Fishing In Whitby

Whitby is famous for?

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Whitby is a well-known and popular base for all types of fisherman, providing the opportunity to catch Mackerel, Coalfish, Pollock, Flounder, Dabs, Whiting, Cod, and Ling
Bass, Eels and crabs. The River Esk also provides the opportunity to fish for sea trout and salmon.

Sea Fishing in Whitby:

May sees the start of the summer season with the weather warming up and the water clearing from the long harsh winter. The charter boats will see the best of the action for cod from the rough ground and wrecks, which lay off Whitby. The use of hokkies, pirks and shads are all common tackle for boat fishing from Whitby.

June, July and August is when it really hots up and anglers of all ages and experience can find something to hook into. The harbour is alive with dabs, flounders and eels; light tackle, fresh peeler crab, worms and mussels will work here. The piers at Whitby start fishing well for mackerel coalfish and Pollock using a variety of artificial lures such as spinners and latex plastics. Catches are at their best when fishing either side of high water on an evening or morning tide. The boat fishing is into full swing with good catches of cod and ling regularly landed. A good number of Halibut were boated last season with the biggest going a massive 50lb. A new port record.
See http://www.wcsa.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/ for more information.

If you are looking for something a bit more challenging then there is always the elusive bass. An 8 to 10ft spinning rod a 4000 sized fixed spool reel and a selection of lures is all that’s needed for one of the fastest growing aspects of shore angling in the UK. Time and patience are tested as you wander around the local rock marks in search of these bars of silver. Bass marks are a closely guarded secret so it’s best to go with your instincts and don’t get disheartened if your first few trips are fruitless.
Check this out for a lot of useful tips on bass fishing in the northeast. http://www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/

September through to March see the bulk of the fishing being focused on cod. The shore anglers need a strong 13ft beachcaster capable of casting up to 6oz to cope with some of the roughest and heaviest terrain on the coast. Popular baits used are peeler crab, lugworms, ragworms, mussel, frozen black lugworm and cart. Whitings also start to show from the beaches and piers. Fish, squid and worms will all catch on calm nights over high water. If its boat fishing you’re looking for, then uptiding is for you. 9ft rods and reels loaded with 30lb line. The use of light 6oz grip leads and bait cast uptide of the anchored boat fishing no more than a mile or two from shore.

River Fishing on the Yorkshire Esk:

Of course if you prefer the pursuit of freshwater species there is the excellent Yorkshire Esk, renowned for its healthy runs of both sea trout and salmon. Whilst most of the fishing rights are in private or club ownership, access to some excellent beats is still possible via day tickets or season passes and there are always the free stretches at Ruswarp, Sleights, Beggars Bridge and Rakes Common which account for some impressive fish every year. Permitted methods are fly, spinning or worm.
The main runs of seatrout and salmon occur in late summer and early autumn when fish can sometimes be seen leaping the various wears and fish passes in their single mined mission to reach the spawning grounds high up in the North York Moors. Early runs of sea trout can also be expected in May if conditions are right.

In addition to the migratory fish, which frequent the river, there is a considerable population of brown trout, which can be found throughout the river system and offer some fantastic sport on fly in the summer months.

The Season runs from the 1st of April each year to the end of September for trout and to the end of October for salmon and sea trout. You will need an Environment Agency rod licence, available from the post office or online, plus whatever local permit / permission applies.

Stillwater Trout Fishing:

The area also benefits from to great still water trout venues. Scaling Dam and Lockwood Beck Trout Fishery. Both are situated on the A171 Whitby to Guisborough road and both offer great sport for brown and rainbow trout. Scaling Dam allows bait fishing, spinning and fly, so is a great spot for younger kids to have a go. It also has a good head of Pike for those feeling a little more adventurous.
Lockwood Beck is fly only and has a limited number of boats for hire as well as some great bankside fishing.

This article was kindly written for The Whitby Seagull by Whitby Angling Supplies. See whitby angling supplies details.

Whitby Angling Supplies have been established since 1971 both with our retail shop in beautiful Whitby and with our fantastic website for on-line sales, service and advice. Our shop is open 7 days a week (from 6am) and offers friendly advice and supplies a variety of sea, coarse and game fishing rod, reels and accessories. We are recommended stockists for Penn, Shimano, Shakespeare, Abu Garcia, Mitchell, Fladen, Masterline Jarvis Walker, Ian Golds, Berkley, Spiderwire, Stren, JRC, Fenwick, Sharpe’s of Aberdeen, Grauvell, Lureflash, Powawalker, PowerPro, Sufix, Ultima and John Wilson. We have 39 years experience of looking after our customers, some of whom came with their dads many years ago to buy their first fishing rod and return today with their own children. We look forward to being of service to you.