Where I fish: Gilkicker, Stokes Bay and Browndown

I now live 10 minutes walk from Stokes Bay and although most of my fishing has been done at the Hillhead area I am trying to get to know the bay more intimately. It would be rude not to !
Here's a rough guide to seasons and species as I see it:

Spring: Can see a run of Plaice including quite decent ones – I have had them to over 2lbs 8oz, but in recent times catches have not been brilliant, I suppose due to commercial pressure. As the season advances both spotted and thornback rays can be caught at Gilkicker or Browndown. Flounders can also be caught.

Summer: This is one of those venues that can produce almost anything on its’ day – assuming the magic formula of – right bait + right place + right time + right luck.



A surprise brill of approx 2lb 8oz - Oct 2005

At the east end of the bay is Gilkicker point and at the west is Browndown point. Both have deep water and especially on springs, pretty fierce tides - when weed can be a problem. Both can produce Bass, dogfish, smooth hounds, rays and now and then conger eels (last year the local papers' angling section featured a 30 lb conger caught at Gilkicker – I had an 8lb ‘strap’ last September).
The middle section of the bay has slightly shallower water and less of a tide run and can again produce a few Bass, plaice and sole at marks like the Inshore rescue station, in front the paddling pool and the Alverbank wall.
When the mackerel shoals are around they can turn up anywhere along the bay and sometimes chase whitebait right up to the waters’ edge.



A 4lb bass hits the beach - Sept 2005

Autumn /Winter: Always hopeful of a good run of whiting – last year was quite good from late October. Bass still a possibility to late in the year. Plus usual pout, poor cod and sometimes dabs. Cod are caught from the likes of Gilkicker and Browndown, but, the odds are not high for the individual angler. It is worth sticking it out with a large cocktail bait while fishing for whiting etc. with another rod, as the few that are caught are often of good quality and a big bass is always on the cards. Again flounders can be caught.