Fishing at Nell's Point (Barry Island)

Rock point / headlandVale of Glamorgan🐾 Dog-friendly all year★★☆ family

The headland east of Whitmore Bay with an easy footpath right around it, Nell's Point is Barry's most reliable autumn-winter mark — work the tidal current at low water for the better cod, but keep an eye on the tide as the route back can flood for hours.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch

Species	Season	Method
Bass	May–Oct	Lure fished (soft plastics, small poppers) around the point on the push, or float-fished sandeel/crab
Wrasse	May–Sep	Float-fished ragworm hard against the kelp-covered rocks on the rising tide
Whiting	Oct–Dec	Two/three-hook paternoster with mackerel strip or cockle, fished on cold, settled nights
Cod	Nov–Feb	Single hook rig with a big lugworm/squid cocktail cast into the tidal current at low water on the ebb, especially on tides over 12m
Conger eel	Jun–Oct	Heavy gear with a whole mackerel or squid bait fished close to the rocks after dark

Tactics

Fish around three hours either side of high water, with the ebb tide usually most productive for cod. Bigger tides fished at night produce best, and cold, frosty, settled nights are prime for whiting.

Best tide: 3 hours either side of high water, ebb tide favoured; tides above ~12m best · Best time: Night, especially cold and frosty settled conditions in autumn/winter

Dogs

Nell's Point is a headland/rock area, not the sand beach itself, so it isn't covered by Vale of Glamorgan Council's seasonal dog ban. Dogs are only banned specifically from the Whitmore Bay sandy beach between 1 May and 30 September; the Nell's Point path/rocks are dog-friendly year-round.

Access & parking

Follow signs to Barry Island, cross the causeway on Breaksea Drive, turn right into Friars Road then left into Redbrink Crescent; a path leads down to the beach and around the headland. Sat-nav: CF62 5TT.Get directions → Family rating: ★★☆ — A constructed footpath makes access around the headland comfortable, but ground gets rougher further round the point, and the route back can be cut off by the tide for hours.

FAQs

Is Barry Island dog friendly for fishing at Nell's Point?

Yes — the seasonal dog ban only covers the sandy Whitmore Bay beach (1 May to 30 September); the Nell's Point headland and rocks aren't part of that ban.

What's the best time to fish Nell's Point for cod?

Target the ebb tide, three hours either side of high water, on a bigger tide and preferably a cold, settled night.

Can you get cut off by the tide at Nell's Point?

Yes — the low route back can flood for hours either side of high water, so plan your walk back around the headland path.

Nearby marks

Porthcawl Breakwater · Penarth Pier

Last updated 7 July 2026 — sources & disclaimer

Compiled from angling guides, forums and the relevant council's dog byelaws, cross-checked where possible.

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.