Fishing on Walton Pier

Walton Pier is probably one of the most consistent fishing spots along this coastline, and the place to head for if your casting is not as good as it could be. The pier was originally just a short jetty, but was extended in the late 1800s early 1900s to accept the steamships that visited the area. The pier stretches out into the North Sea for just over one mile.

The shelters that were on the pier, and used by many of the local anglers as markers have gone, so to make life a little easier I will describe the pier sections in the following manner shore end, middle and top.

Late Autumn/Early Winter

The first fish to show are normally the whiting, these can be caught all along the pier, a lot of anglers like to fish into the tide, so for a flooding tide fish the left hand side, and the right hand side for the down tide. These early fish are often tempted by using slivers of fish bait to top up the lugworm. When the codling start to show leave off the fish bait and use large lugworm baits on their own. As the codling catches start to build head for the top of the pier, history tells us this is the place to be, many of the pier competitions have been won from this section, and the two corners seem to do particularly well.

One problem that does crop up with pier fishing is how to land a good fish if you are lucky enough to catch one, and the only answer is a good drop net, one that has a bit of weight in it so that it does not drift uncontrollably about. A good deep net is also useful, and if the net has a fine mesh it can be quite enjoyable putting some sort of bait in the net and catching a few shrimps or hermit crabs that can be used to supplement your bait supply if you are a bit short.

The early season rigs tend to be multi-hook, using about size 2 fine wire Aberdeen type hooks, and as the season progresses the hook size is stepped up, but most local anglers will not go above a size 2/0, sticking with the long shank Aberdeen hook. Serious cod fishermen use single hook traces with large lugworm baits or if available peeler crab can work well early in the season. Break-out leads are used by the majority of anglers of between 150 - 170grams, these will deal with almost every tide, strong spring tides may need a little extra to avoid tangles with other anglers.

The actual rigs that are used vary so much, that I have to say try what you like, but make sure it is well tied using good knot techniques, and don’t forget the leader as you will be fishing close to others.

Summer

Summer fishing can be just as exciting with quite a large variety of fish to be caught. Many good bass have been taken on the pier, and a good number of these have come from the shore end, close to the pier. Various methods have been used to catch these bass, the normal bait and sinker method is just one, try using redgills with a little weight about four feet up the line and worked close to the pier. Other methods worth a go are freelining a sand eel, and float fishing, float fishing will often account for some good sized garfish, keep the hook size and bait small and use light tackle and these little fish can give an excellent account of themselves, but only if you use light gear.

Another summer species that visits the pier area is the humble mackerel, and again light tackle and they will give you some good sport.

Other species that can put in an appearance at different times of the year are skate, ray’s, pollock, eels, and mullet, along with other more unusual varieties.

As you can see the pier at Walton offers a good variety of fish, and the methods that go to catching them. You don’t need special equipment normal beach gear will be suitable for most occasions. But you will need a fishing pass for the pier, day permits are available on the pier, you carry on fishing and someone will be round to collect the money, currently £5 a day. A season permit is required to fish night times, these can be obtained from the local tackle shop, again currently they cost £55 a year.

How to get there

Take the B1033 into Walton, follow the main road through the shops, as you reach the seafront turn right, and you will see the pier in front of you. Parking in the summer can be awkward as the area is popular with day trippers.