Fishing

With so much wonderful fish on offer at the many seafood cafés, restaurants and pubs you may be inspired to give fishing a go yourself. There are few more tranquil and relaxing ways to spend the day. Whether it’s fly fishing, coarse fishing or sea fishing that floats your boat, the area boasts an array of choices whether you're a beginner or keen fisherman.

For expert advice and equipment, visit Keiths Sports in Saltburn.

Please remember that inland waters are not public property and permission must be obtained from the owner before fishing. You need a Rod Fishing Licence to fish in any water, as well as a fishery permit. Details on fishing locations and clubs can be obtained from local fishing tackle shops or from the Angling Trust.

Sea fishing

Boat fishing

Head to the harbours in Scarborough, Whitby and Staithes for sea angling options in summer months; you'll find no shortage of sandwich boards of fishermen touting their trips. Boats can be hired too, with plenty of tips to be picked up from experienced fishermen. Details of sea-angling charter boats operating out of Whitby harbour are included on Whitby Charter Skippers Association.

Real Staithes’ mackerel fishing trips are a highlight, recalling the days when Staithes’ boats dominated the local coast. Hear tales of a skipper’s life, before finishing up on the beach to learn how to clean, smoke and grill mackerel that, an hour before, were swimming fin-loose and fancy free in the North Sea. Depending on when the mackerel arrive will dictate the dates but it's usually from May and throughout the summer.

Located on the harbour at Staithes, Three Sister Boat Trips offer sea angling and wreck & ground fishing. Trips last 6-8 hours with on board fishing rods/reels. Up to 7 passengers can be accommodated for, as well as options to book a private charter. With an on board toilet, hot drinks facilities and comfortable seating, visitors are treated to the utmost luxury when it comes to fishing at sea!

Shore fishing

With the sound of lapping waves and sea birds all around, shore fishing is a great way to not only get a bite but also get back to nature. Here's a few spots to try.

• Sandsend - Offers both sand and rocks to fish from
• Scalby Ness - Best fished at night on the first hour of flood tide
• Scarborough - The Pier and Marine Drive are often lined with fishermen
• Staithes - At low tide large areas of flat rock are exposed to make good platforms from which to fish (see local fishermen in harbour)
• Whitby - Although fishing isn't allowed in Whitby harbour's entrance, this town is a great spot to cast your rod. The East and West Piers are great locations to sit and relax and wait for that bite.

Lakes and reservoirs

Grab your tackle and take your pick from these great freshwater lakes and reservoirs.

• Scaling Dam Reservoir Located between Guisborough and Whitby directly off the A171 (Sat nav: TS13 4TP) (T: 01287 644032) Open March - November. The reservoir is relatively shallow, making it an excellent choice for both fly and bait anglers. On site lodge shop stocked with rods, reels, tackle, accessories, clothing, worms, bait, ice creams and refreshments. Accessible for disabled anglers and visitors.
• Birkdale Mixed Coarse Fishing, Terrington YO60 6QE (T: 01653 648301) Well stocked with carp, tench, bream and roach. Barbless hooks only. Keep nets NOT allowed. Day ticket £6 (includes 2 rods). Concession £4. Open 7.30am – 7.30pm or dusk daily.
• Brickyard Farm Lakes, Amotherby YO17 6UP (T: 01653 694488) Old lake coarse fishing, open all year. £7/day or £5 from 4pm - dusk. Bait restrictions apply. Toilets and camping available. Abbey Lake - £7/day, £5 from 5pm. Predominately carp, some tench.
• Brooklands, Brompton-by-Sawdon YO13 9DS (T: 01944 710395) A mixed coarse fishery, carp, tench and bream, roach, rudd, chub and perch in a beautiful setting. Accessible for disabled anglers. Adults and accompanied 12+ year olds only. £7 and £5 concessions. Open dawn till dusk. No Boiles or Keep Nets
• Buzzers Pond, Ings Lane, Kirkbymoorside YO62 6DN (T: 0777 074 8091) Good for beginners and well stocked pond with common, ghost, mirror & golden carp, rudd, roach, perch, bream & tench. Barbless hooks only, no keep nets. Tackle shop. Day tickets £5
• Hazel Head Fishery, Saltergate. Details from Newgate Foot Farm, Lockton (T: 01751 460215). A small scenic lake, well stocked with brown trout. Turn right down bridle road at top of Saltergate car park. £13 for 4 hours (one brace limit). Season tickets available. Prior booking essential.
• Lockwood Beck Trout Fishery Lockwood Beck, Lingdale, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 3LQ (T: 01287 644032). Open from 8.00am (weekdays) and from 7.00am (weekends and bank holidays), coarse fishery with excellent stock of roach and perch. Permits can be purchased from Scaling Dam Reservoir Visitor Centre.
• Low Osgoodby Trout Lake, near Sutton Bank (T: 01845 597601). Tickets are to be purchased from the house on the road leading to the farm.
• Randymere Reservoir, located between Goathland and Egton Bridge (T: The Egton Estate Office on 01947 895466 for further information). Fish for rainbow and brown trout with barbless fly only on a seasonal basis.
• Selley Bridge Lake, Low Marishes, Malton YO17 6RJ (T: 01751 474280) Well stocked; mixed coarse fishing with tench, roach and small carp. Easy access, ample car parking. Open 7am till dusk. £5 adult, £4 concessions/ under 16's accompanied; evening fishing after 4pm: £3, close at dusk. £2 for an extra rod.
• Wykeham Lakes (T: 07515 992981) Four landscaped lakes (former gravel pits), one stocked with rainbow, blue & brown trout, others provide a variety of coarse fishing and one is a dedicated specimen pike water. Day, short day and evening tickets available. Open all year round.

Rivers

Youth Fishing Club

Juniors (12 to 18 year olds) are invited to join the Youth Fishing Club on the River Esk. Evening sessions operate from late spring until autumn, with free tuition and equipment provided. For more information, or to sign up, email: R.Parnaby@northyorkmoors.org.uk

River Esk

The River Esk is the principal salmon and sea trout fishery in Yorkshire, with the water around Whitby supporting the third largest commercial salmon net fishery in the country.

• Danby - Salmon and sea trout fishing (March - October) with good trout catches particularly in September and October. Fishing is permitted by fly or spinner. Day tickets from The Duke of Wellington Inn (T: 01287 660351). For day or season tickets contact Danby angling secretary Roger Payn (T: 01287 660607)
• Egton Bridge - Salmon and sea trout fishing (April - October). Tickets from Egton Estate Company, Estate Office, Egton Bridge (T: 01947 895466)
• Ruswarp - Brown trout and salmon. Permit from Mr Sims (T: 01947 604658). Trout fishing until end of September;. £2 adult, £1 child day. Tickets available from Mr Simms or Ruswarp Pleasure Boats. Salmon fishing contact for details.

River Rye and tributaries

• Brawby - Game. Day permits from Mr King, Manor Farm, Brawby (T: 01653 668458)
• Costa Beck, Kirby Misperton YO17 6UE. Fishing for trout, dace, greyling, chubb and pike. Tickets available from Fox and Rabbit Farm, Lockton YO18 7NQ (T: 01751 460207)

River Derwent and tributaries

• Huttons Ambo, Nr Malton. Contact Paul Thompson, Huttons Ambo AC (01653 618602). Day tickets from the Post Office, Huttons Ambo.
• Malton and Norton Angling Club. Tickets adults: £15, children: £2 per annum. Available from Derek Fox Butchers, 25 Market Place, Malton (T: 01653 600338). Three sites for fishing:
  - Off A169 (Malton-Pickering), turn opposite Eden Camp junction down farm track to Espersykes Farm (OS Grid ref SE819744)
  - From A169 turn right at Eden Camp, turning for Ryton
  - On A169, 2 miles north of Eden Camp, at Howe Bridge.