MARK DESCRIPTION
One of the more consistent surf beaches along this coast with the capability of giving a wide variety of species.

Low water reveals mostly clean sand with just occasional patches of small boulders and gravel beds. The upper beach area backs on to mixed sand and shingle, and then sand dunes.

It's shallow along it's a full length, and is noted for bass mainly, though also sees spring and summer flounders, dogfish, thornback rays, turbot and plaice.

There is an excellent run of whiting from September through to mid December, though fish over a pound are rarely caught. The same period sees good numbers of dabs available, too.

METHODS
Facing directly in to the prevailing winds, the beach usually carries a good surf and though fish are taken close, often it's the longer casts that locate the fish, so stick with a standard beachcaster and a reel loaded with 15lb line and 60lb leader.

For longer range fishing either a clipped down one hook rig or wishbone is best, but for closer range, especially in the autumn, a wiser choice is a standard three hook rig.

In calmer conditions, use a free rolling lead which tends to have better success at locating the bass, other wise, use grip leads.

BEST TIMES
Smaller bass to 2lbs can be caught right through the winter here when conditions suit and are mild, but the bigger bass arrive in April and
stay until November.

A run of thornback ray and turbot appear over the bigger tides between late March and mid June, then again in October.

For bass and flounders, choose moderate southwest winds. The rays and turbot come tight inshore after a storm as the seas settle down. Calm periods of high pressure are best for the whiting, plaice and dabs.

The two hours either side of low water fishes far better than the high water period for all species except whiting when the two hours before and first hour after high water give the best returns.

BAITS
King rag and lugworm takes everything except the rays and turbot. Use mackerel for the rays, and whole small sandeels for the turbot. Peeler crab fished close to any boulders can be a good spring bait for bass and will also take flounders.

In winter, target the bigger whiting with either mackerel strips or sandeel. razorfish is a good winter flounder bait.

GETTING THERE
Approach from Barmouth on the A496 and take the left turn signposted "Traeth" (beach) at Llanddwywe towards Bennar Fawr. Follow the road to a large car park and access the beach along the footpath through the sand dunes.

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