Tides
Fish
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Water quality
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Tides
Fish
Marks
Water quality
Log
Alerts

For planning a fishing trip only, not for navigation. Check an official tide table and local conditions before you go.

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Tides
Fish
Marks
Water quality
Log
Alerts

Tides
Fish
Marks
Water quality
Log
Alerts

Smoothhound at Shipload Beach · Tidefinder

Hartland

Shipload Beach

Shore
Deep water 0.4 km out

Beach listed on OpenStreetMap. Species and access haven't been checked yet.

Fish here

BassPeak now
Thornback rayIn season
SmoothhoundMay–Sep
WhitingPeak now

Also caught

Mackerel Jun–Oct
Pollack May–Nov
Ballan wrasse May–Oct
Garfish May–Sep

Location is approximate. Check access and safety locally before you go.

Approximate tides. These come from a sea model and can be up to an hour out in estuaries, so check a tide table before you go.

Fish

Any species
Bass, peak season
Whiting, peak season
Thornback ray, good season
Smoothhound, occasional this month

When

Any time

Science says

Other good times

Summer shark that hunts crabs over sand and mud; strong runs and powerful fights.

Suggested baits

Peeler crab
Hermit crab
Squid

No other good times this week.

Draft profile, not yet reviewed. Based on FishBase: Mustelus asterias and Cefas, Catchwise: A Survey of Marine Recreational Fishing Activity in England and Wales (2026) and General UK sea-angling guidance (to be verified).

Next 7 days

Times are the middle of each turn. The small times underneath are slack water, when the level stays close to high or low.

~ times come from a sea model and can be up to an hour out. There's no tide gauge close enough for our own predictions, so heights aren't shown.

TodayWed 14 OctSprings
1. Low~01:4100:44–02:37
2. High~07:4706:57–08:37
3. Low~13:5212:57–14:47

Top pick this week
Tuesday afternoon
12:00–14:30
40Poor
- 5h into the flood
- Daylight
- Neaps
SmoothhoundLight SE 9 mph
Why this time?
Tide: 5h into the floodPacks move in on the second half of the flood and feed over high water.
Light: DaylightFeed through the day, often best into dusk.
Tide size: NeapsBigger tides tend to bring them close in.
Season: Early or late in the season in OctoberMay to September, peaking in early summer.
Wind: Light SE 9 mphLight enough to fish comfortably, so it costs nothing.
Sea: Moderate (0.8 m waves)Not fussy about sea state unless it gets rough.
Water: Sea 15.8°CComfortable between 12 and 20°C, best around 16°C.
How we score
2nd best this week
Monday afternoon
12:00–12:30
35Poor
- Around high water
- Daylight
- Neaps
SmoothhoundFresh ENE 12 mph
Why this time?
Tide: Around high waterPacks move in on the second half of the flood and feed over high water.
Light: DaylightFeed through the day, often best into dusk.
Tide size: NeapsBigger tides tend to bring them close in.
Season: Early or late in the season in OctoberMay to September, peaking in early summer.
Wind: Fresh ENE 12 mphStrong wind makes it harder to fish and to spot bites.
Sea: Moderate (0.9 m waves)Not fussy about sea state unless it gets rough.
Water: Sea 15.8°CComfortable between 12 and 20°C, best around 16°C.
How we score

High

~20:00

19:11–20:50

No standout fishing times~6.3 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:39
Sunset: 18:27
Moon: Waxing crescent, 14%
Wind: SSW 8–17 mph, gusts 32
Waves: Waves 2.0 m
Sea temperature: Sea 16.7°C

TomorrowThu 15 OctMid tides

Low~02:0901:12–03:05
High~08:1807:28–09:08
Low~14:2413:29–15:19
High~20:3419:43–21:24

No standout fishing times~5.4 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:41
Sunset: 18:25
Moon: Waxing crescent, 22%
Wind: SSW 4–18 mph, gusts 34
Waves: Waves 2.6 m
Sea temperature: Sea 16.6°C

Fri 16 OctMid tides

Low~02:4201:47–03:37
High~08:4707:57–09:38
Low~15:0114:06–15:57
High~21:1020:20–22:00

No standout fishing times~4.6 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:42
Sunset: 18:23
Moon: Waxing crescent, 30%
Wind: NW 7–15 mph, gusts 27
Waves: Waves 2.5 m
Sea temperature: Sea 16.5°C

Sat 17 OctNeaps

Low~03:1602:22–04:09
High~09:2808:36–10:20
Low~15:4314:47–16:39
High~21:5020:59–22:42

No standout fishing times~3.8 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:44
Sunset: 18:21
Moon: First quarter, 39%
Wind: NE 9–12 mph, gusts 20
Waves: Waves 1.8 m
Sea temperature: Sea 16.2°C

Sun 18 OctNeaps

Low~04:0503:12–04:58
High~10:1709:23–11:11
Low~16:4515:51–17:38
High~22:4821:54–23:41

No standout fishing times~3.1 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:46
Sunset: 18:19
Moon: First quarter, 48%
Wind: NE 7–12 mph, gusts 21
Waves: Waves 1.0 m
Sea temperature: Sea 16.0°C

Mon 19 OctNeaps

Low~05:1204:20–06:05
High~11:3110:34–12:28
Low~17:5717:05–18:49

35Best 12:00–12:30~2.5 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:47
Sunset: 18:17
Moon: First quarter, 58%
Wind: ENE 7–12 mph, gusts 22
Waves: Waves 0.9 m
Sea temperature: Sea 15.8°C

Tue 20 OctNeaps

High~00:2223:24–01:20
Low~06:3305:39–07:27
High~13:1012:10–14:09
Low~19:2818:32–20:24

40Best 12:00–14:30~2.5 m range

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:49
Sunset: 18:15
Moon: First quarter, 67%
Wind: S 2–12 mph, gusts 21
Waves: Waves 0.9 m
Sea temperature: Sea 15.8°C

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Fish here? Share what works

When do smoothhound bite best at Shipload Beach? Three taps, anonymous.

Which state of tide fishes best?

Flood (rising)Around high waterEbb (falling)Around low waterNot sure

Springs or neaps?

Big springsSmall neapsNo differenceNot sure

What time of day?

Dawn and duskDaytimeAfter darkNot sure

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Tackle & bait nearby

We don't know of a tackle shop within 20 km yet.

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Fished here? How did you get on?

Two taps is all it takes. It builds a picture of Shipload Beach for everyone.

How did it go?

1Blank2Slow3Okay4Good5Cracking

Anonymous unless you're signed in. We only show totals, never who said what.

the contact address on our advertise page

Your best window is Wednesday 14 October from 07:00 to 10:00, when the light S wind, high water, dawn light and springs tide all line up, though the sea is rough at about 1.7 m. A good second option is Friday 16 October from 06:30 to 09:30 on the flood with mid tides and a light NW breeze, but expect 2.3 m waves, so check the sea state before you commit.

Written by AI from the scores below. Check conditions before you go.