Cardigan Bay Wales fishing forecast
Cardigan Bay Wales is a saltwater fishing spot in Wales, United Kingdom. Anglers here target European Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel, European Flounder. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #129 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 4 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 18.4 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 26 km/h from WNW, gusting 38 km/h |
| Wave height | 1.4 m at 6 s |
| Current | 0.01 m/s toward WNW |
| Pressure | 1009 hPa |
| Depth | 17 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 2.05 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 34.0 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 20 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Precipitation (24h) | 0.1 mm |
| Wind sea | 0.7 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 1.2 m at 6 s from WSW |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.01 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 4.1 °C warmer than the September average of 14.2 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 39.4 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Cardigan Bay Wales
Cardigan Bay Wales currently scores 80 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 18.4 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +3.8
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Moon phase +2.1
- lunar feeding rhythm
What’s biting now
The model expects today: atlantic-mackerel, european-seabass, grey-gurnard, turbot, common-dab, atlantic-halibut, haddock, sea-trout
Bite windows
Best months for Cardigan Bay Wales:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-15, 96/100
21 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
14 points below the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 17 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Dicentrarchus labrax
-
Scomber scombrus
-
Platichthys flesus
Best months by species at Cardigan Bay Wales
| European SeabassDicentrarchus labrax | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic MackerelScomber scombrus | ||||||||||||
| European FlounderPlatichthys flesus |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic MackerelOfficial source | — | min 30 cm | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| CORRECTED 2026-08-06: mackerel is NOT size-unlimited. The UK MCRS is 20 cm across the whole area EXCEPT the North Sea, where it is 30 cm. FishRadar shows the stricter 30 cm because the pack cannot resolve which side of the North Sea boundary you are fishing — on the south and west coasts the legal minimum is 20 cm. No recreational daily bag limit is published by MMO/Defra (the "20 per day" this pack previously carried had no source). | |||
| European SeabassCouncil Regulation (EU) 2020/123 Article 10, as amended by The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026 | 3/day | min 42 cm | Apr 1 – Jan 31 |
| MANDATORY catch-and-release only from 1 February to 31 March in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a, 7a and 7d to 7j — no bass may be retained in that window, and only rod and handline may be used. Outside it, 3 bass per angler per day, minimum 42 cm; every bass under 42 cm must be released. No bass may be taken by fixed nets. Additional catch-and-release periods can apply inside bass nursery areas (The Bass (Specified Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1990), and your local IFCA may be stricter. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are administered separately. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents No licence required for recreational sea fishing from shore or boat in England and Wales, and no individual licence for sea fishing in Scotland. Species-specific rules still bind you, and your local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) may set additional minimum sizes inside 6 nautical miles., non-residents No licence required. The same species rules and local IFCA byelaws apply.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. UK rules vary by area (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and your local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority can set stricter limits inside 6 nautical miles. Always verify with the MMO at gov.uk and the Marine Directorate before fishing.
Check Cardigan Bay Wales before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 556 km of Cardigan Bay Wales.
-
River Dee Wales
Lake Windermere England
Windermere England
Solent Hampshire
Cornwall Coast
Farne Islands Northumberland
Norfolk Coast
River Tay Scotland
Loch Ness Scotland
Scottish West Coast
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Cardigan Bay Wales?
Anglers at Cardigan Bay Wales target European Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel and European Flounder.
When is the best time to fish Cardigan Bay Wales?
The most productive months at Cardigan Bay Wales are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Cardigan Bay Wales right now?
Cardigan Bay Wales currently scores 80 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Cardigan Bay Wales from shore?
Yes — Cardigan Bay Wales is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Cardigan Bay Wales right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Cardigan Bay Wales?
The scored point sits over roughly 17 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Flounder: Drift, Jig, and Bottom Rigs That WorkHow to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing Forecast
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.