Llansteffan has earned itself a well deserved reputation over the years for being a hot spot for bass and flounder fishing. Every year bass to 12lb and flounder to 2-3 lb are caught at marks around the village at all states of the tide. Many fishermen have their own reasons for picking a particular location but if the truth be told most spots from The Tywi Boat Club and Pilroath down to Werle Pt. have produced remarkable and regular fish throughout the years.Popular spots
Pilroath ledges and Pilglas (The Tywi Boat Club)
Both marks fish well at high and low tides a great number of large bass being taken on spinners and lures at low and high tide. Maddies, lug, and King Rag work well here, but for big bass there’s nothing better than live soft or peeler crab.
Front of Car Park and along the Green
This is the most convenient and therefore most popular mark of all. One can park the car within easy walking distance of a suitable pitch and fish the hours that suit you. Flatfish will be the main catch here although large bass and mullet are regularly caught here also. Fishes particularly well on the back tide. For baits see above. Again spinning for flatties at low tide can be very productive towards late summer and the autumn. Flatfish of 2 – 3lb are relatively common here during the autumn.
Y Gegin Fach or First Steps
There is easy access from the path above but care should be taken on the rocks themselves. Again flatties will be the main catch here with the occasional bass. This is one spot that can be easily fished back from the low water mark to high tide. On these beaches it is not unusual to see anglers taking flounder well into diouble figures especially during autumn and early summer as happened on the day Sea Angler decided to pay us a visit!
Second Steps and Scotts Bay
Very good fishing to be had here from the rocks or the beach with bass very much to the fore. Occasionally towards late summer on the higher tides both bass and mackeral can be caught on lures from the rocks.
Y Werle
There are places one can fish on neap tides to high water but you must get local knowledge to do this. All around Y Werle bass abound and at low tide, if the river Taf has remained on Llansteffan side for this particular year, then the rocks in mid-river on Werle point can yield double figure bass from spinner and lures. Another fish which is found here in their thousands is the grey mullet and fantastic sport can be had here with a fly rod. But a word of warning – be careful and watch the tide! Do not let it get behind you so make your way back towards Scotts Bay as soon as tide makes strongly.
Bait
This is always a matter of personal choice, but for bass soft and peeler crab are king although local stocks are being depleted greatly by commercial pickers. Unfortunately this also appears to be happening with the local lug. At the moment there are plenty on the beach but steps must be taken soon to stop the commercial diggers who are becoming a problem. Of course frozen or fresh mackeral will take fish throughout the year.
Cockles and Mussells
With the re-emergence of the cockle beds in recent years both of these baits are proving especially popular to catch flatties, so if your bait looks like running out make sure you’ve picked a few handfuls of them to keep you going in emergency!!
The Fishing Year
Llansteffan fishes well all year but comes into it’s own during the summer and autumn when the bass arrive well inshore in great numbers and the flatties feed voraciously ready for breeding over winter. The winter months will provide flatties, and since the estuary is a protected bass breeding area, even the occasional bass. Whiting are here in numbers throughout the winter and the occasional codling will always be caught also.
Boat Fishing
Boat Angling is not allowed from boats in the estuary from the Old Lifeboat Station Ferryside to a line drawn from Ginst Pt. to Cefn Sidan. This is to protect the Bass Nursery area within the estuary. It is permissible to fish from boats upriver of Ferryside Lifeboat House. If you own a boat, you can obtain temporary membership of the Tywi Boat Club at Pilglas to launch, which will give you access to the whole of Carnmarthen Bay and the Gower coast. Remember this coastline is tidal and unless you are prepared for being out in Carmarthen Bay then you only have about two and a half hours either side of High Water, giving you a total of 5 hours afloat. Starting in Spring you will find record breaking tope and smooth hound in vast numbers, plenty of bass and flatfish, prodigious numbers of ray and skate, plus in high summer shoals of mackeral. On the very highest of tides you will catch even catch mackeral from the rocks in Scotts Bay.
Anglers Shops and Bait Supplies
Anglers Corner, 80 Station Road Llanelli SA15 1AN
01554 773981 anglerscorner.co.uk
Celtic Bait
07581305362 celticbait.com
Fly Shack
38 Swansea Rd, Llanelli SA15 3YT
01554 776001 flyshack.co.uk
Tightlines Direct
72-74 Wind Street, Ammanford SA18 3DR
01269 592380 tightlines.co.uk
West Wales Tackle
8 Lammas Street, Carmarthen SA31 3AD
01267 243900
What’s the best size tide to fish Ferryside Thanks Keith
Most tides are good – big tides tend to bring big bass in. I think a lot depends on how much “fresh water” is in the tide. If we’ve had a lot of rain bass stay way down river near the bay. At the moment plenty of early bass being caught!!!
There is rain for the weekend would I be better under the castle
Can u tell me how to get 2 pilroath ledges please
Park your car on left in small lay-by at the start of Pilglas Straight (just past turning for Pantyrathro Mansion) if you’re coming from Carmarthen. Hop over stile and walk through field – you are then on the marsh and the l;edges are in front of you. Onlt attempt on medium or neap tides. At Spring tides they will flood. Cheers – Phil Edwards
Where is agood place to go fishing for flatties at this time of year
More or less anywhere on the estuary all the way up paste Boat Club at Pills will give you plenty of flatties – even right in front of the beach car park!!! Scotts Bay is good for bass but you can get fatties most anywhere! If you are venturing around Worley Pt etc watch the tides!!!Good luck – Phil Edwards – Site Moderator
Hi,
We are coming to Llansteffan in July for our holiday. The ‘boys’ want to go fishing. Are there any fishing boat trips? They have no equipment so will need this!
Thank you for any help you can offer!
Dear Kate – Only just seen your post – sorry!!! Re fishing trips……I’m aftraid there are no organised trips in Llansteffan but over in Laugharne there is a gentleman with a beautiful boat who does fishing trips and I’m sure he will have tackles etc. His name is Denzil (sorry I don’t know his surname – typically Welsh!!!) and his contact numbers are 07815 428907 / home 01994 427385. I hope you have luck with him and good fishing!!! Phil Edwards – Site Moderator
That’s a wise answer to a tricky qustieon
Hi I’m looking to go fishing tonight and was wondering if there are any mackerel being caught from the beach yet? I don’t go sea fishing regular what’s the best bait to use in llansteffan? Many thanks Dai
I’m afraid there are no mackeral being caught from the beach, not usually till late summer but plenty of bass and flatties. Best bait – crab, lug, and ragworm. For mackeral try Saundersfoot or Tenby harbour wall with feathers or spinners. Good luck!
Hi
We’re staying in Llansteffan next week, is it worth me bringing a spinning rod and a few lures?
Thanks
Tim
Most definitel – the bass are about!! 9lb-er caught near chalets on Ferry Pt a couple of weeks ago!!!
hi does it fish better than the estuary by Carmarthen bay site and what is the best time to fish as the tide is coming in or going out,also best place to fish with a spinner
Hi There
I will be visiting Llansteffan soon and I’m partial to a few mussels. Where would be the best place to pick a few for my tea. I’m aware of tides and can look that up if the best place is at low tide. A marker on google maps would be very helpful.
kind regards Michael
Hi I’m living in ferryside and have been fishing the estuary from the cockle boat all the way to St Ishmaels, I have had loads of flatteys and tiny bass, question is how do I catch a big bass ha? are you local?? Teach me ?
Hi Phil,
We have recently bought Pentrenewydd in Llanybri.
I am originally from Poole, Dorset and grew up catching bass from the quay and flatties from the shore at Bater Park….but that was almost 50 years ago.
I am so excited to have found your page on the Llansteffan site!!
Besides tides, weather and permissible location, are there any other local laws, rules and/or guidelines I need to observe before heading down to the Taff estuary?
I will pull together a map of the estuary and start plotting places mentioned in your responses but for someone getting back into sea fishing, is there a preferred place to start…….or is that just part of the fun!
Thank you……. Am so looking forward to this.
Kind regards
Wayne
Hi Wayne – Sorry I’ve only just seen your post! Big bass will always be caught in this area with peeler or softback crab, or over the past years trolling with redgill lures, tobys and similar will always produce results. (You only tend to get shoalies when you use worm bait.) Biggest bass very often caught with a big bit of mackeral. But be advised! According to the new bass fishing regulations – bass cannot be killed between January and end of June, they must be returned, and after that date you are only allowed to keep 1 fish if over 42cm!!! Also just so I don’t get into trouble – boat fishing for bass within the 3 Rivers estuary is supposedly prohibited, and has been for a few years (not that anyone takes any notice!), and how they can police any of these rules is totally beyond me!!! One place near you which is particularly spectacular for bass and flatties is Cwmcelyn farm on the Taf estuary – I’m sure someone in Llanybri will point you in the right direction. Go to farm and see Geoff or Marina (to be polite!) and if wet leave car there, or if very dry drive thru gate onto marsh/field to the end and fish into river from there. No tide till about 2.5 hrs before High Water and you can only fish there on tides below 7m (Llanelli N Dock Tide Table – P.O. Llansteffan) Plenty of other sites around the area – Werle Pt (only on small neap tides), Scotts Bay, and in front of the Green in Llansteffan.All good. Pil Glas (Tywi Boat Club) good for bass – spinning low tide, and also further up the estuary on High or Low Water. No particular times as I’ve seen bass caught at all states, but usually you need some movement in the water Good luck and tight lines!!!
Phil
Hi we are staying at eureka cotts in llansteffan in june will we be able to fish near by thanks
Hi, very grateful if any one would tell me where is the best place to collect cockles in Llansteffan and how to get there.
Many thanks!
Patrick