Approach from the south via Newcastle Emlyn on the B4333, or from the north through Aberystwyth on the A487 taking the right turn onto the B4333. Car parking available near the church, but gets very busy in summer. Walk through the church car park onto the cliff footpath and head right following the path to the marks which are obvious.
GROUND
Fishing is off rocky platforms with steep and difficult access casting onto clean sand at range with some broken ground closer in. There are small deeper coves with rocky ground and boulders either side of the marks. Care needs to be taken here, for big waves can sweep anglers off the rocks if you’re foolish enough to fish here during storms and very unsettled weather.
PROSPECTS
An excellent early thornback ray mark from late March onwards. Bull Huss can be taken at night fishing close in towards the rocks. Some plaice show here during daylight by late April, with May and early June best. Bass can push sandeels tight in to the rocks during June, July and August, but crab ledgered close in to the rocks is the best method. Mackerel, also garfish, will hit float fished mackerel strip or tiny spinners in settled weather right through the summer.
Mullet often work the inshore rock edges and may take baits and spinners. Odd small ballan wrasse can show from the rocky point, and very occasionally a strap conger is taken.
August sees the first whiting move inshore which encourages a secondary run of rays, including small eyed ray which can be caught through to November. Dabs also show in September and can be resident in excellent numbers with 1lb fish not unusual.
Christmas and January sees the best of dabs and the biggest whiting, and dogfish can be relied upon for whole 12 month period. Often in huge numbers.
TIME AND TIDES
Water clarity here goes deep with little local pollution, so daylight fish, save for the plaice, is poor. Dawn and the late evening are the best times for bass, mackerel and mullet. Thornbacks, huss, whiting and dabs are nocturnal. Wrasse take during the day, though early morning is best.
BAITS AND RIGS
The thornbacks eat mackerel strip, squid and lug, but the small eyed’s and huss are best fished for with frozen sandeel. Bass take crab baits, but also silver spinners like Tobies and Dexter Wedges, or small rubber sandeels on a long trace. Wrasse also take crab baits, but being smaller fish lug proves better. Winter whiting and dabs will take lug or fish baits.
Best ray rig is a standard fixed paternoster with a 24-inch (60cms) hook length and a Mustad Viking 3/0. For the whiting, dabs and dogfish, use a three hook rig or a two hook flowing trace and Mustad Aberdeen’s or Kamasan’s in sizes up to 1/0.
WEATHER
Fishes best with just a light southwesterly breeze for the thornbacks, or in settling seas after a blow for the small eyed. Calm, settled seas are best for whiting and dabs, and when spinning for bass and mackerel.
Never fish these rocks when a swell is evident. Unpredictable waves come straight at the rock and with steep rocks behind you you have no where to run.
The post Aberporth Rocks, Ceredigion appeared first on World Sea Fishing - Sea Angling Webzine and Forum.