Ilfracombe pier is one venue that can produce just about every species of fish within UK waters during the course of the year. A few years back their was even rumours of a 30lb+ Sunfish caught by someone fishing for Mackerel!
The pier which is now more of a landing jetty than a pier is very easy to fish, disabled access is superb too. Parking is very easy with the pier backing onto a huge pay and display car park (80p an hour 09.00-21.00) It is also worth remembering that the lower section of the pier will be covered by the incoming tide, so be prepared to move to the higher section
The pier can be effectively broken into three different areas of fishing (see pic below)
1.Clean sand totally snag free
2.Broken ground, mostly sand with rocky patches and kelp beds.
3. Rough ground, lucky to get your weight back (rotten bottoms a must). The fish are generally bigger. Conger hotspot.
WHEN TO FISH
The best time seems to be 2 hours before and after low water and 3 hours before high water. Night fishing always seems to be more productive than daytime fishing.
TACTICS
Float fishing close to the pier wall can be very productive for Wrasse and Pollack with King or Harbour Rag as bait. Keep adjusting your float depth until you find the fish.
For general bottom fishing two and three hook flappers or clipped down work well. The running ledger is also popular as it “nails” your bait to the sea bed. For conger you will want to use a running ledger with a strong wire trace and rotten bottom incorporated.
BAIT
All worm baits, Mackerel and Squid are the top baits but most baits will work to an extent.
