Lydstep Beach

BAITS
Fresh baits are essential now with fish hard to come by for the next few weeks. Blow lug gives you an edge for the dabs, school bass and flounder, as will small king rag, but if you can get any early peeler crab it's a big advantage. Also try razorfish as a tippet below the lug. The dogfish take rag and sandeel cocktails best, but also take mackerel strip.

TACKLE AND TACTICS
A scenic beach this with wooded sides. The best of the fishing is at the northern end during the two hours either side of low water where the sand remains pretty clean with few snags. Big spring tides fish best, with night time likely to give the best returns. Ideally look for a gentle south-westerly wind and light surf for the best conditions.

Distance casting can really help find a few fish here now, so stick with a 5-6oz beachcaster but drop your main reel line to 12 or 15lbs with a 60lb shock leader. Fish both a three-hook flapper rig for middle range fishing, but if bites remain slow, change to a clipped down one-hook rig and really blast a small bait as far out as you can.

Whether fishing day or night at this time of year, keep your hook links light, say 12 to 18lbs and use smaller hooks like Kamasan B940 size 4 with smaller baits. Be prepared to switch from a grip lead to a plain lead and move it a few inches every couple of minutes to help induce bites.

LOCATION
Take the A40 in Carmarthen heading for St Clears. At St Clears take the A477 for Tenby. In Tenby follow the coast road B4139 to Lydstep. Parking above the beach.