The Ogmore Estuary, Mid Glamorgan

Take the left turn at Junction 36, M4 to Bridgend on the A4061, then B4524 towards Ogmore by Sea. The B4524 runs alongside the estuary and there is ample parking turning down the right hand track to a picnic area at the estuary mouth.

PROSPECTS
An excellent early season flounder venue fishing best from mid January through until late March. Fish average about the pound, but genuine 2lb fish are also taken. Bass start to work the rocks on the left hand side of the estuary mouth by mid April, with mullet moving in to the estuary channel in early May and garfish feeding around the outer sandbanks. Thornbacks feed either side of the estuary on the clean ground from late April on. May to August gives good eel fishing and the flounder are back and fattening up. In September, fishing straight off the rocks finds whiting, dabs, bass, mullet, and longer casts have produced small turbot and plaice. October through to Christmas sees most anglers chasing flounder, but big bass stay around the rocks and the mullet are late to leave in milder years.

TIDES
For the flounder, choose the medium to neap tides. For the bass, rays, etc, fish the spring tides, especially low water which is excellent for bass. Spring tides off the rocks gives the best chance of rays and turbot.

WEATHER
Avoid periods of heavy rain when the estuary carries heavy flood water and fishes poorly. The rocks at the estuary mouth are good in a steady southwesterly wind for the bass, but it needs to be calm for the whiting, rays and flatfish.

BAITS
In the early year, harbour rag or king rag baits left to move in the water take the flounder. Crab is best for the bass. A mackerel strip on a rolling lead or float fished in the current takes the garfish and occasional mullet. Fish sandeel, mackerel and squid at long range for rays, whiting and turbot. From summer to Christmas for flounder change to crab baits.

TACKLE AND RIGS
A 10-foot spinning rod, small fixed spool and just 10lb line covers all the flounder fishing, eels and school bass. For bassing off the rocks, pick a light beachcaster rated for 4ozs, and a reel loaded with 15 to 18lb line. A proper 5-6oz beachcaster is needed for the rays, whiting, turbot, etc.

A single hook clipped down paternoster, or a long and low single hook rig armed with a Mustad 3261BLN Aberdeen size 2/0 to 6/0 or similar is best for the rays. Fish a three hook rig with 12-inch (30cm) hook lengths for whiting and flatfish and a size 1 Aberdeen. For bass use a single hook rig with a weak link to the lead and an 12-inch (30cm) hook length with a Mustad Bass 79514 size 4/0. Flounder take best with a flowing trace rig and 18in hook length. Aberdeen hooks are best for flounder.