Stolford
Spot:Stolford
Access:Leave the M5 at junction 23 and follow signs for Bridgwater and then A39 Minehead. At Cannington go into the village and turn right at the war memorial, sign posted to Hinkley Point. Follow this road for about three miles and Stolford is sign posted on the right. Carry on down narrow lanes until you reach a T. junction, turn right and then at a V in the road take the left hand fork. This will take you to the beach where there is a small car park. Fish from the shingle beach to the right. If you arrive early you can see where the sandy areas are and therefore cut down on lost tackle.
Tides:Best fished on spring tides for 2 / ½ hours either side of high tide.
Species:Codling, whiting, silver eels and bass.
Stolford, Somerset
Spring and summer for thornback and small-eyed ray. October onwards sees whiting, cod and coalfish.
BAITS:The thornbacks take lug tipped with squid, squid or crab. The small-eyed are not in numbers here but take sandeel or squid. Winter whiting take lug tipped with mackerel or sandeel, plus mackerel strips, with the coalfish and cod taking crab until November, then lug baits tipped with squid.
TACKLE & TACTICS:The upper shore here is broken shingle giving on to sand and soft dangerous mud, so the best of the fishing is only during the two hours either side of high water. It fishes okay in the day but is best at night. It offers some protection from the south and southwest winds as it faces north.
Long range casting will take the bulk of the fish here, so a 5-6oz beachcaster matched to a reel like the Penn 525 or 7000 with 18 to 25lb line and a 60lb shock leader is a good choice.
Most local anglers choose a pulley rig made from 60lb mono with either a single or two Viking 79515 hooks size 4/0 for the rays and cod. For the smaller species opt for a three-hook flapper rig and size 2 Kamasan B940 Aberdeen's. The tide will pull strong here so you need 6oz grip leads. Flatten the ends of the wires and bend the first 5mm back at a right angle towards the lead. This helps stop the leads sinking deeply in to the soft mud.
LOCATION:Stolford is accessed from the A39 turning off near Cannington down a narrow road following the signs for Stolford. Parking is at the back of the beach