UK Fisherman

The island of Alderney in the British Channel Islands offers both the novice and experienced angler some of the best salt water angling in the UK. Within the rich diversity of life beneath the waves, there are numerous rocky outcrops and protected sandy bays providing protection for young marine life, enabling them to develop.

Combine this with the warm water currents which travel up from the Gulf and with one of the world's strongest tides through its rise and fall, and you then have the means for a wealth of sea life which leads to a healthy population of sea birds, sea mammals and a good stock of a variety of sea fish throughout the year.

The Novice Angler

Alderney is the ideal place for a novice to start sea angling, simply because there are plenty of fish to be caught. There are easy marks to fish from which provide comfort and have easy access. However, it is recommended that advice be taken as to where these marks are, before venturing onto any platform for the sake of safety. A small bit of local knowledge goes a long way!

You can expect to catch with ease on float or lure, Pollack, Garfish, Wrasse and who knows you might just surprise yourself and others, if you manage to hook a Bass. The local tackle shop offers a guiding and tuition service with two hour lessons for both children and adults. Longer sessions are available and start from £10, which includes bait and tackle. You can expect to learn Float fishing and Lure techniques and if you are an early riser then try a morning plugging session for Bass. General shore fishing is also taught for Conger Eels, Bream and such like.

The Experienced Angler

For the more experienced angler the variety of fish on offer is simply fantastic. Some of the best fishing is in the autumn where bigger Bass come closer to the shoreline. Double figure fish are caught frequently. Black Bream and Thick Lipped Mullet shoal up in huge numbers in the bays and rocky outcrops as they migrate from their summer grounds in the UK.

Bream to 4lb are frequently caught from September with the best fish at a staggering 5lb. Some of the largest shore caught Sole have come from Alderney’s sandy coves and beaches with fish up to 5lb. Alderney too has a very good population of Ballan Wrasse. These colourful fish are in good numbers and regularly caught to a weight of 6lb

Fishing throughout the seasons

Autumn brings good Conger Eel. Rays are also fairly regular visitors with Blonde Rays being the most common. Small Eyeds, Undulates and Spotted Rays are also visitors. Alderney is one of the few places in the UK where you have a realistic chance of catching Tope. October 2004 saw the current Channel Island Record caught at 50lb 8oz.

The winter fishing sees much of the same with a lull in March before the spring and summer seasons begins. It is at this time of year that the light rods come out with plenty of lure fishing for Bass, Pollack, Mackerel, and for the experts, fly fishing for Mullet and Bass from several of the forts’ causeways. Fishing with light rods, floats, spinners or lures provides much fun, seeking out these predatory fish amongst the hush and tranquillity, in the sunshine on any of Alderney’s headlands flanked by one of the many sandy bays.

A touch of the exotic

Several unusual and exotic species are seen off of the rocky shores of Alderney. Regular catches of Red Mullet, Red Gurnards, Couches Sea Bream, Bull Huss, Codling, Plaice, Golden Grey Mullet and Smoothhounds. The rarer Gilthead Bream, Pandora’s Bream, Coalfish, and Triggerfish all provide an uncertainty as to what you could catch next.

Additional Information

Alderney’s Corblets Reservoir

Both Common and Mirror Carp can be fished for at Alderney’s Corblets Reservoir. Fishing is on a strictly catch and release basis using unhooking mats and barbless hooks, this is to minimise the distress to the fish, whilst also allowing them to breed and develop into the monster size fish that they can become.

Angling for coarse fish, which are those types of freshwater fish other than game fish (trout, salmon and char), is particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Coarse fish such as Carp, are generally not fished for food but are eagerly sought by anglers, being considered highly prized fish that are difficult to hook.

There are brown trout in Corblets Reservoir which can also be fished for.

Corblets Quarry is a beautiful spot which is sheltered, making it an ideal location for fishing. Tickets can be purchased from Jonathan Gates. A day ticket is £5 and an annual membership is £100. Tackle, bait and unhooking mats will be available at Alderney Angling.

Alderney is waiting to be discovered .... There are many things to see in Alderney, in your own time and at your leisure.

Why not take a ride on the only railway in the Channel Islands or join a tour of the Alderney Lighthouse. Familiarise yourself with the history of the island at the Alderney Museum or simply enjoy observing the wildlife from one of the Alderney Wildlife Trust's birdhides.

But there are certain places and landmarks you simply must visit. So pop into the Alderney Visitor Information Centre in Victoria Street where our team of helpful volunteers will be able to provide you with up-to-date information, advice and a selection of free literature, walking guides and bird lists.

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Additional Information

Alderney comes to life when the sun shines and the stunning sandy beaches are a haven for water babes and sun-worshippers alike. With such a range of bays there is always one sheltered from the prevailing winds and sometimes with decent surf too.

Stretch your legs exploring the lanes at the back of St Anne, or try walking up the aptly named Zig Zag path. You can pause for breath on the benches thoughtfully placed all the way up or stop off for a cuppa at the airport cafe afterwards.

But for more organised activity then Alderney has that in spades too. Visitors often come back year after year to join in with their favourite annual event and none is more popular than Alderney Week.

The carnival combines the charm of a giant village fete with a festival atmosphere which involves the whole Island. The usual population of 2,400 nearly doubles and many visitors book their accommodation year on year... come for Alderney Week and you get hooked! There are more than 130 organised events so there really is something for everyone and children will never wail that they are bored – just exhausted.

Other quirky unique attractions include the only working railway in the Channel Islands with a steam train pulling former London Underground carriages. Santa and Easter Egg specials are great for the kids with a varied service for the rest of the year.

Whether you want action-packed or lazy, or a bit of both in your holiday then Alderney offers it all. For such a small place it is surprising how much goes on and the only problem is how to sample it all in just one visit!

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Additional Information

Welcome to the Alderney Map page providing you with the most up-to-date Google map of Alderney which includes all of the most useful information about Alderney. Find hotels, attractions, accommodation, places to eat and places of interest.

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