Fishing on the Broads

The Broads is a good area for fishing and the sport is a very popular past time, particularly at weekends.  However, motor craft can very easily cause disturbances, so please give Anglers consideration at all times.

Bream, perch, roach, rudd, tench and pike can all be found in the Broads and rod, line and float are the most popular tackle – where the current is strong ledger tackle is most suitable.  There are a number of angling shops throughout the Broads in particular at Potter Heigham where Lathams has a dedicated fishing section stocking live bait.

Certain reaches (which amount to a total of only 8 miles) have been selected to provide the best areas with land access.  Please avoid passing through these reaches before 9am, please cruise at less than 5mph and keep well away from the banks being used by anglers.  Your co-operation will be very much appreciated.

The reaches are:

River Bure – Fleet Dyke (St Benet’s Abbey) to ½ mile upstream of Acle Bridge.

River Thurne – West Somerton to Martham Ferry and downstream end of Potter Heigham to Thurne Mouth.

Close Season

No fishing is permitted from 15 March to 15 June inclusive.

Where to Fish

Providing you carry a rod licence, all tidal banks owned or leased by the Environment Agency may be fished free and are accessible from the river. A guide to angling on the Broads Authority at www.broads-authority.gov.uk

All Broads Authority moorings allow fishing from the banks but boats wishing to moor have priority as their licence fee contributes to the waterways maintenance.

Licences

The Environment Agency is the controlling body of angling in the Broads and the bailiff’s patrol regularly.  If you are going to fish on the Broads then you must carry a rod licence.  A national fishing licence allows anglers to fish with two rods, where by-laws permit, anywhere in England and Wales and licences are available from Post Offices.  Under 12’s do not need a rod licence.

By – Laws

Anglers have responsibilities and should read the Environment Agency Bylaws exhibited around the Broads:

Fishing (trolling) from moving cruisers or other powered craft is not permitted.

Do not leave litter, fishing line or hooks on riverbanks as these can be lethal to wildlife; please take any spare line away with you.

Do not leave a rod unattended with its line in the water – birds often don’t see the line and can become entangled. 

If you come across wildlife needing expert attention, RSPCA inspectors can be contacted by telephone on 0300 1234 999 and the RSPB on 01603 715 191. Ring 01603 782 626 for the local swan rescue.

Boat Hygiene

If using maggots or worms as bait, please make sure that they are never taken into the boats living quarters.  Keep them secure in proper containers in the outside cockpits, on deck or in the gas cylinder locker.

Never allow maggots to enter the bilge area of your boat.

River Ant

Downstream of Irstead Church on the right bank for over a mile.

Left bank below How Hill for which the Norfolk County Council issues day tickets.

Left bank below How Hill past Ludham Bridge to the Old Hundred Stream, 600 yards downstream of Ludham Bridge.

River Bure

Coltishall Common is the first available bank and it is not until you reach Horning that there is a right to land fish.

Half a mile on the right hand bank above and below Horning Ferry provides good fishing for roach and bream.

Fishing platforms on the bank opposite Ferry Inn along the Cockshoot Broad boarded walk.

The Norwich and District Angling Association lease the left-hand bank at St Benet’s Abbey – Day tickets are issued.

From below Ant Mouth downstream for 3 ¾ miles on the right bank to beyond Upton Dyke, the river gets deeper and faster and is excellent for bream.

There is fishing on both banks below Acle Bridge, 1,000 yards on the right bank, 760 yards on the left and further 300 yards above Muckfleet sluice.

Oulton Broad

A dinghy is useful for fishing the Broad but there is bank fishing from Nicholas Everitt Park.

River Thurne

4 ¼ miles on the right bank from Martham Broad to 800 yards downstream form Womack Water, and the rest of this bank to Thurne Mouth – Norwich and District Angling Association day tickets are issued.

3 ½ miles on the left bank of Martham Broad to Repps Staithe and 2 miles of the bank on the Candle and Womack dykes.

River Waveney

Right bank at Barsham for 2 ½ miles from Shipmeadow to the start of the built up areas of Beccles.

Beccles Council owns the bank from Beccles Yacht Station downstream for some distance; this is available free to individual anglers.

Left bank for ¾ mile upstream of Beccles Old Bridge.

River Wensum

Through Norwich there is fishing at Riverside, between Foundry and Carrow Bridge.

River Yare

From ½ mile of Strumpshaw Pump, for 1 ½ miles, to downstream of Buckenham Ferry.

400 yards upstream of Cantley Red House.

River Yare on right bank 3 miles downstream from Rockland Short Dyke to 500 yards downstream of Langley Dyke.

All other parts of the navigable water of the Broads are under ‘riparian owners’ control and permission must be obtained before you fish.