Bendricks Rock - Barry by Milo Bjegovic
A variety of species can be caught including Cod, Bass, Conger, Rockling, Whiting, Pouting, Hounds, Rays mainly spotties and thornies, and even the odd Stingray and Ling.
Best times of year to fish is November to February for Cod using fresh blow lug tipped with squid along with black lug also.
May/June for hounds using peeler crab baits, Bass spring and autumn Conger are all year round but bigger ones can be caught from October to December. Fresh pouting can be the game changer bait.
Bendricks Rock is one of my all time favourite fishing marks, I've been fishing here on and off since a young age and I always get a fresh sense of excitement every time I visit, it's also one of my go to marks to catch cod in the winter.
I caught my pb Cod here in 2013 weighing in at 13lb and was over the moon, with some close mates with me to witness, up until that point I had been chasing a double figure Cod all my fishing life.
Accessing the mark is a 15min walk from parking, you walk along pre historic rocky ground, dinosaur footprints can be found in the area if you want a side quest. It really is a must see venue.
Along the way you will come across the River, this is a man made cut out which was created during the construction of the docks to allow the diversion of the old Cadoxton River to flow out to sea. You will need to cross this river to access the mark so waders or at least wellies is a must, cross the river at low tide at its shallower point where the river meets the sea.
A weed bed uncovers over low which has plenty of room for up to 6 anglers or more if you spread out, try and fish with the flow of the tide to avoid getting snagged as the sea bed area is mixed to rough so a rotten bottom pulley rig or similar is must for me.
Its roughest straight off the front left, and right of the rock is mixed ground, that's why it's best to cast with the flow of the tide as mentioned, to reduce your gear getting dragged towards the centre of the rocky ground. Fish 3 down and be packed up and gone no later than the 3rd hr of the flood tide to give yourselves time to cross back across the river.
If you are staying on the rock over high water then you can fish 3 up 3 down, best practice would be to inform the coastguard of your intentions. Fish with the flow of the tide to give you the best chance of getting your gear back, or as I do, gamble one off the front in the rough stuff now and again which can make the difference if the cod are about.
Be aware that once you are landlocked on the Rock be as sensible as possible over high water, you will be a few hundred metres from mainland, this could be dangerous if you fall in. Take enough clothing to stay warm, food, water spare batteries, also if night fishing, keep the mobile phones charged up.