This is a sand and shingle beach backed by a concrete sea wall. The sea often comes up to the wall on high spring tides, particularly in strong north winds.

The road runs along the top of the wall for about 80 yards and anglers do fish from the footpath.

Groynes are spaced along the beach. A wide gully offers reasonable depth. At around 150 yards a sandbank runs parallel to the beach and at low water waves usually break on it, so it is possible to find gaps and deeper areas. Two hours before and after high or low tide both fish well.

SPECIES

Bass in summer; casting into the surf on the bank at low tide works well. Codling in the gully from November to April and smoothhounds in June. Whiting in autumn, along with some flounders on rough days. Dabs from May to December. A few thornbacks from May to July.

BEST BAITS

Lugworms are used all year, but peeler crabs are the first choice in spring for codling, bass and smoothhounds. Squid or squid/lug cocktails are good for bass. Ragworms take bass and soles. A fresh herring or mackerel fillet will tempt a thornback ray.

TACKLE

The beach is snag free, so 15lb mainline and a 50lb shockleader on a fixed spool or multiplier reel, coupled with a standard surf rod, is fine. A 150g sinker is usually enough, but a strong north-west wind and a flood tide may need 170g to hold bottom. A clipped rigs is needed to reach the sandbank, but flappers are good in the gully.

GETTING THERE

The B1150 coast road runs along the top of the sea wall in the centre of the village. There is plenty of parking. From the A149 at Stalham take the turning for Bacton Gas Sites, or from North Walsham the B1150. The beach fishes well all along, but a favoured spot is in front of the Poacher’s Pocket.

TACKLE SHOPS

Broadland Angling and Pet Centre, 24 High St, Stalham, tel: 01692 580959.
Marine Sports, 21 New St, Cromer, tel: 01263 513676.

Directions : From the A149 at Stalham take the turning for Bacton Gas Sites, or from North Walsham the B1150. The B1150 coast road runs along the top of the sea wall, plenty of parking
Season : Summer for bass, codling from November to April, June for smoothhound, autumn for whiting and flatfish, May to July for ray