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Whitsand Bay, St David's Pembrokeshire

Mike Thrussell 01 January, 2006 06:25:00

A westerly facing beach with rocky headlands at either end. The beach is mostly clean sand and patches of fine shingle, and though shallow at first, a good cast finds deeper water as the beach drops away quickly.

Like many local beaches it is popular with tourists by day, and with surfers all year round, meaning anglers are wise to mainly fish at night, which is when the best of the fishing is anyway.

The beach carries a huge surf in windy conditions and winds over force 4 can be very difficult to fish, often with big rafts of weed, but the fishing can be excellent in winds of force 2 to 3.

SPECIES
A noted bass beach producing good bass from late March through to June when the bigger fish move back offshore. They return again during August in rough weather with the peak time for big bass fishing occurring September through to Christmas.

April to June sees thornback and small-eyed ray caught, with a few turbot and plaice. Tope are occasionally hooked at night in June during calm seas. July and August can be slow, but flounder, dabs, bass and dogfish show.

September sees whiting appear, with the better dabs arriving in October. Some codling are caught from November through January, mostly 2 to 3lb fish, along with coalies and the odd big flounder.

BEST BAITS
Stick to crab or sandeel for the bass, with lug and squid good baits for the later year fish. Cod take lug baits, with the dabs, plaice and flounder keen on rag or lug. Sandeel is the best small-eyed and turbot bait, with mackerel or squid for the thornbacks.

TACKLE
You need the option of long range here and the ability of big leads to grip in the surf. Choose a 5to 6oz beachcaster with 15 to 18lb line and 60lb shock leader. Carry grip leads up to 6ozs.

A two-hook clipped up rig gets extra range for the bigger whiting and flatties, but also try a three-hook flapper rig in closer, especially for the coalfish. The bass, codling and rays all require a clipped down one-hook rig with either a 3/0 or 4/0 hook.

GETTING THERE
Take the A40 from Fishguard or Carmarthen towards Haverfordwest, then the A487 for St David's. On the north side of St David's take the B4583 straight to Whitsand Bay.

WSF Tackle
SEARCH FOR TACKLE
DEPARTMENTS

BERKLEY FRENZIED POPPER £3.91 Each
Berkley PopperThe most versatile topwater bait ever produced. The Frenzy Popper just might be the best ever! Its unique balanced design allows it to be fished several ways. Chug it or pop it, and it spits water like a big fish chasing little ones. Slow it down with soft twitching actions, and it walks with the best of 'em.

TIDEWATER LURE RIGS 83p Each
FeathersAs any boat or shore angler will tell you, lure rigs when used alone or with bait are great for catching all manner of species. We've selected the very best rigs from the Shakespeare TideWater range that are idea for boat and some shore work.

7" WSF Jelly Worms
Berkley Power WormsDeadly 7inch jelly worms that are deadly for all manner of predator fish, especially pollack. We allow you to buy individual colours so you can mix and match what you want!
Jelly worms are 30p each!

Get ready for the new Plugging Season, Buy 3 get one of them for free, Blue Pilchard Divers
Blue PilchardBuy 3 Devil's Own Diving Plugs you get one of them for free in our 3 for 2 offer.
Check out our Devil's Own Lures.
These lures are ideal for bass and other predatory species. Price: £2.74 each. or £5.48 for 3.

WSF NOW STOCKS SAKUMA HOOKS
Sakuma HooksSuper strong Japanese Hooks from Sakuma. We now stock the 545 Manta Extra, 540 Manta, 560 Stinger and 543 Pennel Manta Extra hooks. All hooks are supplied in boxes of 30.

Bass PoppersBASS POPPERS! FROM £3.67
These excellent long range casting popper lures are ideal for numerous saltwater species including Bass. Berkley Frenzy Poppers.

SALTWATER FLIES FROM FULLING MILL FROM £1.25
Saltwater FliesWSF Now stocks the high quality range of saltwater flies from Fulling Mill. We have picked out a deadly selection from the Fulling Mill range that will help any saltwater fly angler this season.

BACK IN STOCK PENN CAPTIVA CV2 REELS
Captiva ReelsPRICE FROM: £37.18
Sea spinning reel, ideal for use with the Shakespeare Salt Spin Rod. Packed with features including an ultra smooth front drag, permanent instant anti reverse and a metal spare spool. The 5000 is idea for use with spinning with heavier nylons between 12 and 15lbs and Braid.

BACK IN STOCK SALT / CAPTIVA SPINNING COMBO DEAL
Captiva Reel DealsIdeal spinning combo from Penn and Shakespeare. Featuring the hugely popular Salt Spin 10ft, 3 piece spinning rod, and the fantastic Captiva 5000 CV2 Spinning Reel from Penn. PRICE: £73.39

BACK IN STOCK ABU CARDINAL 304FD PRICE: £37.18
Abu CardinalThis Front Drag version of the popular Abu Cardinal range of reels is an ideal reel for braid. Each reel features 7 bearings (1AR) Bearing, Instant Reverse and a spare spool. It holds 210/10lb line. Each reel comes with a free Abu Cardinal Reel Bag.


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