Mariners Wharf and Brunswick
Last Update September 2022
Both easy-to-access marks with good parking. Best fished on tides up to 8.6m (28ft) as the bigger tides while still fishable mean the extra tidal pull limits your fishing time.
Originally considered to be only an autumn and winter mark for whiting and codling it has in recent years earned a great reputation for the quality of its thornback ray fishing which starts in April and only tails off in December.
Mariners Wharf looking in a northerly direction.towards the open sea.
Summer
Thornback rays, dogfish, plaice, flounder, sole, bass, smooth hounds, and whiting.
Good numbers of thornbacks are caught with fish up to double figures always a possibility. Most of these come fall to large bluey and squid wraps. In 2016 a bass of 7.5lbs was taken here by a guy targeting thornbacks. Since that time the number of bass appearing in reports has been increasing here and at other Mersey marks.
Last Update September 2022
Both easy-to-access marks with good parking. Best fished on tides up to 8.6m (28ft) as the bigger tides while still fishable mean the extra tidal pull limits your fishing time.
Originally considered to be only an autumn and winter mark for whiting and codling it has in recent years earned a great reputation for the quality of its thornback ray fishing which starts in April and only tails off in December.
Mariners Wharf looking in a southerly direction.across to the start of Altantic Quay Brunswick just beyond the opening to the lock leading to Brunswick Dock Marina.
Mariners Wharf looking in a northerly direction.towards the open sea.
Summer
Thornback rays, dogfish, plaice, flounder, sole, bass, smooth hounds, and whiting.
Good numbers of thornbacks are caught with fish up to double figures always a possibility. Most of these come fall to large bluey and squid wraps. In 2016 a bass of 7.5lbs was taken here by a guy targeting thornbacks. Since that time the number of bass appearing in reports has been increasing here and at other Mersey marks.
The author with a small thornie from Mariners Wharf
Brian Campbell with a slightly larger Mariners Wharf thornback caught in same session as the authors fish.
Paul Thompson 7lb 3oz Brunswick Bass
Brian Campbell with a smooth hound from Atlantic Quay, Brunswick
Winter
Codling, whiting, dogfish and thornback rays.
Codling and whiting are the main winter species. The whiting will start to show in numbers around the end of September with the codling usually about 4 to 5 weeks later. The exact timings vary a little year by year. By around the end of January codling start to thin out.
Occasional thornback rays will get caught right through even the coldest months. These are normally a by catch taken by anglers using large squid and worm baits intended for the codling.
Guidance.
Both marks are predominantly fished HW only although I’ve seen Atlantic Quay fished over LW on the smaller tides.
The hotspot everyone tries to get to is right on the point close to the lock gates for entry into the marina. The reality is the old boys’ fish this spot because it's right next to where the park their cars. The truth is the whole length of the prom from opposite the Yacht Club down over the footbridge crossing the lock entrance and along Atlantic Quay by the Brunswick Business Park.
One word of warning; at the bottom of the slope which leads from the pay and display car park at the end of South Ferry Quay you'll notice a number of free-standing black bollards. These are in front of the quayside railings. Avoid fishing at that exact spot as it marks what was once an entrance to a small pier. The remains of the old pier pilings are still in place and the casting onto them will virtually guarantee you'll get snagged every cast.
David Soden-Barton with a sole taken at Mariners Wharf
The mark produces plenty of whiting in the winter along with codling normally in the 2lb - 3lb bracket with occasional bigger fish reported each year. You'll also get dabs when using smaller hooks aimed at whiting. Most people fish 2 rods in winter. One with a large bait for the codling and the second with smaller 2 or 3-hook rigs for whiting and dabs.
In the summer the target species here are thornback rays. A large bluey and squid wrap fished hard on the bottom should almost be certain to get you a few fish.
Whether fishing in winter or summer Mersey regulars like to create cocktail baits with an oily fish such as bluey or mackerel as one of the essential ingredients. The coloured water means a bait that creates a good scent trail is important.
Ray fishing seems to peak in September and October with many of the Mersey marks producing the most fish around this time of the year.
Parking for Mariners is available in the pay and display car parks one opposite the Yacht Club and the other at the end of South Ferry Quay.
A word of warning. The quayside railing along the whole section are set back away from the edge of the quay only around 3ft or so but this means it’s impossible to use a drop net without scaling the railings. The railings are pretty tall and difficult to scramble over.
Personally, I’ve climbed over a few times but didn’t enjoy the experience. Now I tie an extra-long shock leader and take my chance either cranking or hand lining the fish up the wall.
Parking for Brunswick is actually within the Brunswick Business Centre accessed from Sefton Street. The Business Estate is gated and only open during business hours and is closed all day Sunday. If you planning to fish an evening check with the Security Staff what time the gates will be closed.
When the Business Centre is closed you can park at Mariners in the car park at the end of South Ferry Quay and walk to the mark which is around 400-500m distance.
Nearest Post Code
Mariners Wharf L3 4EL
Atlantic Quay Brunswick L3 4BE
Google Maps
Mariners Wharf
Atlantic Quay
Disabled Access
Both Mariners and Atlantic Quay are perfect marks with easy access and both ideal for wheelchair users.
