Porthcawl Pier

HOW TO GET THERE
Turn off at junction 37 from the M4 heading south on the A4229 until arriving at the third round about. Head straight on here taking the A4106 until the next round about where you will need to turn left. You should be able to see the amusement arcade entrance with paid parking on gravel opposite. For the pier travel to along the promenade past the harbour, you may be lucky enough to find free parking near the lifeboat station where you will find access to the pier.

PROSPECTS
The Pier at Porthcawl can get very crowded, particularly in the summer when hordes of holidaymakers and eager school children pack out the venue. Certain spots do fish better than others with the area below the lighthouse being prized territory; during the winter however the inner wall area near the wooden docking stumps can fish equally well and is often less crowded.

Casting distance here is not an issue with the smallest of casts often being very productive. Tackle losses are minimal as the bottom here is predominantly sand with the only rocky area directly outside the harbour mouth. As the tide ebbs a strong current develops as the water rushes back out to sea, this can make fishing difficult, a long cast with at least a 6oz grip lead is recommended.

This venue can produce a wide variety of species particularly in the summer months, With gurnard, bass and Pollock occasionally making an appearance. From May on to September ray can be caught in the area along with mackerel depending on water clarity and weather. Thin lipped mullet also inhabit these waters patrolling the pier walls as they enter and exit the harbour. Conger can also be caught here during the warmer weather but are a bit of a rarity.

In the winter whiting are frequently caught along with the occasional cod and codling needless to say the not so welcome pouting and dogfish are also landed with regularity from this mark.

BAITS AND RIGS
Due to the forgiving nature of the ground here rigs come down to a matter of preference, a two or three hook paternoster usually does well baited with a selection of baits to tempt the varying species sometimes present at this venue.
Lugworm tipped with squid works well in the winter for cod and codling with sandeel, mackerel and rag performing well throughout the year as good all round baits. This venue can be fished with the float however the afore mentioned rip can make fishing near impossible as the tide recedes.

WARNINGS
Beware of certain areas during rough seas and bad weather as waves tend to break over the top and crash onto the inner wall. Fishing this mark can be extremely perilous at these times with numerous tackle boxes, Tilley lamps and unfortunately the occasional angler being swept into the bay. The promenade wall running adjacently to the pier provides a safer alternative and fishes almost as well during high seas and storms.

Be aware also that if an alarm sounds on the pier all lines must be retrieved as the life boat is about to be launched from the station to the left. Boats occasionally accessing the harbour also require that rigs be retrieved to avoid tackle loss and damaged equipment, fortunately this is a very rare occurrence and fishing usually proceeds uninterrupted.