Llandudno
Llandudno North Shore
Last Updated November 2022
The North Shore stretches from the pier at it's western end to the Little Orme at the eastern end. In the main you be fishing onto mainly clean sand backed by shingle. Although the eastern end is rockier, it's patches of rock become more concentraed as you get closer to the Little Orme.
Summer
Bass, flatfish, smoothounds, dogfish and mackerel are the main summer species.
Winter
Whiting, codling occasional coalies and dogfish.
Guidance
North Shore has a good reputation but my own experiences are that it's a convienient mark rather than a 1st choice mark.
Whether summer fishing or winter fishing you'll need standard beach gear. Tidal pull is never very strong so 125g - 150g grip leads are fine in all but the heaviest conditions. If your targeting flatfish try use a 90g or 125g plain lead and let it move around in the tide.
Bass will take peeler crab, ragworm or lugworm baits. Using peeler at range targeting smoothounds and you may get a bonus bass.
On those nice settled July and August evenings have a set of feathers ready for the mackerel. In 2016 the mackerel didn't show in any great numbers until September but weere still being caught into very late October.
In the summer during daytime beach can get quite busy with holiday makers. Early mornings or late evenings over into darkness are best times to fish.
From early autumn right through to early March the whting will be on shore in vast numbers. The larger fish are usually caught earlier in this period. Small pin whting can reach plague proportions at times attacking even the largest of baits.
For the codling you really need a decent surf kicked up by a North Westerly blow and HW after sunset. Large lug and squid pr peeler crab baits are best.
Llandudno Pier
The pier is 700m long including the landing stage at the end. Fishing is only allowed from the landing stage platform to which only those paying for a fishing permit are allowed access. Since the new owners Tir Prince Leisure Group purchsed the pier the rules as well as the prices have been subject to frequent and constant changes. At the time of writing the Tir Prince website for Llandudno Pier says:
" We have a Fishing Platform that is open daily (weather permitting) from 8am to 8pm. Day fishing permits are available from the Pier Head Cafe."
The price of a day ticket is £10 per rod.
Summer
Bass, smoothound, pollack, plaice, thornback ray, conger, scad, mullet, mackerel, wrasse, dogfish and huss, flounder
Winter
Codling, whiting, dab, coalfish, dogfish, conger, flounder and huss in autumn.
Guidance
Fishing from the pier gives access to deepish water at mid to high tide. Deep enough to have allowed Isle of Man Steam Packet ferries to dock in the past when they ran the occasional summer excursions from Llandudno to Douglas.
The ground is generally clean sandy bottom but there are some snags closer to the pier itself.
In summer when conditions are calm there are plenty of mackerel to be caught along with small pollock to feathers. Bottom fishing with crab gives the chance of bass or smoothounds.
Worm baits will usually attract small codling and flatfish. Fish baits will attract plenty of dogfish and give a chance of huss. Squid and sandeel wraps give a good chance of thornbacks.
For conger fish at night into the rougher ground towards the Great Orme.
Winter sees a mass invasion of whiting which at times take the bait almost before the lead hits the sea bed. Fishing with worm tipped with squid or mackerel will produce a good mixed bag of fish depending on state of the tide.
A drop net is a must if your after huss. You'll really struggle to haul a large fish to the pier's deck if you hook one.
Parking around the pier area of Llandudno can be difficult during weekends and during the main holiday season. Personally the parking difficulties are enough to put me off fishing the Pier or Happy Valley Wall.
Llandudno Wall (Happy Valley)
"The Wall" is situated at the start of Happy Valley Road. It offers a fairly comfortable place to fish from. The downside is the ground your fishing onto is very rough. Longer casts towards the pier will find ground which is slightly cleaner but using rotten bottom rigs is highly recommended. The main species it produces are dogfish, huss, bass, conger, smooth hounds, whiting, coalfish, pollack and codling.
There is limited parking in the Pay and DIsplay Space at this mark. In winter parking shouldn't be too much of a problem but in summer it can be almost impossible to get a space.
Route from A55 to Happy Valley and Pier. The North Shore runs from the Pier to the Little Orme at the eastern end of the beach. Parking is roadside for North Shore and it's easier to find a space the further east you go.
Llandudno North Shore
Last Updated November 2022
The North Shore stretches from the pier at it's western end to the Little Orme at the eastern end. In the main you be fishing onto mainly clean sand backed by shingle. Although the eastern end is rockier, it's patches of rock become more concentraed as you get closer to the Little Orme.
Summer
Bass, flatfish, smoothounds, dogfish and mackerel are the main summer species.
Winter
Whiting, codling occasional coalies and dogfish.
Guidance
North Shore has a good reputation but my own experiences are that it's a convienient mark rather than a 1st choice mark.
Whether summer fishing or winter fishing you'll need standard beach gear. Tidal pull is never very strong so 125g - 150g grip leads are fine in all but the heaviest conditions. If your targeting flatfish try use a 90g or 125g plain lead and let it move around in the tide.
Bass will take peeler crab, ragworm or lugworm baits. Using peeler at range targeting smoothounds and you may get a bonus bass.
On those nice settled July and August evenings have a set of feathers ready for the mackerel. In 2016 the mackerel didn't show in any great numbers until September but weere still being caught into very late October.
In the summer during daytime beach can get quite busy with holiday makers. Early mornings or late evenings over into darkness are best times to fish.
From early autumn right through to early March the whting will be on shore in vast numbers. The larger fish are usually caught earlier in this period. Small pin whting can reach plague proportions at times attacking even the largest of baits.
For the codling you really need a decent surf kicked up by a North Westerly blow and HW after sunset. Large lug and squid pr peeler crab baits are best.
Llandudno Pier
The pier is 700m long including the landing stage at the end. Fishing is only allowed from the landing stage platform to which only those paying for a fishing permit are allowed access. Since the new owners Tir Prince Leisure Group purchsed the pier the rules as well as the prices have been subject to frequent and constant changes. At the time of writing the Tir Prince website for Llandudno Pier says:
" We have a Fishing Platform that is open daily (weather permitting) from 8am to 8pm. Day fishing permits are available from the Pier Head Cafe."
The price of a day ticket is £10 per rod.
Fishing Platform - Llandudno Pier
Summer
Bass, smoothound, pollack, plaice, thornback ray, conger, scad, mullet, mackerel, wrasse, dogfish and huss, flounder
Winter
Codling, whiting, dab, coalfish, dogfish, conger, flounder and huss in autumn.
Guidance
Fishing from the pier gives access to deepish water at mid to high tide. Deep enough to have allowed Isle of Man Steam Packet ferries to dock in the past when they ran the occasional summer excursions from Llandudno to Douglas.
The ground is generally clean sandy bottom but there are some snags closer to the pier itself.
In summer when conditions are calm there are plenty of mackerel to be caught along with small pollock to feathers. Bottom fishing with crab gives the chance of bass or smoothounds.
Worm baits will usually attract small codling and flatfish. Fish baits will attract plenty of dogfish and give a chance of huss. Squid and sandeel wraps give a good chance of thornbacks.
For conger fish at night into the rougher ground towards the Great Orme.
Winter sees a mass invasion of whiting which at times take the bait almost before the lead hits the sea bed. Fishing with worm tipped with squid or mackerel will produce a good mixed bag of fish depending on state of the tide.
A drop net is a must if your after huss. You'll really struggle to haul a large fish to the pier's deck if you hook one.
Parking around the pier area of Llandudno can be difficult during weekends and during the main holiday season. Personally the parking difficulties are enough to put me off fishing the Pier or Happy Valley Wall.
Llandudno Wall (Happy Valley)
"The Wall" is situated at the start of Happy Valley Road. It offers a fairly comfortable place to fish from. The downside is the ground your fishing onto is very rough. Longer casts towards the pier will find ground which is slightly cleaner but using rotten bottom rigs is highly recommended. The main species it produces are dogfish, huss, bass, conger, smooth hounds, whiting, coalfish, pollack and codling.
There is limited parking in the Pay and DIsplay Space at this mark. In winter parking shouldn't be too much of a problem but in summer it can be almost impossible to get a space.
Route from A55 to Happy Valley and Pier. The North Shore runs from the Pier to the Little Orme at the eastern end of the beach. Parking is roadside for North Shore and it's easier to find a space the further east you go.
Photo used for page header by 'Raintheone', CC BY-SA 4.0 - This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 4.0 International license via Wikimedia Commons
Original image cropped and text added
