dunstanburgh rock's any advice ?

kela66

kela66

Well-known member
im heading up to the castle rocks on friday afternoon but have only ever spun & float fished there before so its my 1st time rock fishing properly . im thinking of tying up some pulley rigs with rotten bottoms and getting some worms, muscle, squid , razor for bait will this be ok ? .any tips would be greatly appreciated especially on casting distances / angles etc . obviously i don't want to know anybodys mark X just a nudge in the right direction ;) many thanks davey
 
Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland. This can be an excellent mark in the summer, huge shoals of mackeral move in under the point during calm weather in the months of July, August and September. The odd large cod can be caught on peeler crab baits from the kelp close in and are worth targeting. Floatfishing and spinning will catch mainly coalfish with the odd surprise pollack and wrasse. The pollack hotspot is the high inner cliff area where a drop net is needed to lift any good fish.

During the winter a South Easterly sea will bring in the cod especially under the cover of darkness. Dunstanburgh is extremely snaggy unless distance casting so be sure to take plenty of weights! In recent years dogfish, the odd conger eel and ling have been caught, target these in the summer though.

Directions: Park your car in Craster village and walk North to the castle, a twenty minute walk, make sure you close all farm gates behind you. When you finally reach the castle walk through the main gate, turn to the right, walk down the steps, then walk along the castle wall and at the end of the field you will see the point. There is no need to pay the admission fee for the castle if you are fishing just give the National Trust guy a nod and a wink and you will be allowed through.
 
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Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle

My favourite spot once upon a time if I was fishing it would be up at the castle no matter what the season, haven't been for a while and would guess the only thing that will of changed is the amount of litter left by fellow anglers. I always opted for the high cliff mark myself but a word of warning take a drop net, and a mate because if you get into a decent size fish you will strugle getting it up the cliff face believe me I know. Been there,done that, got the T-shirt.I think the high cliff mark gives you that slight advantage of retrieving your gear, but you will loose gear no matter what. Bait if its in the fridge take it and if its not buy it, in other words take the lot and try different cocktails find out what the fish are drinking and keep filling their glass. Pulley rig with rotten bottom always a good idea though I have manged to get gear back fishing on 30lb line straight through, each to there own I suppose.Distance don't think that matters so much on the high cliff top mark as like any other rough ground mark.I always park at Craster, by the row of house at the harbour. Bit more sense of security when leaving your car, you will find this is not a problem until the holiday season kicks off.Parking at Embleton golf course on the road I have seen the remains of someones car window so that plus walking to the castle from here means getting up the steep slippery when wet grass hill on which the castle sits. When you get through the castle and you happen to bump into any staff I always found it helps to be polite and ask if its ok to go through, there was a guy who worked at the castle got really annoyed with anglers who didn't ask.
Think that covers everything, only wish I wasn't at work and we could of arranged to meet up. Lets know how you got on.
 
The Walk

The Walk

Hell of a walk:exclam: its only a mile and a quarter from Craster to Castle, Guess it sorts out the men from the boys:rolleyes:
 
big sid said:
My favourite spot once upon a time if I was fishing it would be up at the castle no matter what the season, haven't been for a while and would guess the only thing that will of changed is the amount of litter left by fellow anglers. I always opted for the high cliff mark myself but a word of warning take a drop net, and a mate because if you get into a decent size fish you will strugle getting it up the cliff face believe me I know. Been there,done that, got the T-shirt.I think the high cliff mark gives you that slight advantage of retrieving your gear, but you will loose gear no matter what. Bait if its in the fridge take it and if its not buy it, in other words take the lot and try different cocktails find out what the fish are drinking and keep filling their glass. Pulley rig with rotten bottom always a good idea though I have manged to get gear back fishing on 30lb line straight through, each to there own I suppose.Distance don't think that matters so much on the high cliff top mark as like any other rough ground mark.I always park at Craster, by the row of house at the harbour. Bit more sense of security when leaving your car, you will find this is not a problem until the holiday season kicks off.Parking at Embleton golf course on the road I have seen the remains of someones car window so that plus walking to the castle from here means getting up the steep slippery when wet grass hill on which the castle sits. When you get through the castle and you happen to bump into any staff I always found it helps to be polite and ask if its ok to go through, there was a guy who worked at the castle got really annoyed with anglers who didn't ask.
Think that covers everything, only wish I wasn't at work and we could of arranged to meet up. Lets know how you got on.
Click to expand...

many thanks sid :thumbup:, never thought about the cliff's .as for the walk who care's if its twice as long with a view like that
 
Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle

This travel light idea is a good one but, take with you a spare rod and reel I've been there and seen a mate snap his tip section his days fishing was more or less over luckly it was summer so he could spin/float.If I go to the castle its for quite a few hours and in the summer even longer so traveling light becomes impossible if your there for the day.Word of warning if fishing from the high cliff marks in the breeding season the sea birds can be a nightmare as they hit your line so keep an eye on your rod and don't stray to far from it. I usually fish with two rods out ledgering and in summer have a third for float or spinning dont come across that many problems landing the fish is the major one. When you go through main entrance pass kiosk you can then head across the grass you should see were others have trod before you this brings you to a small opening in the wall go through catch your breath have a cuppa and start catching.
 
Aye watch out for the ghost there.Took this shot back in December 2008

2-62.jpg
 
Spooky

Spooky

The famous Ghost of Greymare Rocks which can be heard from the castle when the air is still screamin "WHERE'S ALL THE F****** FISH GONE":eek:
 
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