The Vale of Glamorgan is said to be where King Arthur reached Wales from England. The Vale certainly has similar wild and rugged landscape to the northern planes of Cornwall. The gulls around the Vales' high foreboding cliffs would have heralded Arthur's looming demise. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast now guards more peaceful towns and villages, offering a friendly welcome and relaxing time to any passing traveller spellbound by their ancient charm. The river Thaw is the major river that winds down through the Vale into the sea and can be fished as both game and coarse. The Vale of Glamorgan contains some excellent independent fisheries. South Edition Order your copy Now Clive Branson's Fishing Guide to Wales and the Borders   By popular demand from visiting anglers I have been asked on many occasions “Where best to go fishing including best facilities such as refreshments, toilets, disable access etc” Therefore I have introduced for each venue within the guide my personal 1-5 star rating *****. Including my personal views, helping anglers decide where best to experience this great sport of ours. I recommend that you phone first and check details before setting out. You will need a valid Environment Agency rod licence to fish at any venue listed Also check out the easy to navigate post code

COARSE / GAME / SEA

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COARSE

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Venue; CADOXTON PONDS

Location; Situated lower Barry Cadoxton Barry dock
Owner Permit; Glamorgan A/C
Availability; Season Tickets
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Tench, Carp, Roach, Rudd, Perch, Carp, Eel, Pike
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Additional information; No night fishing.
Star Rating **

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Venue; DUFFRYN SPRINGS

Location; On the Western outskirts of Cardiff close to Culverhouse Cross and Duffryn Gardens
Sat Nav CF5 6SU
Owner Permit; Duffryn Springs
Availability; Day or Season tickets on site. 3 Coarse lakes 3 Trout Lakes
Tel; 02920 595929
Fish Species; Roach, Carp, Tench, Bream, Perch, Grass Carp, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Tripoid trout.
Web Site; www.dyffrynsprings.co.uk
Additional information; Dyffryn Springs is a new fishery on the western outskirts of Cardiff within two minutes of Culverhouse Cross and five of Junction 33 of the M4. The Fishery is situated in the beautiful open countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan in the small village of Dyffryn. There are currently six lakes on site: Waycock, Thaw, Goldsland, Reservoir, Wallace and Worleton. These are all fed from our own springs providing the highest quality water. Trout Fishing Tuition is available with our resident instructor Mat Holloway who is a qualified institutor holding the Salmon and Trout Association's National Instructors Certificate. Tuition must be booked in advance
Star Rating ****

Venue; SEVEN OAKS FISHERY

Location;  Just of the A48 at Cowbridge to Pontyclun road
Sat Nav CF72 9JU
Owner Permit; Seven Oaks Fishery Contact Mr Mrs Rosier
Availability; Day Season tickets One 2 acre Lake
Tel; 01446 775474
Fish Species; Carp, Bream, Roach, Tench, Grass Carp
Web Site http://www.sevenoaksfishfarm.co.uk/
Additional information; For Sale see http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32768947.html
Star Rating ****

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Venue; GRIBBLES COVERT

Location; Situated adjacent to road to Atlantic College and St Donats
Owner Permit; Glamorgan Anglers A/C
Availability; Day Season tickets from Local Tackle shops
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Roach, Rudd, Carp, Tench, Grass carp
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Additional information; 3/4 acre stillwater Lake
Star Rating ***

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Venue; HAZEL COURT PONDS

Location; Situated at Llysworney, B4268 Near Cowbridge
Sat Nav; CF71 7NQ
Owner Permit; Hazel Court Fishery
Availability;6 Ponds Including Catfish pond Day Tickets on the bank
Fish Species; Barbel, Bream, Carp, Catfish, Chub, Common Carp, Eel, Ghost Carp, Hybrid, Ide, Koi Carp, Mirror Carp, Orfe, Perch, Roach, Roach-Bream, Rudd, Rudd-Bream, Silver Bream, Tench
Web Site http://www.hazelcourtponds.co.uk
Additional information; Season: 31st March - 31st October Day ticket 2 rods £7, 3 rods £10, 24 hours £15, Catfish Lake Day £10, 3 rods £13, 24 hours £20. Parking -Disabled access -Toilets -Refreshments -Bait shop
Star Rating ***

Venue; LLANTRITHYD LAKE

Location; Situated 1.5 miles from A48 from Cowbridge to Cardiff road, near Llantithyd Village
Owner Permit; Glamorgan A/C
Availability; Day Season Tickets from local tackle shops
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Tench, Carp, Roach, Rudd, Perch, Carp,Eel
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Additional information; No night fishing. More information from club secetary M Roberts, 4 Heol Don, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 2AU
Star Rating **

Location; Situated in Woodland near St Donats
Owner Permit; Glamorgan A/C
Availability; Contact local tackle shops
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Carp, Tench, Perch, Grass Carp, Roach, Bream
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Additional information; 4 acre Lake
Star Rating ***

Venue; St Y NYLL (Top Pond)

Location; Situated to the West of the A4232 Cardiff Link road near to M4
Owner Permit; Glamorgan A/c
Availability; Season tickets only
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Roach, Eel, Carp, Rudd, Tench, Pike
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Star Rating **

Location; Close to Treos Village
Owner Permit; Glamorgan A/C
Availability; Day Season Tickets Local Tackle shops
Tel; 02920 619828
Fish Species; Roach, Rudd, Carp, Tench, Eel, Bream, Perch
Web Site www.glamorgananglersclub.org.uk/
Star Rating **

Venue; EAST ABERTHAW LAGOON

Location; On the estuary of the River Thaw
Owner Permit; NCB
Availability; Fishing from beach bank only
Fish Species; Roach, Rudd, Carp, Tench, Eel, Bream, Perch
Web Site  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/848197
Additional information; A Nature reserve close to aberthaw beach
Star Rating **

Venue; WARREN MILL

Location; One mile from A48 at Bonvilston
Sat Nav CF71 7US
Owner Permit ; Warren Mill Fishery Contact Howard Fairfax
Availability; On Bank
Tel; Mr Fairfax 01446 781274
Fish Species; Roach, Rudd, Bream, Carp, Perch, Eel, Crucian carp
Web Site; http://www.warrenmillfarm.co.uk/
Additional information; Family Day out with Farm animals
Star Rating ****

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GAME

To the Top

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SEA

To the Top

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Locations; Penarth, Barry, Rhoose

An excellent early season flounder venue fishing best from mid January through until late March. Fish average about the pound, but genuine 2lb fish are also taken. Bass start to work the rocks on the left hand side of the estuary mouth by mid April, with mullet moving in to the estuary channel in early May and garfish feeding around the outer sandbanks. Thornbacks feed either side of the estuary on the clean ground from late April on. May to August gives good eel fishing and the flounder are back and fattening up. In September, fishing straight off the rocks finds whiting, dabs, bass, mullet, and longer casts have produced small turbot and plaice. October through to Christmas sees most anglers chasing flounder, but big bass stay around the rocks and the mullet are late to leave in milder years.

TIDES For the flounder, choose the medium to neap tides. For the bass, rays, etc, fish the spring tides, especially low water which is excellent for bass. Spring tides off the rocks gives the best chance of rays and turbot.

WEATHER Avoid periods of heavy rain when the estuary carries heavy flood water and fishes poorly. The rocks at the estuary mouth are good in a steady southwesterly wind for the bass, but it needs to be calm for the whiting, rays and flatfish.

BAITS In the early year, harbour rag or king rag baits left to move in the water take the flounder. Crab is best for the bass. A mackerel strip on a rolling lead or float fished in the current takes the garfish and occasional mullet. Fish sandeel, mackerel and squid at long range for rays, whiting and turbot. From summer to Christmas for flounder change to crab baits.

TACKLE AND RIGS A 10-foot spinning rod, small fixed spool and just 10lb line covers all the flounder fishing, eels and school bass. For bassing off the rocks, pick a light beachcaster rated for 4ozs, and a reel loaded with 15 to 18lb line. A proper 5-6oz beachcaster is needed for the rays, whiting, turbot, etc.

A single hook clipped down paternoster, or a long and low single hook rig armed with a Mustad 3261BLN Aberdeen size 2/0 to 6/0 or similar is best for the rays. Fish a three hook rig with 12-inch (30cm) hook lengths for whiting and flatfish and a size 1 Aberdeen. For bass use a single hook rig with a weak link to the lead and an 12-inch (30cm) hook length with a Mustad Bass 79514 size 4/0. Flounder take best with a flowing trace rig and 18in hook length. Aberdeen hooks are best for flounder.

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Chartered Fishing Trips from Porthcawl

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