This is both a railway and footpath bridge over the Mawddach estuary, so only fish the footpath side. There is a toll payable for crossing. The best fishing is just past the metal arches on the Barmouth side. This puts you directly over a deep gully that runs underneath the bridge supports. The tide runs fast and the feeding spells are concentrated over low water for two hours and the hour either side of high water. Smaller neap tides are best.
SPECIES
Late spring and summer gives bass, flounder and eels. Bass and flounder are joined by dab, dogfish and whiting in autumn, with the best flounder after Christmas. May to September adds mullet and garfish. May and June can produce a few good plaice.
BEST BAITS
Top bass bait is a sandeel. Crabs and worms take the flatfish, eels and whiting. Garfish will occasionally take a small mackerel strip set under float tackle.
TACKLE
Use a stiff 4-10oz uptider with either a big fixed-spool reel or 9000-sized multiplier. Load with 30-35lb line and carry a few leads between 5-12oz. Heavy line is needed because you may need to handline a good bass up to your fishing station. Best rig is a one-hook flowing trace for bass; make it about 3ft long with 30lb line ending with a strong size 1/0 or 2/0 hook. For flatfish and whiting, switch the flowing rig to take two hooks, one off a secondary snood. Use tough Aberdeens in size 1 or 2.
GETTING THERE
Come off the A470 just past Dolgellau and take the left-hand turn on the A496 straight to Barmouth. As you approach the town you can see the bridge in front and to the left. Best to park in the car park on the promenade front and walk back to the bridge. There is a narrow footpath on the right that takes you to the bridge and is signposted.
TACKLE SHOPS
Barmouth Angling, 1 Ael-YDon, Church St, Barmouth, tel: 01341 280480. Beachcaster, High St, Barmouth, tel: 01341 281537.