Bass
Fish
A sleek, powerful silver fish with a faint blue-green sheen along the back and two dorsal fins, the second soft-rayed. Young bass often show faint dark spots that fade with age.
Facts
- One of the UK's most prized sport fish — hard-fighting and excellent eating, which is exactly why its stocks are tightly managed.
- Slow-growing and long-lived: a 1kg bass can be 5-6 years old, and specimens over 5kg are decades old.
- Hunts by sight and vibration, often in the surf zone and around structure like rocks, piers and river mouths at dusk and dawn.
UK fishing rules
UK recreational retention is currently capped at 3 fish/day from April to January, with a 42cm minimum size, and catch-and-release only in February-March — this project's own mark pages use these figures. Bass rules are reviewed most years, so confirm the current limit with your IFCA (England), NRW (Wales), Marine Directorate (Scotland) or DAERA (NI) before keeping any.
Where to catch Bass (130 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberaeron | Wales | Apr–Nov | Peeler crab or sandeel fished off the harbour wall and South Beach as the tide pushes in. |
| Abersoch | Wales | Apr–Nov | Soft plastics and lures worked through the rock gullies at Trwyn Cilan and around the river mouth, best at dusk. |
| Aberystwyth Stone Jetty | Wales | Apr–Oct, peak Jun, bigger fish Sep–Oct | Crab bait fished down the sides of the jetty in spring, switching to mackerel head or squid for bigger autumn fish. |
| Aldeburgh Beach | East | Summer | Lure or bait fished tight to the groynes |
| Amroth | Wales | Year-round, best Mar–Oct | surf-fished bait or lures, especially with a good sea running; frequent even through mild winters |
| Balnakeil Bay, Durness | Scotland | May–Sep | Bait or lures fished over the sandy gullies, especially on a push tide |
| Bamburgh Beach | North East | Late summer | Occasional fish taken spinning near the rocks |
| Barmouth Bridge & Harbour | Wales | Apr–Oct | Freelined live sandeel or crab fished hard against the bridge piers and harbour wall on the flood or ebb. |
| Barry Island (Whitmore Bay) | Wales | May–Oct | bait or lures over sand, best worked around the point on the Friar's side |
| Beadnell Harbour | North East | Summer–Autumn | Bait or lures around the harbour and sand |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed / Spittal | North East | Jun–Sep | Spinners, plugs and lures around the Needle's Eye rock marks |
| Bexhill Seafront | South East | Apr-Nov | Crab or lures worked along the groynes |
| Bognor Regis Pier | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures worked around the pier legs, or livebait at the end |
| Borth | Wales | Apr–Nov | Peeler crab, sandeel or lures, best when there is some surf running. |
| Boscastle Harbour | South West | May–Oct | Lure or livebait fished around the harbour entrance and outer walls on a moving tide. |
| Bossiney Haven | South West | Apr–Nov | Lures or soft plastics worked through the gullies on the rising tide, or float-fished crab tight to the rock edges after dark. |
| Brightlingsea (Bateman's Tower) | East | Summer | Lure or bait fished around the tower on the flood tide — a well-established local bass mark |
| Brighton Marina West Arm | South East | Apr–Nov | Float-fished live prawn or peeler crab on a running ledger in the lower bays (1-8), best on a rising tide. |
| Brixham Breakwater | South West | May–Oct | Lure fished along the breakwater, best early morning or dusk |
| Broadstairs Viking Bay | South East | May-Oct | Peeler crab or ragworm fished tight to the rocks either side of the bay |
| Bude Breakwater | South West | Apr–Nov | Spinning small lures; schoolies common, 42cm minimum |
| Budleigh Salterton | South West | May–Oct | Fished at the Otter Head end where river meets sea, especially on a flooding tide |
| Caernarfon | Wales | May–Oct | best fished on a rising tide with lures or bait as the strait's current picks up |
| Caister-on-Sea Beach | East | Summer | Bait or lure at low water |
| Camber Sands | South East | Apr–Nov | Lug or squid fished in the surf tables; 42cm minimum |
| Canvey Island (The Point) | East | Summer | Bait or lure at low water, best at night after a southerly blow |
| Cardiff Bay Barrage | Wales | May–Oct | live prawns float-fished, caught in a drop-net baited with fish and hung down the wall |
| Carnoustie Beach | Scotland | Jun–Sep | Bait or lures worked along the tideline after dark or in coloured water. |
| Cemaes Bay | Wales | Apr–Nov | Taken from the rocks and breakwater on livebait, sandeel or lures, especially at dusk on a rising tide. |
| Charlestown Harbour | South West | Apr–Nov | Lure fished from the rocks on the left-hand side of the small beach, particularly at low tide into the first 3 hours of flood. |
| Christchurch Harbour (Mudeford Quay) | South West | Apr–Nov | Rolled ledger weight along the bottom with the current, or lure/spinning by day |
| Clacton Pier | East | May–Sep | Lure fishing between the pier piles; black artificial eels and mackerel fillet fish well |
| Cley-next-the-Sea Beach | East | Summer | Lure or bait close to the drop-off |
| Colwyn Bay | Wales | May–Oct | school bass on lures or bait close to the tideline in summer |
| Conwy Quay | Wales | May–Oct | float-fished mackerel strip or small lures where baitfish gather |
| Crackington Haven | South West | May–Nov | Spun off the rock points, or leger/float-fished straight off the beach on a rising tide. |
| Criccieth | Wales | May–Sep | lures or bait over the mixed ground west of the castle |
| Cromer Pier | East | May–Oct | Livebait, lures or bait fished tight around the pier supports, particularly on darker evenings. |
| Crooklets Beach | South West | Apr–Nov | Sand eel or peeler crab fished hard on the bottom after dark in the surf. |
| Cullercoats Bay | North East | Jun–Sep | Lures or bait worked around the harbour entrance |
| Cushendun Beach | N. Ireland | Occasional, summer | Lures or bait |
| Deal Pier | South East | Apr–Nov | Fresh bait or lures from the beach either side of the pier; 42cm minimum |
| Dornoch Beach | Scotland | May–Sep | Lures (soft plastics/spinners) or bait fished over the gullies as the tide pushes and drops |
| Dover Admiralty Pier | South East | Apr–Nov | Livebait or a large lure fished off the outside wall on the flood, 42cm minimum |
| Duckpool | South West | Apr–Nov | Soft plastics or peeler crab worked around the rocky outcrops either side of the cove. |
| Dungeness | South East | Apr–Nov | Fresh lugworm fished 20–100yd early season; lures over high water in summer, 42cm minimum |
| Eastbourne Seafront | South East | Apr–Nov | Bait or lures from the beach either side of the pier; 42cm minimum |
| Exmouth Beach & Exe Estuary Mouth | South West | May–Nov, best Sep–Nov | Freelined sandeel in the ripping tide off the slipway near the lifeboat station, or fresh lugworm at Rodney Bay from September onwards. |
| Felixstowe (Landguard) | East | May–Sep | Bottom-fished bait or lures/spinners worked around Landguard Point |
| Filey Brigg | North East | Jun–Sep | Increasingly caught on lures/bait in summer as numbers build along this coast. |
| Folkestone Mole & Copt Point | South East | Apr–Nov | Lures worked over the low-water rock ledges at Copt Point; 42cm minimum |
| Fowey Harbour | South West | May–Oct | Lure fished from the rocks either side of the river mouth, the best chance of a decent fish |
| Freshwater West | Wales | Apr–Nov, peak Jun–Oct | Fished after dark in the surf and around the rocky corners on lures, sandeel or a fresh mackerel bait; 42cm minimum. |
| Frinton-on-Sea | East | May–Sep | Fished after dark once the beach empties for the day |
| Great Yarmouth | East | May–Sep | Bottom-fished bait, best after a storm has stirred the sea bed |
| Hartland Quay | South West | May–Nov | Lure fishing the kelp gullies on the flood, or float-fished mackerel/prawn tight to the ledges at dusk; the mark has a reputation for fish into double figures. |
| Hartlepool Headland | North East | May–Sep | Lures or bait worked around the rock edges |
| Harwich Ha'penny Pier | East | Summer | Lure or bait fished in the deep water off the pier |
| Hastings Stade | South East | Apr–Nov | Lugworm fished off the harbour wall at the east end, especially late autumn; 42cm minimum |
| Hayling Island Seafront (South Beach/Eastoke) | South East | Year-round, best Apr-Nov | Best after a SE-SSW blow with slipper limpet washed up |
| Herne Bay | South East | Apr–Nov | Bait or lures from the beach and pier stub; specimens to 12lb recorded, 42cm minimum |
| Hunstanton Cliffs & Beach | East | May–Oct | Lure fishing under the cliffs at dusk and dawn; also caught to bait close in |
| Littlehampton West Beach & East Bank | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures or bait at the river mouth and along West Beach |
| Llandudno Pier | Wales | May–Oct (historic) | Float or lure fished around the pier structure and landing stage on a rising tide. |
| Looe Harbour & Banjo Pier | South West | Apr–Nov | Spinning or plugging from the rocks at the harbour entrance and White Rock (opposite Banjo Pier) on the outgoing tide, especially 2 hours before sunset. |
| Lossiemouth East Beach | Scotland | May–Sep | Lures or bait fished around the river channel and gullies at dusk |
| Lowestoft South Beach | East | Jun–Sep | Lure or bait fished after dark |
| Luce Bay (Sandhead) | Scotland | May–Oct | Fished over the turn of the tide with crab or fish bait, or lures worked close to any surf/gutters. |
| Lyme Regis (The Cobb) | South West | May–Oct | Lure or livebait fished tight to the wall margins on a rising tide |
| Lymington Town Quay & Pennington Wall | South East | Apr-Jun | Lures or bait around the quay and marina |
| Maldon Promenade Park | East | May–Oct, best late Aug onward | Lure or bait fished off the riverbank as the tide floods |
| Margate Harbour Arm | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures and livebait along the arm |
| Marsden Bay | North East | Jun–Sep | Lures or peeler crab worked around the gullies |
| Milford Haven | Wales | May–Oct | lures or bait fished from the marina wall or Gelliswick Bay |
| Millook Haven | South West | Apr–Nov | Spun with soft plastics or small metals over the deep low-water gullies either side of the cove. |
| Montrose Harbour | Scotland | Jun–Sep | Lures or bait fished off the adjacent beaches on a rising tide. |
| Mount Batten Breakwater | South West | Mar–Nov | Soft plastics or peeler crab fished around the rock margins on the flood. |
| Mumbles Pier | Wales | May–Oct (historic) | Fished on sandeel or fish-strip from the platforms on a rising tide. |
| Nell's Point (Barry Island) | Wales | May–Oct | Lure fished (soft plastics, small poppers) around the point on the push, or float-fished sandeel/crab |
| Ness Point, Lowestoft | East | Summer | Lure or bait close to the wall |
| New Quay | Wales | May–Oct | lures or bait fished off the harbour wall or headland |
| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | North East | Jun–Sep | Lures or peeler crab off the open beach |
| Newquay (Towan Beach) | South West | Apr–Nov | Lugworm, crab, squid, mackerel or sandeel cast into the back of the beach, best after dark around low water. |
| Northcott Mouth | South West | Apr–Nov | Bait or lures in the surf tables at dusk |
| Orford Quay | East | Summer | Lure or bait in the river channel |
| Paignton Pier | South West | May–Oct | Peeler crab or live sandeel fished either side of the pier |
| Penarth Pier | Wales | Apr–Oct | Mixed bag on standard bottom rigs or float tactics. |
| Pevensey Bay | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures or bait over low water with a bit of surf running |
| Point Clear, St Osyth | East | Summer | Lure or bait fished around the estuary mouth on the making tide |
| Porthcawl Breakwater | Wales | Apr–Nov | Float-fished sandeel or lure fished (soft plastics/small metals) around the harbour mouth and rock edges on the flood tide |
| Portreath | South West | Apr–Nov | Bacon or fish bait fished in the harbour on the flood, or beachcaster tactics on the open sand at night. |
| Praa Sands | South West | Mar–Nov | Lug, crab or lure fished through the surf gutters, especially dawn/dusk. |
| Prestatyn Beach | Wales | May–Oct | school bass over sand on lures or bait, especially with some surf running |
| Pwllheli | Wales | May–Oct | lures or bait over sand, best with some colour in the water |
| Ramsgate Royal Harbour (East Pier & Harbour Arm) | South East | Apr-Nov | Lure/spinning off the outer wall, livebait at night |
| Reculver | South East | Apr–Nov | Lures or bait worked around the boulders and sea wall; 42cm minimum |
| Rhossili Bay | Wales | May–Oct | worked in the surf, especially productive with an Atlantic swell running |
| Rye Harbour | South East | Apr-Nov | Crab or rag fished at the river mouth on the making tide |
| Salcombe (Bolt Head) | South West | Apr–Nov | Lures or livebait fished tight to the cliffs on a flooding tide, especially dawn, dusk and into darkness. |
| Sandbanks | South West | Apr–Oct | Lure fished around the groynes at night, or fly fished early/late |
| Sandymouth | South West | Apr–Nov | Sand eel or peeler crab fished hard on the bottom after dark, working the gutter cut by the stream at the northern end. |
| Saundersfoot | Wales | May–Oct | lures or bait fished close to the inner wall as the tide floods |
| Saunton Sands | South West | Apr–Oct, peak season | Crab, squid or sandeel cocktail on a pulley pennel fished in the coloured surf, especially first push of the flood and last of the ebb at dawn/dusk. |
| Sheerness Seafront (Barton's Point to Garrison Point) | South East | Mar-Nov | Light beach gear along the wall |
| Sheringham West Beach | East | Year-round | Lure and bait from the mark northwest of the lifeboat station |
| Shoeburyness East Beach | East | Summer | Bait fished, reported locally though less consistently documented than the winter species |
| Shoreham Harbour Arms (East & West Arm) | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures or livebait worked along the arm |
| Sidmouth (Port Royal) | South West | May–Oct | Plugs or lures fished early on summer mornings before the beach gets busy |
| Slapton Sands | South West | Apr–Nov, often best in autumn | Crab, worm or lure fished close over the steep shingle drop, especially dawn/dusk/after dark. |
| Southend Pier | East | May–Nov | Live or fresh bait (sandeel, peeler crab) fished off the pier head into deeper water, better after dark. |
| Southsea Seafront | South East | Apr–Nov | Peeler crab or soft plastics/lures worked close in, especially into Langstone Harbour on the warming tide. |
| Southwold Pier | East | Jun–Sep | Lure fished at the harbour entrance, or fish guts/whole squid near the boats for the bigger fish |
| Splash Point, Rhyl | Wales | Apr–Oct | Single-hook pulley rigs with long-shank hooks and lugworm or sandeel, fished on the flooding tide up the groynes. |
| Stranraer Harbour, Loch Ryan | Scotland | Apr–Jan (3/day bag, 42cm min; Feb–Mar catch & release only) | Lures or bait fished around the harbour and loch shore on a rising tide. |
| Swanage Pier | South West | May–Oct | Float fished livebait or lure cast along the pier edge |
| Teignmouth Seafront & Back Beach | South West | Apr–Nov | Float-fished or freelined live sandeel in the estuary current off Back Beach/Polly Steps, or worm/crab baits fished down the outgoing tide from Town Beach. |
| Tenby Harbour | Wales | Apr–Nov | Lure or a livebait/crab bait fished around the harbour mouth and rock ledges at dusk and after dark; 42cm minimum. |
| Walton-on-the-Naze Pier | East | May–Oct | Two- or three-hook paternoster with rag or peeler crab around the pier entrance and lifeboat station area. |
| Wanson Mouth | South West | Apr–Nov | Fished from the surf gutters on lures or a fish-strip/sandeel cocktail on a running leger as the tide floods. |
| Welcombe Mouth | South West | May–Nov | Lures or a fish-bait cocktail worked through the gullies on a good push of tide and clear Atlantic water. |
| Wells-next-the-Sea Quay & Beach | East | May–Oct | Lure and bait fishing around the harbour mouth and beach on the flood tide |
| West Bay | South West | May–Oct | Float fished or lure fished around the harbour mouth, especially in a lively sea |
| West Mersea | East | May–Sep | Sliding ledger with a big lug or rag bait on a 3/0–4/0 hook, in settled weather |
| Westward Ho! | South West | May–Oct | Lures or crab/worm bait fished in the surf close in, especially where the beach joins the estuary. |
| Whitburn Beach | North East | Jun–Sep | Peeler crab or lures worked around the gullies |
| Whitesands Bay | Wales | May–Oct | worked hard in the surf, especially where the rip runs out by the headland |
| Whitstable Street | South East | May–Oct | Spinning small lures off the exposed spit at low water |
| Widemouth Bay | South West | Apr–Nov | Bait in the surf tables or lures at first light |
| Woolacombe Beach | South West | Apr–Nov | Lugworm or crab on a beachcaster into the surf table after dark, or lures worked around the rocky fringes at dawn/dusk. |
| Worthing Pier | South East | Apr-Nov | Lures or livebait around the pier structure |