Fishing at Redcar Esplanade & Scars

BeachNorth Yorkshire🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban★☆☆ family

A noted winter cod venue — the rocky Redcar Scars and South Gare Pier produce good cod, whiting and coalfish from autumn through spring.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch → Full fish guide

Species	Season	Method
Cod (Atlantic Cod)	Oct–Mar	Worm and crab baits fished hard on the bottom over the Scars, best at night
Whiting	Oct–Feb	Fish or worm baits cast at range
Coalfish (Saithe)	Oct–Feb	Fish strip fished close to structure
Flounder	Sep–Mar	Small hooks with worm bait fished close in

Tactics

Redcar Scars is the standout cod mark, best fished at dawn or dusk when there's a decent sea running and some colour in the water — cod fishing here is almost exclusively a night-time game, and spring tides with good tidal push outfish neaps. South Gare Pier further along is worth the walk for big winter cod. Take local advice before fishing the Scars for the first time, since some areas can be dangerous underfoot.

Best tide: Spring tides · Best time: Night, autumn through spring

Dogs

Redcar and Cleveland Council's PSPO bans dogs 1 May–30 September on the beach from the Regent cinema to where The Esplanade meets Graffenberg Street — with a similar restriction at nearby Saltburn (Pier to Hazelgrove). Fixed penalty £100. Dogs are welcome outside these dates and stretches. (the page confirms a general Redcar/Saltburn beaches ban but never names the specific Esplanade/Regent cinema/Graffenberg Street boundaries in the mark's note)

Unofficial source: View the supporting source →Not an authority; check current signage.

Access & parking

Coast Road car park on the seafront. Sat-nav: TS10 3RF.Get directions → Family rating: ★☆☆ — The Scars are exposed rocky ground with real footing hazards, especially fishing at night — better suited to confident adults than a casual family outing.

FAQs

What's special about Redcar Scars?

It's one of the North East's best-known winter cod marks — rocky ground that fishes best at night with a bit of colour in the water.

Is Redcar beach dog friendly?

Part of the beach bans dogs 1 May–30 September; outside that window and stretch, dogs are welcome.

Is it safe to fish Redcar Scars?

Take local advice or go with someone who knows the mark first — parts of the ground are uneven and can be dangerous, especially fishing after dark.

Nearby marks

Saltburn Pier

Last updated 16 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.