Fishing

Fishing at Shell Island

Whether you prefer casting from the shore or heading out to sea, Shell Island offers some of the best fishing experiences in Wales.

At the northern tip of the island, the main channel flows from the estuary out to the open sea. The deep, fast-moving water makes this spot a favourite with anglers. Bass are the main target here, though plaice and flounder also provide great sport. On rare occasions, mackerel shoals enter the estuary — and when they do, the water seems to come alive with movement.

During summer days, the beaches are busy with swimmers and families, but as evening falls and the shoreline quiets, the fishermen take over. From the bathing beaches, catches often include bass, flounder, plaice, mackerel, dogfish, skate, thornback ray, and even the occasional stingray.

For those with patience and skill, rock fishing offers the chance of a real prize. Floating your line among the rocks can be tricky — and it’s easy to lose tackle — but it’s also where the bigger bass like to hide.

At the southern end of Shell Island, you’ll find St Patrick’s Causeway, a reef stretching around 14 miles out to sea. It’s a superb spot for boat fishing — from catching a few mackerel for bait to enjoying a full day’s sport chasing tope, bull huss, dogfish, skate, and thornbacks.

If you need supplies, the on-site Camp Shop has everything you need for a great day’s fishing, including:
 Blast-frozen bait
 Rods, reels, and tackle
 Spinners, lures, weights, and floats

It’s one of the best-stocked fishing shops on the coast, and if you’re after bait, you can even collect peeler crabs from the nearby rockpools.

For those who prefer to get out on the water, the charter boat Western Flyer operates daily fishing and sunset trips from our quay at the north end of the island.(1) Facebook