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Old Harbour Jetty, Barmouth, Gwynedd

Mike Thrussell 01 January, 2006 07:35:00

MARK DESCRIPTION
A rocky foreshore giving way to shallow clean sand banks and deeper gullies branching off the main Mawddach Estuary channel. Boats moor in the gullies which attracts fish to food accumulating around the chains.

At high water you can either fish off the foreshore, or most anglers opt for the small concrete jetty which gives good casting access in to the gullies and amongst the moorings over high water.

METHODS
A short cast venue where an old fashioned flowing trace rig outfishes anything else. Make the trace between 2' and 3' to maximize bait movement in the tide, but it pays to use grip wired leads to avoid the tackle being rolled in to the mooring chains.

Over high water, try float fishing very close in for flounder, mullet, bass and garfish. Spinning can also produce summer bass and garfish.

If you're fishing small fish baits, check your catch before handling it, as this mark, especially during May to July, can be infested with poisonous lesser weevers.

BEST TIMES
Produces best on neap tides just as the new flood tide starts to creep through the gullies. Spring tides are okay for flatfish and bass two hours either side of high water.

Flounder are resident pretty well most of the year. Target plaice in April, May and June. Best of the bassing occurs again in May and June, then again from late August to early October. Dogfish and eels add to the summer returns. Garfish peak in July.

BAITS
Crab takes bass, flounders, eels and plaice. Lug is good in the late spring for both flounders and plaice. Fresh or frozen sandeel can be good float fished for bass.

Also try tipping worm baits off with cockle and mussel. A good plaice bait is a lug/rag cocktail, and razorfish is excellent for flounder early in the year.

GETTING THERE
From the A470 north of Dolgellau, take the A496 towards Barmouth. Just before entering the town there is a lay-by on your right. The old Harbour is opposite. Park in the lay-by and walk back towards the mark which is clearly visible from the road.