Bristol Channel

The Bristol Channel is arguably one of the best if not the best area for Cod fishing in the United Kingdom.

The tidal flow in the Bristol Channel is one of the largest in the world, and it is this great movement of water (as well as the mighty river Severn) that provide the Bristol channel with its well known murky colour. It is also all this movement that attracts some of the largest numbers (as well as specimens) of Cod available to catch in the UK. The Bristol Channel is notorious for being a dangerous stretch of water but luckily experienced Charter Boats are available from several towns (Minehead, Watchat, Swansea etc). Cod fishing (in fact any winter fishing) can be a very cold experience and you are advised to wrap up well for winter Cod fishing in the Bristol Channel. Favourite baits include Squid, Lug or Ragworm, Black Lug is especially popular for winter Cod. Uptiding or downtiding will both work.

As well as Cod fishing the Bristol Channel also provides are a very good run of Tope, the summer sport for this species can be fantastic. Light tackle is recommended as the chances of hooking a large Conger Eel or are rare. Tope are a species best enjoyed on well matched relatively light tackle. Mackerel is always a favourite bait presented as either a flapper or fillet.

The Bristol Channel also provides good sport for many of the less glamourous species. Rays, Ling and Flounder are species that are all regularly caught as well as Bass. Again Mackeral, Ragworm, Lugworm, Crab and Squid all work well.

On final thing worth mentioning about the Bristol Channel is Lundy Island. Regarded by some as the jewel of the Bristol Channel trips to Lundy Island are a summer speciality of many Charter Boat owners. The blue-water fishing ranges from reef fishing for Pollack and Coalfish, many of which reach double figures, to the sandbanks which produce Rays, Turbot and Tope, and for the Sharking enthusiast the occasional shark is also a possibility.