A steep shingle-backed beach giving a good depth either side of high water. There are bigger boulders down towards the base of the shingle, but long casts put you on to mainly clean sand. Fishes best in a Force 2 to 4 north-west to northerly wind, which puts some surf on the beach, especially for cod and bass. Low water can fish okay, but the best fishing is through the middle flood and over high water until one hour of the ebb.
SPECIES
Not a good beach in early spring. Longer casts from May onwards find plaice. A chance of a thornback ray at range over low water. Bass show from May onwards in rougher weather, along with the odd conger. Winter produces coalfish and some good flounders. Sport improves in September for whiting, dabs and dogfish, with codling and big bass in rougher seas. October and November best for bigger bass.
BEST BAITS
Use ragworms tipped with crab and squid for plaice. Target the thornbacks with mackerel strips. Bass take peeler crabs or black lug tipped with crab or squid, though for bigger autumnal bass try a whole squid cast to the edge of the boulders. Black lug tipped with blow lug for codling.
TACKLE
Casting distance can be important, so stick to a 5-6oz beachcaster with 18lb mainline and a 60lb shockleader. Carry a few lead lifts for getting the lead higher in the water on the retrieve. Use a pulley rig and size 4/0 hooks for bass, rays and conger eels, but switch to a two-hook clipped rig and size 2 Aberdeens for smaller species. Plaice take a wishbone rig.
GETTING THERE
Clearly signposted off the A55 between Abergele and Old Colwyn. The car parking is directly above the beach.
TACKLE SHOPS
Bay View Angling, 12 Greenfield Rd, Colwyn Bay, tel: 01492 585888.
Victoria Pier Angling Centre, The Promenade, Colwyn Bay, tel: 01492 530663.
