Prince of Wales Pier, Dover, Kent

SPECIES
May to October sees eels, mullet, bass, plaice, mackerel, scad, garfish and sole. From September whiting, flounder, dabs, pout and cod are the main species.

BAITS
The plaice and sole take ragworm or yellowtail lug, as will the bass, though the bigger bass prefer crab. A top local bait for flounder is maddie rag in bunches. Winter fishing is with lug tipped with squid, or lug tipped with rag. Mackerel strips or sandeel section pick out the better whiting. Mullet take mackerel flesh or bread.

TACKLE & TACTICS
This pier produces throughout the full flood and ebb tide, though many anglers prefer to fish from high water down to low. The inshore end is favoured in rougher weather and coloured water. Towards the cafe anglers aim their casts towards the breakwater for the best results, with the Sea Cat gate mark good for the pollack and flounders.

A good tip when fishing here is to vary your casts and try and locate the deeper gullies sucked out by the dredger as these tend to hold the bulk of the bottom fish.

Although a safe venue in rough seas and high winds the pier can be an uncomfortable place to be.

A standard 4 to 6oz beachcaster and Penn Mag 525 loaded with 18lb line and a long 60lb shock leader is a popular choice here. A good rig is a three-hook flapper with size 2 Aberdeen's. For fishing down the side of the pier for the scad and pollack use a long 10ft rig with three booms held in place by adjustable stops. Leads need to be 5 to 6ozs as during the early flood it will run strongly.

You can also carry a light spinning rid and reel with 10lb line and float fish for the garfish, mackerel and mullet. For the mullet add a 4ft section of 6lb Fluoro carbon line to the size 10 hook.

LOCATION
Access Dover either from the A20 or A2 and follow the signs for the marina. There is plenty of pay parking on the marina Quay. For drinks and snacks the cafe is open all day in summer, but only on weekends in the winter. You need a ticket to fish this pier which is available from the ticket machine or Steward. There is access for disabled anglers too.