Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire

This is a true surf beach facing straight in to the prevailing wind. It carries a big surf in anything over a force 3 from the southwest. The ground is virtually all clean sand backed by shingle with narrow parallel gullies running across the beach that tend to hold the fish.

Also fish up by the rocks at the north end, which is where some of the bigger bass are taken.

The beach is very popular both with surfers throughout the year, and with tourists in the summer. Time your fishing sessions to the dark hours only for the best returns.

SPECIES
The beach fishes best from April on when a run of rays, mainly small-eyed and thornback come inshore during the bigger tides. These stay through to June and are joined by bass, flounder and dogfish. May also sees a few plaice taken, and occasionally tope are hooked on warm nights in June.

July and August sees bass if the weather is rough, but the bigger bass tend to show in September and October over low water in big seas. September also sees the whiting and dabs back inshore staying through until February. Coalfish can be caught from the beach between November and February, though the New Year period gives the most consistent fishing.

BEST BAITS
The bass take sandeel and crab through to September, but a big lug and squid cocktail gets the bigger autumnal fish. Use mackerel strips for the dabs and whiting, with rag and lug good for the plaice and flounder. Mussel or frozen crab is the best bait for coalfish. Use mackerel and squid cocktails for the thornbacks, with eh small-eyed ray taking sandeel.

TACKLE
Long range fishing gets the most species here and often takes the bigger bass, so go for a 5-6oz beachcaster and 6500 sized reel loaded with 15lb line and a 60lb shock leader. 5 or 6oz grips leads are best and will hold in the bigger tides and most surf conditions.

The best rig is a clipped down one-hook rig for the bass and rays with a size 4/0 hook. Two or three-hook flappers will take everything else.

GETTING THERE
Take the A40 from either Fishguard or Carmarthen to Haverfordwest. From Haverfordwest take the A487. Newgale is signposted at Haverfordwest and the A487 road skirts alongside the beach itself.

There is a lay-by on the road just above the beach as you come down the hill on the left hand side, and also car parking to the south side and in the village.