ShoreMarksUK

Whiting

Fish

A slender, silvery member of the cod family with a small chin barbel, a dark blotch at the base of the pectoral fin, and no obvious mottling like cod.

Facts

UK fishing rules

MCRS is 27cm.

Where to catch Whiting (86 marks)

MarkRegionSeasonMethod
AberaeronWalesNov–FebWorm or fish-strip bait cast beyond the harbour bar on a big tide at night.
AbersochWalesOct–JanLugworm or ragworm cast into deeper water off the beach after dark.
Aberystwyth Stone JettyWalesOct–FebBottom-fished lugworm or fish strip over sand/rock mix in colder months.
Aldeburgh BeachEastWinterBait fished after dark
AmrothWalesOct–Febleger tackle with worm or fish strip
BallycastleN. IrelandOct–FebFish bait cast at range
Bangor Pier (Co. Down)N. IrelandOct–JanBottom-fished lugworm or ragworm at range off the pier during the darker winter months.
Barmouth Bridge & HarbourWalesOct–JanBottom-fished lugworm or fish strip from the estuary shore and open beach through autumn/winter.
Barry Island (Whitmore Bay)WalesOct–Janleger tackle with worm or fish strip
Bexhill SeafrontSouth EastOct-FebStandard two-hook flapper with worm or fish bait
Blyth South HarbourNorth EastOct–FebBottom fished worm baits
BorthWalesOct–FebBait fished after dark for winter species as the water cools.
Bridlington South Pier & HarbourNorth EastOct–FebFish baits on simple rigs, size 1 to 2/0 hooks
Brightlingsea (Bateman's Tower)EastWinterBait fished after dark
Bude BreakwaterSouth WestOct–FebLug tipped with squid after dark
Caister-on-Sea BeachEastWinter, calmer seaBait fished, best after dark
Camber SandsSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail after dark
Canvey Island (The Point)EastWinterBait fished, big bags reported at night
Cardiff Bay BarrageWalesNov–Febleger tackle fished at night around the white pole and pink hut areas
Cemaes BayWalesNov–FebBottom-fished lugworm or mackerel strip from the beach and breakwater through winter.
Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset)South WestOct–FebFish bait fished hard on the deck for reliable winter sport.
Clacton PierEastOct–DecMackerel or bluey strip on size 1 hooks during the autumn shoals
Cley-next-the-Sea BeachEastAutumn–winterBait fished after dark
Colwyn BayWalesOct–Janfine wire hooks with lugworm or fish strip cast beyond the bar
Conwy QuayWalesOct–Janleger tackle baited with worm or squid on the flood
Crackington HavenSouth WestOct–FebBait fished (worm or fish strip) over clean sandy ground directly off the beach.
CricciethWalesSep–Marfish strip or squid on a simple leger through autumn and winter
Cromer PierEastOct–DecCrab or lugworm/squid cocktail on a two-hook flapper rig off the pier end as autumn shoals arrive.
Cushendun BeachN. IrelandYear-roundBottom fished bait
Dover Admiralty PierSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail cast beyond the tide race after dark
DungenessSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail, best 3hrs either side of low water
Eastbourne SeafrontSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail cast from the beach after dark
Felixstowe (Landguard)EastNov–FebRag or lug cast at range
Folkestone Mole & Copt PointSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail cast beyond the groynes after dark
Frinton-on-SeaEastOct–FebLug tipped with fish or squid
Great YarmouthEastNov–MarLug or rag; fish the gullies and undulations
Groomsport Harbour & Orlock HeadN. IrelandOct–FebFish or worm bait cast at range
Hartland QuaySouth WestNov–FebBait fishing with fish strip on a simple paternoster from the harbour ledges in colder months.
Hartlepool HeadlandNorth EastNov–MarFish or worm bait cast into darkness
Harwich Ha'penny PierEastAutumn–winterBait fished after dark, short casts off the pier end
Hastings StadeSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail after dark
Hayling Island Seafront (South Beach/Eastoke)South EastOct-FebStandard flapper rigs at night
Herne BaySouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail after dark
Largs Pier & Shingle PointScotlandNov–FebLugworm or mackerel strip fished hard on the bottom in the colder months.
Lee-on-the-Solent SeafrontSouth EastOct-MarStandard rigs, best after dark
Llandudno PierWalesOct–Jan (historic)Bottom-fished lugworm/fish strip after dark, historically the pier's best winter target.
Loch Linnhe Picnic Site, LochaberScotlandLate winter–JanLugworm or mackerel strip fished on the bottom; local reports rate this the best time of year here.
Looe Harbour & Banjo PierSouth WestNov–FebBait fished (lugworm) at night from the quay in winter.
Lowestoft South BeachEastOct–JanLug or rag cast into darkness
Lymington Town Quay & Pennington WallSouth EastYear-round, best autumn-winterFished from the Town Quay early morning or at night
Margate Harbour ArmSouth EastOct-FebBottom rigs with fish or worm bait
Mumbles PierWalesOct–Feb, after dark (historic)Bottom-fished lugworm or fish strip for winter whiting and codling.
Mundesley BeachEastAutumn–winterBait fished after dark
Nell's Point (Barry Island)WalesOct–DecTwo/three-hook paternoster with mackerel strip or cockle, fished on cold, settled nights
Newbiggin-by-the-SeaNorth EastOct–FebBottom fished worm baits
Newcastle Harbour, Co. DownN. IrelandOct–FebFish bait cast at range
Paignton PierSouth WestAutumn–winterBottom fished worm or fish bait
Penarth PierWalesOct–Jan, especially after darkRunning or two-hook flapper rigs with worm or fish strip in autumn/winter.
Pevensey BaySouth EastSep-DecStandard flapper rigs, arrives in numbers late summer/autumn
Porthcawl BreakwaterWalesOct–JanTwo/three-hook paternoster baited with small strips of mackerel or herring, fished on frosty, settled nights
Portstewart HarbourN. IrelandOct–FebBottom fished bait
Praa SandsSouth WestOct–Feb (whiting), Jun–Sep (sole)Worm bait fished on a simple flapper rig.
Prestatyn BeachWalesOct–Janfish strip or lugworm cast beyond the bar
Ramsgate Royal Harbour (East Pier & Harbour Arm)South EastOct-FebBottom rigs with fish strip after dark
ReculverSouth EastOct–FebLug/squid cocktail from the sea wall
Redcar Esplanade & ScarsNorth EastOct–FebFish or worm baits cast at range
Roker PierNorth EastNov–FebTwo-hook rigs with worm bait; can come in huge numbers on winter nights.
Saltburn PierNorth EastFeb–Mar (peak)Small-hook flapper rigs with worm bait; big bags possible on calm, frosty nights.
SaundersfootWalesOct–Janleger tackle with fish strip or worm
Saunton SandsSouth WestNov–FebWorm/fish-strip cocktails, best on calmer winter days or after onshore blows.
Scarborough South BayNorth EastOct–FebLug or fish strip cast onto the sand in either bay
Seaham HarbourNorth EastOct–FebPennell-pulley or fixed paternoster rig with worm bait
Shoeburyness East BeachEastAutumn–winterBait fished, plentiful most sessions
Slapton SandsSouth WestOct–FebWorm/fish-strip cocktails fished on the bottom through autumn and winter.
South Shields PierNorth EastOct–FebMulti-hook rigs with worm bait fished on the bottom.
Southend PierEastOct–JanSmall strips of squid or lugworm on a two-hook flapper rig from the pier head.
Southsea SeafrontSouth EastNov–FebLugworm or ragworm on a two-hook flapper cast just beyond the surf on winter evening tides.
Southwold PierEastSep–NovLug tipped with fish or squid takes the bigger fish
Splash Point, RhylWalesOct–FebMackerel or bluey strip fished hard on the bottom through the winter months.
Walton-on-the-Naze PierEastOct–DecSmall baited hooks on a flapper rig as whiting shoals move inshore in autumn.
Wanson MouthSouth WestNov–FebBait fishing with fish strip or worm on a standard flapper rig after dark on the flooding tide.
West MerseaEastOct–FebDeeper water off Mersea Stone on the flood
Westward Ho!South WestNov–FebSmall fish-baited rigs fished into winter surf.
Whitby West PierNorth EastOct–JanSmall-hook rigs baited with worm strips as cod move inshore in autumn.
Widemouth BaySouth WestOct–FebLug/squid cocktails after dark
Woolacombe BeachSouth WestOct–FebMulti-hook rigs baited with worm or fish strip, fished after dark on calmer winter tides.

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