Workington South Beach, Cumbria

SPECIES
The plaice arrive in late march and stay throughout the summer until late September along with flounders, though the plaice dominate. The same period sees the eels and the odd bass to 6lb plus. From early October whiting and codling are the main catch, with coalfish showing from November to March.

BAITS
Stick to worm baits for the plaice, especially rag tipped with crab, or fish plain crab to target the better plaice. Crab also takes the bass, eels, and flounders. Again crab is a good early season cod bait, but black lug baits tipped with squid or blow lug take the bulk of the cod and coalfish after October. For the whiting use mackerel or sandeel strips, or tip lug with squid for the whiting.

TACKLE & TACTICS
A 5-6oz beachcaster, a reel like the Penn 525 loaded with 18 to 20lb line and a 60lb shock leader is a good all round choice as the seabed is abrasive rather than rough being old dumped industrial slag banks.

For the plaice and flounder use either a sliding wishbone or a Cascade two-hook rig adding some coloured beads if you like, and ending in a size 2 Aberdeen hook. A three-hook flapper is best for the whiting and eels with a size 1 hook, but for the codling most locals fish a clipped down one-hook rig ending in a size 3/0 Viking hook or Mustad cod hook.

As stated the seabed is a mix of old slag and shingle, but a good cast puts you out on to the clean sand which is visible on low water springs. It fishes best from just after low water through to the hour after high water. Locals prefer a calm onshore wind as rougher seas tend to build up large accumulations of weed here making fishing difficult.

LOCATION
Take the A595 to Workington and follow the signs for the railway station. Just after the station turn left taking down to the pier. There is a car park at the top of the beach.