Criccieth Beach, Gwynedd

Take the A497 from Porthmadog. Take the first left turn on entering the town sign posted "Traeth" which is Welsh for beach. There is a large car park running along the front with a charge made in summer. Gets very busy during daytime in peak season.

POTENTIAL
Remains reliable during the July period when other marks suffer a lull. To the right of the beach is the famous castle under which is a stone jetty. This fishes well over high water in the late evening for mackerel and garfish on both spinners and feathers. Odd big bass and average wrasse show to float fished crab.

Just to the left of the jetty the beach is of coarse sand mixed with a little shingle. Long casts at low water locate deeper gutters and patches of rougher ground which hold, dogfish, odd rays, plaice, dabs and bass. On the left hand side of the car park is a patch of rough ground that holds good bass during southwesterly winds. From the rough ground eastwards is a shingle storm beach which gives thornbacks at long range over both low and high water, bass, flatfish, eels, dogfish and gurnards. Evening high tides in July and August can give excellent mackerel catches on feathers and spinners. Turbot can show in spring and autumn.

TIME AND TIDES
For bass, a force 3-5 south or southwesterly proves best fishing low water upwards through darkness. Rays like gentle south-westerlies or periods of flat calm, again fishing only night tides. Easterlies can produce plaice by day, but little else. Dogfish can show at any time.

Spring tides produce all the rays and bass with neaps generally poor save for whiting and dabs in the autumn. The mackerel only come within casting range over the spring tide high water period. Turbot should be fished for over low water of spring tides.

The best way to fish Criccieth for general species is to have one rod cast close and the other much further out. Bass and dogs are fairly close in, but for other species the longer the cast the better. A 5oz lead will hold in all but the worst conditions. Weed can be a problem in rough weather.

BAITS AND RIGS
Crab will take bass, dogfish, rays, eels and plaice. Lug baits are good for dabs and flounder. Frozen sandeel is a good dogfish bait with mackerel taking gurnards and turbot. White rag can be excellent for flounder. Apart from a few peeler crab this whole area is barren of collectable bait, so bring plenty with you. Local shops stock fresh mackerel etc.

Try a three hook rig with short 6-inch (15cm) snoods for the flatfish and whiting. Clipped down one hook rigs are best for all long range species, though good catches can come on a wishbone rig baited with alternative baits. Change to a two or three hook rig with 12-inch (30cm) hook lengths for short casts over high water. A rolling lead is worth trying in calm conditions.

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