Llanbedr and Pensarn Yacht Club Fishing section
Welcome to the Llanbedr and Pensarn Yacht Club, Sea Fishing section. If you’re new to fishing in this area there are lots of differing varieties of fish to be caught. We have ‘flatties’ such as Dab, Flounder, Plaice, Turbot, and Sole(if you’re lucky). We also have a good number of ‘round’ fish such as Mackerel, Bream(black and gilthead), Wrasse, Gurnard, Pollack, Bass, Pouting, Cod and Whiting. Also, (shark family) Dogfish, Spurdog, Tope, Bullhuss, Skate, Ray and ‘rarely’ Shark(Blue and Porbeagle). Eels(freshwater and Conger). These are most, but not all the species to be caught, there are many others?
Fish to be aware of:-Lesser Weever, Greater Weever.
The Lesser Weever is a small unassuming fish easily identifiable by four webbed black spikes in a line, above its gill plate. Do not be tempted to touch these spikes; its sting is very painful. The Greater Weever is different to the Lesser Weever only by its size and colouring; it has a blotchy appearance and should be treated with the same respect. Remove hooks with forceps or disgorgers.
Treatment in case of sting
The poison is protein-based and to reduce the pain, we need to ‘de-nature’ or cook the protein. The best treatment is placing the affected area in a bowl of hot water for 10-15 minutes, replacing the hot water as it cools. This needs to be as hot as the casualty can stand, without scalding them – think of a very hot but bearable bath as a guide.
Legal Size Limit
One thing to be aware of when sea fishing is the legal size limit requirement, as laid down by the Welsh Government Fisheries department.
There is a whole page devoted to these and types of fish at the end for you to peruse, it’s a good idea to print it out and familiarise yourself with it. The fines for not complying are very high; ignorance will not help you in any way. Having said that, please do not let it put you off fishing; simply just adhere to the size limit.
Where to fish and what bait to use
As you see from the species list, there are plenty to choose from, a lot of these fish breed locally, so unfortunately, a lot of them are juvenile, under size fish.
There are fish like Mackerel that are plentiful in the summer months; these are easily caught on ‘feathers’ but to catch these, you would normally need to be on a boat. You can fish off the bank, but you are better of using bait, Sand eels, Mackerel strip, even Lug or Rag worm and of course artificial baits like spinners or plastic Sand eels. You can fish from the beach or the Sea wall but only when the tide is in. Don’t forget your tide timetable is in your membership book.
You can catch Flounders, Bass or Wrasse (watch out for Weevers) from the club slipway and/or the Sea wall. Most club fishing members will give you good fishing advice, do not be afraid to ask them about what baits to use, where the best place to fish is, local knowledge is king in fishing.
Barmouth is closest for your fishing bits and pieces; there are two shops that are usually open.
Make a list of what you need before you go, so that you do not forget anything.
Legal Fish Size
Welsh Government Fisheries section
FISH SPECIES mm(millimetres)
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) 420 Or two per day
Black Seabream 230
(Spondyliosoma cantharus)
Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) 700
Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) 700 or 6.4kg
Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) 300
Cod (Gadus morhua) 350
Conger eel (Conger conger) 580
Dab (Limanda limanda) 150
Flounder (Platichthys flesus) 250
Grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) 200
Haddock 300
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Hake (Merluccius merluccius) 270
Herring (Clupea harengus) 200
Horse Mackerel 150
(Trachurus trachurus)
Lemon Sole (Microstomus kitt) 250
Ling (Molva molva) 630
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) 200
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) 200
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 270
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) 300
Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus) 150
Red Seabream 250
(Pagellus bogaraveo)
Saithe (Pollachius virens) 350
Sole (Solea solea) 240
Turbot (Psetta maxima) 300
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) 270
Witch Flounder 280
(Glyptocephalus cynoglossus)
Fish that look similar, how to know the difference.
