The Best Fishing Spots in Wales
Wales in the United Kingdom offers diverse recreational fishing across rugged coastline, sheltered estuaries, upland rivers and reservoirs, making it excellent for sea fishing, game fishing and coarse fishing. Anglers chase wild Atlantic salmon, sea trout and brown trout on famous runs like the Usk and Teifi, while upland lakes and reservoirs produce stocked rainbow trout and fit brown trout. Along the coast expect summer shoals of mackerel and sport for bass, pollack, wrasse and winter cod, plus flatfish such as plaice and turbot from piers and shorelines. Inland waters also offer coarse species like carp and pike, giving anglers year-round variety and scenic settings for both shore and boat trips.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Abergele
(1 km to coast)
Aberkenfig
(14 km to coast)
Aberystwyth
(1 km to coast)
Bangor
(1 km to coast)
Barry
(2 km to coast)
Bedwas
(20 km to coast)
Bethesda
(9 km to coast)
Bridgend
(10 km to coast)
Briton Ferry
(3 km to coast)
Broughton
(17 km to coast)
Buckley
(13 km to coast)
Burry Port
(1 km to coast)
Caerleon
(9 km to coast)
Caernarfon
(1 km to coast)
Caerphilly
(19 km to coast)
Caldicot
(1 km to coast)
Cardiff
(5 km to coast)
Cardigan
(3 km to coast)
Carmarthen
(14 km to coast)
Chepstow
(4 km to coast)
Clydach
(11 km to coast)
Coity
(14 km to coast)
Colwyn Bay
(1 km to coast)
Cwmafan
(7 km to coast)
Cwmbran
(17 km to coast)
Deeside
(8 km to coast)
Deganwy
(1 km to coast)
Dinas Powys
(5 km to coast)
Flint
(3 km to coast)
Gorseinon
(3 km to coast)
Haverfordwest
(6 km to coast)
Hawarden
(12 km to coast)
Holyhead
(2 km to coast)
Holywell
(5 km to coast)
Llandaff
(9 km to coast)
Llandudno
(1 km to coast)
Llanelli
(1 km to coast)
Llangefni
(14 km to coast)
Llantwit Major
(3 km to coast)
Maesteg
(15 km to coast)
Magor
(4 km to coast)
Menai Bridge
(1 km to coast)
Milford Haven
(1 km to coast)
Mold
(14 km to coast)
Neath
(9 km to coast)
Newport
(5 km to coast)
Pembroke
(5 km to coast)
Pembroke Dock
(1 km to coast)
Penarth
(1 km to coast)
Pencoed
(18 km to coast)
Pontarddulais
(8 km to coast)
Porthcawl
(1 km to coast)
Prestatyn
(0 km to coast)
Pyle
(5 km to coast)
Radyr
(15 km to coast)
Rhiwbina
(13 km to coast)
Rhoose
(0 km to coast)
Rhyl
(1 km to coast)
Risca
(16 km to coast)
Swansea
(1 km to coast)
Taibach
(2 km to coast)
Tenby
(1 km to coast)
Thornhill
(13 km to coast)
Undy
(3 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Swansea Bay
A broad, gently shelving bay famed for summer bass, shoaling mackerel, and autumn runs of ray and smoothhound; winter can see codling and whiting from the beaches, while boats drift for turbot and gurnard; easy access from Mumbles to Port Talbot .
Rhossili Bay
A sweeping surf beach delivering prime bass through summer and autumn, plus winter whiting and occasional codling; evening flood tides are productive, with additional rock marks around Worm’s Head and Hillend .
Oxwich Bay
Sheltered Gower bay famed for summer bass, mackerel, and bream, with evening tides producing good surf action; kayak and small boats drift for turbot and gurnard; nearby marks at Three Cliffs Bay and Port Eynon broaden options.
Menai Strait
The tidal races of this narrow strait produce superb sport for pollack, wrasse, coalies, and summer bass, with boat drifts over reefs and wrecks highly productive; shore anglers target eddies near bridges and rocky points; access hubs include Bangor and Menai Bridge .
Colwyn Bay
Easily accessed North Wales shoreline where summer brings mackerel and evening bass, with autumn plaice and winter whiting; headlands and piers near Rhos-on-Sea and Old Colwyn broaden the range of marks.
Cardigan Bay
Known for summertime shoals of mackerel, with boat and shore fishing for bass, tope, and smoothhound, plus winter whiting and inshore codling in colder snaps; popular bases include Aberystwyth and Aberaeron .
St Brides Bay
Open Atlantic bay delivering hard-fighting pollack, wrasse, and summer bass, with boat access to reefs off St Davids Head ; shore anglers find mixed ground and sandy coves from Newgale to Solva .
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
River Wye
A classic mixed fishery renowned for spring salmon, summer barbel and chub, and autumn pike; trotting and feeder tactics excel in clear flows, while lure fishing scores in lower water; popular stretches span Monmouth to Hay-on-Wye .
Lake Vyrnwy
A scenic upland reservoir with strong wild and stocked brown trout fishing, best on traditional wets and dries drifted from boats; summer evenings can be electric during hatches, with additional access points around Llanwddyn and the upper River Vyrnwy .
River Usk
Fast, clear water offering superb wild brown trout on the fly in spring and early summer, with renowned runs of salmon after spates; dry flies and nymphs dominate, while spinning scores in higher water near Abergavenny and Brecon .
River Dee
Upper and middle reaches provide quality grayling and trout sport, with lower beats noted for salmon in season; Czech nymphing and spider patterns are effective in clear flows around Llangollen and downstream toward Corwen .
Llandegfedd Reservoir
Well-known big-fish venue offering specimen pike, prolific perch, and quality rainbow trout; spring fly sport is superb, while autumn brings aggressive predator action from boats and banks; close to Pontypool and Cwmbran .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Conwy Bay
Mix of clean sand and rough ground yields summer bass, prolific mackerel shoals, and autumn thornback ray, with winter whiting common; boats target banks and channels off Llandudno , and shore marks line the headlands around Deganwy .
Cardiff Bay
This expansive urban water hosts pike, perch, roach, and seasonal saltwater visitors around the barrage, while summer nearby brings bass and mackerel along the outer edges; warm months favor lure and float tactics, with winter producing deeper-water perch bites; boat charters operate from Penarth , and shore access is plentiful around Mermaid Quay .