This beach is on the northern edge of Workington behind the pit bank at the village of Siddick. It is mainly mussel beds with patches of stone and sand, with low water on big tides revealing areas of kelp.

The beach fishes from two hours before low water down to low and right through the tide to two hours after high. If the tide is too rough there are areas of the beach where the tide will push right up to the pit bank at high water.

SPECIES

Best fishing for plaice is from the end of March to the end of May. Summer is usually poor, producing only a few flounders and eels. September and October see the return of plaice when it is calm, while September to January gives good bags of codling to 2lb 8oz, particularly in darkness and a southwesterly wind.

Other species are coalfish, whiting, dogfish, and occasional bass and conger eels.

BAIT AND TACKLE

Spring and autumn plaice require lug tipped with rag or white rag, but peeler crabs take their share of fish. Use peeler crabs or lug in early winter for codling. Later in winter the crabs lose their edge so stick with lug.

Use a standard beach rod and reel loaded with 20lb line and a shockleader.

A two-hook rig, either a flapper or clipped down, armed with size 1/0 fine-wire hooks takes plaice, but step up to size 3/0 for codling. A grip lead weight is required most of the time to combat the strong tide.

GETTING THERE

Take the A596 through Maryport and Flimby towards Workington. About a mile out of Flimby, there is a sewage farm on the right-hand side. Just past this and opposite the Seaton turning on the left, you turn right down a lane and park at its end. Walk over the bank and across the railway track. The beach is from the pipe on your left south to the slag bank.

Alternatively, travel through Siddick to the roundabout and take the third turning towards the docks. Pass the dock turning on your left and take the next turning right. There is a car park at the end of this road and then you walk over the top of the slag bank to the beach; it takes 10 minutes.

A lot of locals park in Siddick and cross the railway track to go over the bank, but there is no official crossing here and if caught you are liable to a hefty fine.

TACKLE SHOP

Graham’s Guns and Tackle, 9-12 South William St, Workington, tel: 01900 605093.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm.
Bait: Live ragworms and frozen bait.

Directions : Take the A596 through Maryport and Flimby towards Workington. About a mile out of Flimby there is a sewage farm on the right. Just past this and opposite the Seaton turning on the left, you turn right down a lane and park at the end. Walk over the bank and across the railway track
Season : March to May and September and October for plaice, September to January for codling