Traeth Penbryn Beach, Ceredigion

Penbryn is still a classic storm beach capable of producing some good bass fishing in the autumn. It has a rock headland on the right side, which is the best place to fish, but the whole length of the beach fishes well and is mainly clean sand with a little shingle towards the high tide mark.

It fishes best during the spring tides, especially over low water and for the first three hours of the flood. A southwest wind force 2 to 4 is by far the best for the bass, but it still gives fish in any west biased wind providing there is surf.

The bass show from April through to November, with September seeing a good run of whiting. The beach is also noted for turbot to 3lbs, which are taken from where the streams cross the beach, and big winter dabs. Rays are caught in spring and autumn.

SPECIES
Bass, plaice, turbot, thornback ray, spotted ray, small-eyed ray, dabs, whiting and flounder.

BEST BAITS
Fish crab close to the rocks for the bass, or black lug tipped with squid over the sand in the autumn. The plaice take small ragworm baits at long range. Sandeel is the turbot and ray bait with mackerel a close second. Dabs and whiting come to worm baits tipped with mackerel or squid.

TACKLE
Fishing at long range can be an advantage, even for the bass if it's very rough. Choose a 13ft 5-6oz beachcaster and reel loaded with 15lb line and 60lb shock leader.

Best rig is a clipped down one-hook rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 pennel hook system for the bass and rays. A two-hook clipped up rig takes the plaice, dabs and whiting if you use smaller Aberdeen hooks size 2. Target the turbot with an 18-inch hook trace on a sliding ledger rig and 1/0 hook.

5 to 6oz leads hold in most surfs, but you might need to tighten the breakout wires by adding a rubber band in severe conditions.

GETTING THERE
Access is signposted on several roads off the main A487 from either Cardigan or Aberystwyth directions. The beach lies down a narrow road a couple of miles from the main road. As you enter Penbryn there is a National Trust car park, fee payable in summer. Park here and it's just a short walk to the beach. There is a turnaround area by the beach itself, but this is not for parking.