Order your copy Now Click on Book Clive Branson's Fishing Guide to Wales and the Borders   By popular demand from visiting anglers I have been asked on many occasions “Where best to go fishing including best facilities such as refreshments, toilets, disable access etc” Therefore I have introduced for each venue within the guide my personal 1-5 star rating *****. Including my personal views, helping anglers and their families decide where best to experience this great sport of ours.

Venue; KENFIG POOL

Venue; WILDERNESS LAKE

                     

Venue; RIVER KENFIG

Location; Porthcawl, St Brides, Llantwit Major, Aberthaw

These marks features rock ledges running into deep water on the left hand side, with flat ledges of rock running into a deep water gully and an offshore sandbar infront and to the right of the access point.

The ledges produce smoothound and bass to short casts from June onwards. Conger, good sized ones too, dogfish and occasional huss also show. Some anglers spin over the rocks in high summer for bass, small pollack and mackerel. Rays can be taken from the deep water gully at low water and for the first hours of the flood. Codling appear here during October and stay until March. Big cod can be hooked fishing into the deep gully, again at low water.

TIME AND TIDES The bigger tides produce the cod, smoothhound and rays, but rough conditions bring the bass inshore, even on neaps. Calm flood tides are best for spinning in the summer. Night tides are best for cod and rays, but daylight and dusk can be good for bass and smoothound in the right conditions.

BAITS AND RIGS Peeler crab is the only bait for the bass and smoothies. Black and blow lug takes the cod. Squid cocktails are good for the rays. Conger will hit all baits, but have a habit of hitting the smaller hooked pout on the way in.

Rigs need to incorporate a weak link to the lead with most anglers opting for a clipped down single hook paternoster. Using Mustad Vikings and 25lb reel line means that snagged hooks will straighten to release tackle. Carry leads between 5 and 6ozs with grip wires.

WEATHER Fishes best in sou’west to nor’west winds. Easterlies can kill the fishing. Except in high summer calms, the sea remains coloured the rest of the time. During wet weather, in fact anytime, when walking near the cliffs keep a good distance out from them for rocks are continually falling.