Weston Point, Weston Shore, Southampton, Hants

SPECIES
Gives good flounder fishing from October to late February, also eels, and bass to 4lbs.

BAITS
There is a lug bed on the beach here, so lug is the dominant bait throughout the year, though rag scores as will fresh peeler crab. White rag also takes fish. Lug tipped with squid is a good bass bait here.

TACKLE & TACTICS
Local anglers favour a lighter 4 to 6oz beachcaster matched to a 6500 sized reel loaded with 12lb to 15lb line and a 50lb shock leader. Lead weights of 4 and 5ozs are ideal.

A three-hook flapper rig or cascade rig are best using size 1 to 4 Aberdeen hooks, depending on the bait being used, the white rag being best on the smaller hooks. Conditions sometimes dictate that the fish are at log range, so switch to a two-hook clipped up rig to maximise your casting range.

For the bigger bass choose a one-hook clipped down rig and a single size 4/0 Viking pattern hook.

The mark is totally clean sand but it carries a fair depth of water, especially at range. Either side of low water produces plenty of fish as will the later stages of the ebb during the bigger spring tides.

LOCATION
At Junction 8 on the M27 Take the A3025. Just before Itchen Bridge take the left turn before the tollbooths following the signs for Weston Shore for about a half mile. There is roadside parking and several spacious car parks adjacent to the mark. Access on to the beach is easy and it's a good mark to take the kids fishing.