Dunwich, Suffolk

SPECIES
Fishing kicks off with plaice in April and May, with bass arriving in June and staying until November. June onwards sees some good sole, with August the peak month. Whiting arrive in September along with the dabs, with cod showing from October through to April.

BAITS
For the sole and plaice fish rag or blow lug. Crab takes the plaice and the bass and is also good for October cod. A whole squid or mackerel head can also pick up the bigger bass cast close in amongst the surf tables. Whiting take mackerel strip, with the cod taking lug baits tipped with squid.

TACKLE & TACTICS
A sandy beach backed by shingle giving a decent depth over high water. The beach has gullies and sandbanks running parallel which hold the fish. It fishes best in an east to southeast wind after a period of rough weather.

Neap tides can produce, but for the cod and bigger bass stick to the spring tides. It fishes best the three hours up to high water and right down the ebb. Long range casters pick up the better cod during the ebbing tide. The tide on big springs can reach up to the base of the cliffs.

Typical 4 to 6oz beachcasters with a 6500 reel and 15lb line with a 60lb shock leader are adequate here, and will give the necessary casting range.

The sole can be close in and fall to a standard three-hook flapper using 15lb hook traces and size 6 Aberdeen's. Up the hook traces to 20lbs for the dabs and whiting. The plaice take best on a wishbone rig with size 2 Aberdeen's. For the bass and cod go for a clipped down rig with one or two Viking type 3/0 hooks on. 5 to 6oz leads cover all situations.

LOCATION
At Blythburg on the A12 take the B1125 and take the left turn at the crossroads. Follow on to Dunwich village with the road ending in a large car park behind the beach.