Rhossili Ledges, Gower
There are roughly 4 main
ledges at Rhossili offering deep water fishing onto mainly clear
ground. Kitchens Corner is a small rocky cove which has more broken
ground up to 30yds out and then clean sand. The cove is the only area
of Rhossili Ledges that has this feature and so it is the only ledge
which offers the most species variety - whilst its the easiest ledge to
get down to this doesnt make it the most comfortable spot to actually
fish with Pillar Ledge and Terrace Ledge providing a bigger casting
area and more room for anglers in general.
Best fishing is on the higher tides, on a small tide there is not much
depth here and so fishing is poor. The ledges are protected from strong
easterly winds by the large headland which you have to climb down -
just be aware of sneaky swells as there is a lot of water here at high
tide - I estimate a depth of at least 25ft right at your feet at high
tide.
During the winter the whiting
fishing can be superb with good shoals of fish feeding from about
November through to late January. Lug tipped with fish baits will work
well for these. Best time would be after dark but these ledges require
a steep descent down to the bottom of the cliffs and is not advised
during darkness or during rain! The 'path' consists of loose gravel and
stones and slippery grass - not easy going! It is possible that codling
visit this mark occasionally although it is not worth targetting these
species as you are more likely to be pestered by dab, dogfish and
whiting.
During colder winter periods this mark can produce good bags of dabs,
these normally frequent the area more when the winter is very cold,
January and February are normally the best months - fish usin a 2 or 3
hook paternoster and keep the hooks and baits small.
I have heard of bass being caught from these ledges but have never
witnessed nor experienced it myself. Best baits for any possible bass
would be worm and shellfish (there are razorbeds here at mean low
tide). Peeler crab fished over the slightly rougher ground at Kitchens
Corner would also give a chance of bass from this mark.
Mackerel chase small baitfish against the ledges here from July through
August. Normally on hot evenings when the sea is quite calm. Feathers
work well along with spinners and float tactics. Incidentally I have
hooked small whiting here while feathering for fresh mackerel bait - in
August!!
Its likely that some predators such as bass arent far behind when the
small baitfish and mackerel shoals are here. Perhaps a large Yo-zuri
mackerel plug would work?
Its always possible that there will be small wrasse and pollack in the
cove ay high tide feeding over the rougher ground, also some strap
conger moreso at night.
Whilst fishing near the cove a few years ago I witnessed what looked
like a small black bream chase my rapala plug right in to by my feet.
The fish never looked like he has going to attack the lure - just
appeared to be swimming with it. Floatfishing or bottomfishing small
ragworm or squid baits would work for these fish.
Fishing peeler crab at long range here can produce some smoothhound up
to about 6lb. Again night time is best but I have caught them in broad
daylight aswell. Use a pulley pennell rig and watch you rod! -
The smoothhound normally run hard initially and can take the rod and
tripod over the side if you are not careful!
Other species include small pollack (can be caught using baited hokkai
feathers or floatfishing ragworm down the side). Tope used to be caught
here back in the 60's and 70's though people havent fished for them,
they could still visit this mark....
Rarities include plaice, flounder and small-eyed rays, there can also
be garfish mixed in with the mackerel shoals and mullet are fairly
likely to feed in this area now and again.
These ledges can be very hit and miss. Often during the summer there
are so many spider crabs over the clean ground that the fish dont have
a chance to get to the baits - if you are getting bites and on
retrieval the hook snood has been cut this is almost definately the
spider crabs! - they are more of a pest than dogfish at this mark.
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