Sea Fishing on Anglesey

Anglesey, and north Anglesey in particular, extends into the Irish sea, so it’s the perfect place for sea fishing. Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced angler, here are some top tips on sea fishing in Anglesey, from essential equipment and safety to the best times to go and the best fishing trip providers in the area. 

Top tips for those new to sea fishing

Interested in sea fishing but don’t know where to start? Here are some top tips for the beginners out there:

Essential equipment

Making sure you have the right equipment is very important; for a normal sea fishing trip make sure you have:

• Rod and reel
• Tackle
• Bait
• Sharp knife
• A bucket to keep your catches in
• A cloth to wipe your hands
• Spare spool of line
• Small first aid kit
• Small pair of pliers

This is just to give you an idea of what you will need but please seek advice from a fishing expert before going out on your first trip.

Other items you might want to take along could include a chopping board, night sticks and sellotape.

Safety

Safety is paramount when it comes to sea fishing. Here are some important things to consider when heading out:

• Don’t go alone – it is recommended to always take a friend with you, especially if you’re fishing in a particularly dangerous area and during the winter months when there are less people around; if you are going alone then make sure to let someone know when and where you’re going
• Floatation suit – essential if you ever fall in the water, the water gets very cold and the current very strong so you’ll need all the help you can get
• Whistle – this is a cheap item and can help to get attention if you do fall in the water; it can be difficult to shout if you’re in cold water
• Mobile phone – keeping your phone in a waterproof bag is a great way to make sure you don’t damage it in case you need to get in touch with someone 

When is the best time to go sea fishing on Anglesey?

When you choose to go sea fishing on Anglesey all depends on the type of experience you’re looking for and what type of fish you’re looking to catch. Conditions and species of fish available can vary month by month so here’s an overview of what you can expect (this may vary depending on where on Anglesey you are fishing):

January, February, March, April

This time of year can offer some calm, sunny days with good visibility. You could have the chance to catch herring, thornbacks, whiting and dabs as well as pollock and cod. This tends to pick up in April so you may notice a more plentiful catch.

May and June

This a great time for sea fishing and you can expect to find herring, coalfish, codling, spurdog and bass. At the beginning of June you’ll also notice more pollock and mackerel, as well as gurnards and tope starting to show.

July, August, September, October

All sorts of species can be found during these months, including large quantities of quality pollock as well as codling and coalfish. You may even find some conger eels and ling or some good quality tope, rays and gurnards as well as bull huss and the occasional turbot.

November and December

This time of year sees a gradual return to winter fishing and you’ll notice a decline in certain species such as tope, mackerel and gurnards. At this time of year you can expect to find pollock and codling as well as whiting, dabs and plaice. Herring also make a return at this time.

Times of day

Time of day also plays a part in sea fishing; for example, dawn and dusk are good times with dawn, in particular, being the best. That’s if you’re willing to get out of bed before dawn!

If you’re planning on going during the day, make sure to check the tide predictions for the day. A rising tide or high tide are usually the best times for most fish as most types of fish prefer the higher water. On a new moon and full moon, the day and the three consecutive days after it will have the highest tides of the month.

However, this isn’t always the case. For example, some fish prefer hunting on a low tide and when the tide is turning.

If you know what type of fish you’re hoping to catch, it would be best to ask a local tackle shop or there are lots of fishing forums out there that can help.

The best sea fishing trips on Anglesey

Whether you’re brand new to fishing or a seasoned angler, an organised sea fishing trip makes a perfect day out and often lets you see sights you don’t get on land. Plus you get to find out the best spots for fishing as well as advice and techniques from the experts. Most importantly, it lets you give sea fishing a try before going out and buying all the expensive equipment. You never know – you may love it or hate it!

We’ve put together some of the best sea fishing trips below but there are many more out there to choose from; it all depends what type of trip you’re looking for.

Anglesey Charter Fishing

Anglesey Charter Fishing offers daily sea fishing trips from Holyhead Marina, designed for the complete beginner to the more experienced angler. Head out on board their vessel, Bad Boyz III, which has space for up to 10 people if you want to make a group booking.

There’s a wide range of rods and reels free of charge and all trips are supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits, plus a breakfast sandwich and hotpot if you go for a full day trip. You can also purchase tackle and bait from them at an extra cost.

Take a look at the different types of fishing they offer.

Starida

Starida offers different types of fishing trips, from trips for the whole family to trips for experienced anglers.

The family fishing trips are designed for ages four and above and last for two to three hours. You’ll get to learn something new and get some great views of Puffin Island, plus every boat trip includes free rod hire.

If you have a bit of experience, you could give the enthusiast fishing trip a go, aimed at ages eight and above. This one lasts for four to six hours and is ideal for the more experienced angler or someone who is looking to challenge themselves after the family trip.

For the experienced angler there’s also the option of the experienced fishing trips, aimed at ages 14 and above and lasting for 8 to 10 hours. This trip gives you the opportunity to catch bigger fish and a wider range of species.

Find out about the different Starida fishing trips.

Stingray Angling Charter

Stingray can run trips of up to eight people and can cater for all sorts of groups, whether it’s for a special family event, to get out on the open water or to learn more about fishing. The trips come with basic rods and tackle for beginners as well as assistance and advice. More advanced rods and tackle can be hired for the more experienced angler.

These trips aren’t all about fishing either, they may also appeal to the keen photographer and birdwatcher. Observe the cliffs, coves and offshore islands including Middle Mouse, West Mouse and Skerries Lighthouse. You might even have the chance to come close to porpoise, dolphins and seals plus there’s opportunity to see terns, puffins and gannets.

Find out about their sea fishing trips here: http://www.seafishingtrips.co.uk/trips.htm

Did you know that, here at Silver Bay, we have our own private boat park, accommodating crafts of up to 6.5m in length. This is ideal if you’re looking for a holiday home that can accommodate your boat as well. Want to find out more about life at Silver Bay? Download our brochure to find out more.