20:09
Humber Bank Wall
Humberside
![](3D"INFORMATIONHUMBERWALL_image002.jpg")
THE Humber Estuary is well
Known for turning up huge mat=
ch
bags of flounders, eels, codling, and whiting. The boat fishing is good, too. If you are in need of getting your=
rod
tip rattled, then this is the place to try.
The water in River Humber,
especially around Grimsby to Immingham, is chocolate coloured. However, over the past few years t=
he
quality of the water has improved, thanks to better environmental controls =
for
the surrounding chemical factories.
This in return has had a
beneficial effect on the fishing. From
the end of September, when the whiting arrive, until around the end of April
when the cod and the last of the whiting make off for colder water, sport c=
an
be superb.
As far as summer species go i=
t is
a typical estuary, with flounder and eels, but each year more and more bass=
are
coming up the river. Flounder
fishing can be magic and there are several big matches run along this stret=
ch
each summer.
The beauty about fishing the
river is that you do not have to have rough seas to cope with. There are spots to fish on every b=
ig
tide and areas that you should catch fish on most occasions. There are also very few days when =
the river
is unfishable.
To get here, join the A180 and
take the turning signposted to Immingham and Stallingborough. Keep going an=
d go
straight over two roundabouts, then turn left at the third. In front of you=
is
a big chemicals works, this is Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, go past the
factory and you will see a track, which is the entrance to the wall.
You will see a barrier across=
the
entrance, a normal size car or small van will go under it –
it’s okay to go under this! You then come onto the wall. On smaller tides, go to the left t=
o an
area called the woods.
The Pipes
To the left of the wooded are=
a is
bay 30 – a good place for the bigger fish. Cast towards the large jetty to th=
e left
of you. This is a well-known =
cod
mark, but in the summer, it holds some very good eels. Fish close in with crab in the sum=
mer. If you fish the pipeline at the wo=
ods
give yourself plenty of room as the currents can be quite strong at times a=
nd
your line can easily become wrapped around the pipe. The tide runs to the left as it co=
mes
in, and to the right as it goes out.
The Yellow Cross
The Yellow Cross is popular w=
ith
match anglers on roving matches. There
is a decent tidal flow on even the lowest of tides, especially if you cast a
good distance. It is an out-a=
nd-out
winter mark, and can be a bit of tackle graveyard. Beware of the edge of the tarmac &=
#8211;
it is common to lose fish here. Go
for a stronger main line of around 25lb and a powerful reel like the Penn M=
ag
525 or Daiwa SL20SH.
Bay 26
Bay 26 is the most popular ma=
rk
in the winter and is well known around the county. This bay fills up with water quick=
ly
because it is very deep, and on bigger tides, you may struggle to hold bott=
om
– so cast short. Lugwor=
m and
squid are the most successful baits, although lug tipped with ragworm can a=
lso
be a winner, especially if there are plenty of whiting about.
Courtaulds
Further along the coast is a
stretch called the Courtaulds Straight.&nb=
sp;
This is so named because the factory behind it used to be called Cou=
rtaulds. This mark is only fishable for aro=
und
four hours, two up, and two down. It
fishes well all-year-round, and distance casting can pay off in the winter
months. In the summer, 10 yar=
ds can
be too far as the fish come in to forage around the rocks for food. There is no need for heavy tackle =
here,
either.
The Shallows
This used to be a summer-only
venue and produces some monster eels and, more recently, bass. It is a muddy area and the tide ta=
kes
its time to reach the wall, but do not let it put you off. If it is possible to reach the wat=
er,
simply cast out and feather your line so the lead does not become embedded =
in
the mud. Then give it a quick=
pull
to make sure that it is clear and you can catch from the off. Treble shots are not uncommon on t=
he
first cast!
Novartis Factory
From Novartis to the Huntsman
Tioxide factories you will catch flounder and eels in good numbers, and even
the odd Dover sole. In winter=
, the
Novartis area has been very good for whiting and codling, especially on the
bigger tides fished at distance with lugworm and ragworm baits.
Local Tackle Shops
Humberside Angling Centre, 63=
to
67 Pasture Street, Grimsby. T=
el:
01472 269888.
Sparkes Brothers, 43 Cromwell
Avenue, Grimsby. Tel: 01472 3=
42613.
Cleethorpes Angling Centre, 2=
91
Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes, Tel: 01472 602002.