What fish can you catch in Southampton Water?
The mouth of the river and Southampton Water are important oyster bed grounds. You can fish for salmon and sea trout at certain times of the year as long as you have a current Environment Agency rod licence.
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Where is the best sea fishing in England?

Top fishing beaches
- Rhossili Bay.
- Luskentyre.
- Seilebost.
- Studland – Shell Bay.
- Cromer.
- Dungeness.
Is Southampton a fishing port?
Southampton. A large port town, it is surprising that the fishing there is fabulous. There are creeks, and beaches, and harbours, and lots of places to get your fish on. The most frequented spot for fisherman is the Town Quay.
Is sea fishing allowed in UK?
You can only fish in the UK without a licence if you are a child (check age) or are fishing a shoreline or a tidal stretch of river for saltwater species, with sea fishing tactics.

Where can I fish on a Solent boat?
Marks like Nab Tower Brambles Bank Selsey Utopia Boulder Bank and The Overfalls Cod, bass, ray, tope, smoothhound, mackerel, scad, pollack, conger eel can all be caught from charter boats from Langstone Chichester and Portmouth or your own boat.
Where can I catch sea bass in Southampton?
Try lure fishing from the river mouth for bass. Yarmouth pier is another place you can expect to have a chance at mackerel in summer, as well as the usual pollack and bass you might snag at night. You can also fish from Totland pier, or at least could in the past.
Do you need a rod license to sea fish UK?
You need a rod fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line. You must also get permission from the land owner. You must always carry your rod fishing licence when you’re fishing or you could be prosecuted. Children under 12 don’t need a licence.
What sea fish are in season UK?
Autumn offers the most diversity across UK waters. Warmer water dwellers such as bass, pollock, mackerel, conger eels and wrasse move off to warmer waters while winter species move in, such as cod (particularly around Scotland and northern England), whiting, dab and flounder.
What is Southampton known for?
Southampton is a beautiful place in Hampshire, in the south East of England, known for its natural beauty, maritime heritage and cultural highlights. Southampton is a beautiful place in Hampshire, in the south East of England, known for its natural beauty, maritime heritage and cultural highlights.
Can you fish Southampton Town Quay?
Fish such as mullet, bass and pollock are also thriving in this area of Southampton Water. From all of us at Town Quay thank you for looking after our waters, it is a cause we are very passionate about.
Do I need a licence for Sea Fishing UK?
Do you need a fishing vessel licence? If your vessel is registered in the UK you must have a domestic fishing vessel licence to fish within the UK EEZ for sea fish that will be sold.
Do you need a rod licence for Sea Fishing UK?
You must have a rod fishing licence for England and Wales if you’re fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in: England (except the River Tweed) Wales. the Border Esk region, including the parts of the river that are in Scotland.
Where can I fish in Southampton?
Where can I fish?
- Cromarty Pond. Lordshill (nearby postcode – SO16 8BU) North of the Lordshill Sainsbury’s roundabout.
- Mansbridge Reservoir. (nearby post code SO18 2NH).
- Millers Pond.
- Ornamental Lake on Southampton Common.
- River Itchen.
- Shirley (Icehouse) Pond.
- Fishing in tidal waters.
What fish are in the Solent now?
Fish Species
- Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
- Black Bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus)
- Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)
- Cod (Gadus morhua)
- Herring (Clupea harengus)
- Mackerel (Scomber scomburus)
- Sole (Solea solea)
- Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)
What fish are in the Solent?
How much is UK fishing Licence?
Buy a rod fishing licence for England and Wales
Licence type | Trout and coarse up to 2-rod | Salmon and sea trout |
---|---|---|
1-day | £6 | £12 |
8-day | £12 | £27 |
12-month | £30 | £82 |
12-month – over 65 or disabled | £20 | £54 |
Is sea fishing free in the UK?
Shore fishing is by far the most widely practiced type of fishing due to it being relatively cheap to get started, free and accessible around the vast majority of the coastline of the UK.
What is the most common fish in UK waters?
UK consumers prefer cod and haddock. We eat these fish more than any other nation. This is the fish served most often in our fish & chip shops. Most of this comes from the Icelandic, Norwegian and Barents Seas, where around one twelfth of the total is caught by the British trawler Kirkella.
What are people from Southampton called?
A Sotonian is a person from the city Southampton in Hampshire, England by birth or residence.
Is there beach in Southampton?
Southampton isn’t an area known for its sand, but head to Portsmouth (30 minutes drive) or Bournemouth (50 minutes drive) and you’ll find plenty on offer. The closest sandy type beach to Southampton would be Lepe Country Park Beach which is a mix of both sand and shingle.
Are you allowed to fish the river Itchen?
The fast-flowing stream has a good head of small, wild browns and grayling. This is all bank fishing where it is best to use a rod of around 8ft in the 3 weight range with dry fly or nymph, the latter allowed all season provided they are traditional chalkstream patterns. This is suitable for one rod or two friends.
Can you fish for free in England?
In the strict legal sense, the public only has a right to fish for free in the officially recognised fully tidal parts of rivers and in the sea, except where an individual owns a private right of fishery.
How much is UK fishing licence?
Are there sharks in the Solent?
The Solent and Wight area has been highlighted as a shark and ray hotspot and provides a pupping ground for smoothhound, tope and possibly thresher shark. The area also provides a nursery ground for a number of other shark and ray species.