Try to fish at least 15 metres away.Some boats will not be able to avoid you if you fish on the outside of bends.Take careDon’t fish within 30 metres of overhead power lines. Look out and look up - electricity kills!

If you are seeking the boat insurance company , at Boat Sure your sure to find most of the sites you would probably want to visit for the cheapest sites for the boat insurance company .

BOAT FISHING

Fishing

The best boat fishing is between the end of May when the spring codling move inshore and the end of September when water temperatures start to drop and the sea conditions become unreliable.

In addition to codling, the three other main species for boat anglers are coalfish, ling and (in season) mackerel.

Drift fishing using worm, fish strip, baited artificials and jiggers are the best methods whilst the best of the sport is between two and four miles offshore near hard ground such as rocks and reefs.

Tackle losses can be heavy and anchoring is not advisable as there are strong tidal currents, especially between the mainland and the Farne Islands. It is always best to seek local advice from a charter boat or tackle shop before fishing in new areas.

Please remember it is your own responsibility to check any boat's licence and insurance cover, before you book. For a insurance super yacht ,a boat insurance agency or just insurance super yacht visit Boat Sure .

Anglers with their own boats can launch them, for a small charge, at Seahouses, Beadnell and Newbiggin.