There are countless reasons to head to England for a holiday. Old Blighty is the birthplace of legendary bands Queen and the Beatles, and the famous playwright Shakespeare. It's home to iconic landmarks, especially in London, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. Further afield, you'll find Stonehenge, the Angel of the North, Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest, the White Cliffs of Dover, and so much more. What you might not know about though, is the varied fishing on offer.
Types of Fishing
When fishing in England, you'll be doing one of three types of fishing: coarse fishing, game fishing, or sea fishing. Each one offers anglers the chance to try different techniques targeting various fish species throughout the year.
Coarse Fishing
Coarse fishing is the most popular type of fishing in the UK. It covers all freshwater fishing for all species apart from Salmon and Trout. This includes Bream, Carp, Pike, Barbel, Roach, Zander, and more. The skill in coarse fishing comes from attracting the fish with varied lures that they haven't seen before. Carp in particular are notorious for their good memory and learning which baits not to take. This is one of the reasons they are so popular for skilled anglers to target.
Anglers over 13 need a fishing licence when coarse fishing. Note that the fishing season closes between March and June. No matter the time of year, local anglers make it a practice to release any fish they catch.
Sea Fishing
As the name implies, sea fishing happens along the coast. Surrounded by sea, England has plenty to offer anglers. The fishing on the east side of the country is vastly different to that on the west. The west side has warmer waters, due to the Gulf Stream, and therefore more exotic species, such as Wrasse and Blue Sharks. The east side has colder waters from the North Sea, so fish species include the likes of Cod and Whiting. You'll need a full day trip when sea fishing, as you'll be heading out up to 30 miles. A licence is not required when sea fishing in England.
Game Fishing
Game fishing is the third technique used across the pond and is nothing like the game fishing in the US. Game fishing here is all about the Atlantic Salmon and Brown Trout. In England, the waters where these fish live are mostly private, so you'll need a permit and permission to go after them.
How to Prepare
The best time to fish in England is during the summer and winter. There's not a lot of action during the spring. The fish in England thrive when it's cold or hot, not so much when it's mild.
Head over to England for a top-notch fishing holiday. Have a thermos of tea and sandwiches packed, your licence if freshwater fishing, and a camera ready to snap your fish and the landscapes surrounding you. You'll be back fishing again here in a jiffy!