Mostyn
Last updated September 2022
Last updated September 2022
Fishing from the sea defence embankment. The sea bed for around 20m from the shore is very snaggy so when landing a fish try and get them high up near the surface to avoid losing them right under your feet!
Warning - the bottom of the embankment is very snaggy
A well known and often very productive mark on the Dee estuary. The venue can be fished over both the high water and low water periods. It is best to avoid spring tides for your own sanity! Fishing is available from the sea defense bank, the eocky outcrop and sandy/muddy beach adjacent to the factories or from the sea defence embankment close to the fun ship.
Mark A
Fun Ship or Top End
From the fence close to the fun ship for approximately 450m you can fish over the high water period. The first 75m was prime Thornback territory in late summer early autumn 2018.
The gulleys and channels are constantly changing so it may change again in the future. Over HW period the boulders close to the shore can sometimes be a problem and fish need to be bullied over them otherwise they can dive into them and you’ll more often than not lose your catch.
Latest news - 2019 first rays were taken last week of Feb 2019.
Fun Ship or Top End
From the fence close to the fun ship for approximately 450m you can fish over the high water period. The first 75m was prime Thornback territory in late summer early autumn 2018.
The gulleys and channels are constantly changing so it may change again in the future. Over HW period the boulders close to the shore can sometimes be a problem and fish need to be bullied over them otherwise they can dive into them and you’ll more often than not lose your catch.
Latest news - 2019 first rays were taken last week of Feb 2019.
Mark B
From sewerage beds to the end of the sea defences is approximately 550m. This stretch is the most heavily fished and is best fished 3hrs down to LW and about 2.5hrs of the flood. It’s the area where you have a chance of catching the widest variety of fish.
The only thing you need to watch out for is the very bottom of the sea defence embankment. It’s snaggy!
From sewerage beds to the end of the sea defences is approximately 550m. This stretch is the most heavily fished and is best fished 3hrs down to LW and about 2.5hrs of the flood. It’s the area where you have a chance of catching the widest variety of fish.
The only thing you need to watch out for is the very bottom of the sea defence embankment. It’s snaggy!
Mark C
The muddly beach can be fished over HW for about 2hrs up to high and about 90 minutes of the ebb. You’re fishing onto a very muddy beach.
Good plaice come off this beach early in spring and sole also caught close in later early summer.
The muddly beach can be fished over HW for about 2hrs up to high and about 90 minutes of the ebb. You’re fishing onto a very muddy beach.
Good plaice come off this beach early in spring and sole also caught close in later early summer.
Mark D
Small headland by the grey storage tanks. There’s a deep hole right in front of you as down the estuary towards the fun ship. Considered the best mark for the Conger as well as the bigger winter codling. It’s a quite tricky and lengthy walk so travel as light as you can.
Small headland by the grey storage tanks. There’s a deep hole right in front of you as down the estuary towards the fun ship. Considered the best mark for the Conger as well as the bigger winter codling. It’s a quite tricky and lengthy walk so travel as light as you can.
Summer Species
Plaice, Flounder, Strap Conger, Thornback Ray, Sole Bass Silver Eels and occasional Dogfish and Smooth Hounds. The mark is well known for the quality of its plaice fishing which can be excellent fish topping 3lbs are easily possible. The best plaice fishing starts mid April and tails off in late August.
Winter Species
Flounder, Dabs, Codling, Whiting and Conger. The flounder and dab fishing is best from October onwards when the crab activity starts to slow. Although you'll catch flounder all year round the crabs will strip worm baits in minutes.
Mostyn Guidance
Mostyn can be fished at all states of the tide.
- Mark A The Fun Ship or Top End from the boundary fence close to the ship for approximately 450m is a great high water mark!
- Mark B From sewerage beds to the end of the sea defences is approximately 550m. This stretch is the most heavily fished and is best fished 3hrs down to LW and about 2.5hrs of the flood.
- Mark C The muddly beach can be fished over HW for about 2hrs up to high and about 90 minutes of the ebb. You’re fishing onto a very muddy beach.
- Mark D The small rocky headland by the grey storage tanks. There’s a deep hole right in front of you considered the best mark for the Conger
Autumn and Winter
Flounder, codling, whiting and dabs.
Whiting will start to show in numbers around end of September, the codling begin to show around mid November through to end of January. Although the odd fish will be taken outside of these times. Most of the codling are taken in the periods 3hr to 2.5 hrs before low and again around 2.25hrs to 3hrs after low, when the tide is starting to move through fairly quickly.
Best winter baits for codling are peeler crab or black lug and squid cocktails. For the flatfish use black lug on a 2 or 3 hook flapper rig. (I like to use 1/2 a worm on each hook and a 2 hook flapper). Mackerel or mackerel and squid cocktails will attract the whiting which at times can be prolific with a fish every cast possible.
Spring and Summer.
From early April to September the main target species will be the Plaice and Thornback Rays. The Plaice can be caught using simple 2 hook flapper rigs with peeler crab being the best bait. Black lugworm will take fish but the estuary is awash with crabs and they'll strip the hook in minutes.
For the rays squid and bluey wraps or squid and sand eel wraps are great baits. Rays up to 11lbs are possible and with these care is needed when you get them close to shore as many a great fish has been lost in the snaggs close in.
Conger are ever present and each year a few doubles appear in catch reports.
In recent years Bass have started to show in sufficient numbers to make them worth targeting although most come to peeler crab baits intened for the Plaice.
Smooth Hounds while not a common catch at Mostyn are being caught more frequently but not in sufficient numbers to be a viable traget species, most hounds have come as a by catch to those targetting plaice with crab or thornback with squid. July to late August giving you the best chance of catching one.
Getting there
Travelling from the east (west along A55)
1.Leave A55 at Junction 32. Follow the A5026 towards Holywell for approximately 1.5 miles.
2.Take a right turn on B5432 continue to T Junction in Holywell.
3.At T junction turn right and follow road round to left past Tesco
4.Take right turn (left if coming from west) sign posted Maesglas and Greenfield 1 mile. Continue to traffic lights at A458.
5.At the traffic lights turn left and continue along A458 towards Mostyn
6.After almost 2 miles you'll pass a speed camera (in 40mph) and there will be a wall running alongside the
right hand side of the road. About 200m after the camera there's what look like a farm turning on you right.
7. Take this and continue along the track. You should be able to see the see wall infront of you. At the sea wall turn left and follow the track for a few hundred yards. Where it starts bending to the left there are places to park.
If coming from the West Leave the A55 at Junction 31. Follow the A5026 towards Holywell. Keeping an eye out for a left hand turn signposted Maesglas and Geenfield 1.5 miles. Take this turn and follow the road. Just after a pelican crossing take the first left turn and follow instruction above from point 4.
Nearest Post Code
CH8 9GA
Disabled Advice
Mostyn isn't suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility
A small late September Thornie for the author.
Anthony Harrison with a quality thornback ray
The author with a nice plaice!
The author with a 2018 smoothie!
