How to Read a Beach for Fishing - Finding the Fish
There's an old saying I often repeat to myself when heading out fishing, particularly when I'm blanking: 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. Learning to read a beach is one of the most important skills in finding that 10%.
And there's a lot of truth in that saying. After all, one thing is certain: if you're fishing where there are no fish, you're not going to catch anything!
Vast stretches of our rivers and coastal waters can appear almost empty of fish. That's not to say the fish aren't there, but rather that they're often concentrated in particular areas.
Any experienced trout or salmon angler will tell you the importance of reading a river. You look for runs, riffles, overhanging trees, undercut banks and other features that provide fish with shelter and a steady supply of food.
Beach fishing is no different.
Learning to read the seabed is just as important as learning to read a river. Sandbanks, gullies, channels and changes in depth can all influence where fish travel and feed.
The trick is knowing what to look for.
Learning to Read the Beach
When I first started trying to properly understand beach features and fish behaviour, I spent a lot of time researching, reading articles and watching YouTube videos.
There was plenty of information out there, but one particular angler managed to explain it in a way that really made sense to me.
His name is Rich Troxler.
Rich has an excellent way of explaining how the seabed works, why fish favour certain areas and how tides and underwater features influence their movements.
More importantly, he explains how these features affect the feeding habits of predatory fish, including bass and cod — two of my favourite species to target when sea fishing.
His explanations helped me understand what I should actually be looking for when arriving at a beach, rather than simply choosing a spot and hoping for the best.
Three Videos Worth Watching
Below are the three Rich Troxler videos that helped me the most.
If you're new to beach fishing, or you've been fishing for years but want to improve your ability to locate fish, I'd highly recommend taking the time to watch them.
Hopefully, you'll find them every bit as useful as I did.
And remember, finding the fish is half the battle. The more you understand about the ground you're fishing, the better your chances of putting a fish on the beach.
I'd love to hear what you think. Have these videos helped you understand beach fishing a little better? Or have you any tips of your own for reading a beach?
Leave a comment below, and feel free to share the article with anyone who might find it useful.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
