Otterspool
Otterspool is a comfortable low but mainly high tide venue with short walks from the various free car parks in the area. Mind you there are a lot of other users of this mark with cyclists and dog walkers making up the bulk. Dogs seem to like a good sniff through your tackle and have been known to take a pee on it!
It is a very popular venue for fishing matches, I’ve arrived a few times to find all the spots taken. Keep an eye on social media post so you don’t at caught out. There is usually a gap to squeeze into if needed.
It’s quite a way down from the mouth of the Mersey estuary and I have not heard of Thornback rays or Smoothhounds making it this far down, plenty other species pay a visit. Further up around Mariners / Jag house Rays do still come out though on a regular basis. Fish species are little more limited down this stretch of the Mersey, during winter it is mainly Whiting, Codling, Dabs and Rockling. The crabs down here can be super active at times so keep an eye on your bait times.
Summer is pretty much the same in my experience with the absence of Cod and usually better weather! In my opinion Otterspool is more of a winter venue with regular catches of Cod in the 2-3lb bracket. These can be caught 10 foot out to as far as you can cast, there are a few Mussel beds to fish on top of too. Standard baits tend to work well here, my go to being Lugworm.
A favoured spot amongst anglers is the section of the promenade in front of the pumping station, this is further up the prom towards the mouth of the mersey before you reach the pub.
After checking Navionics it is clear that the water in this section is a bit deeper closer in so could provide better fishing or bigger specimen fish. There are usually reports of larger cod coming out along this stretch and its where match men head first as the favored spot. I have done well along the stretch and usually fish just to the left of the bouy at the bottom of Jericho lane. The bouy has a huge chain with you can get caught on if you fish too close. As it’s the Mersey it’s tidal so heavy grip weights 5 ounce and up only, 6 ounce as a minimum really.
I prefer the more varied fishing towards the mouth of the Mersey and tend to favor the Wirral side marks. Rays and smoothhounds make great summer fishing in this area. Don’t let that put you off, it can be like any other sea fishing Mark on it’s day and produce well. I tend to fish it during the night now, never had any problems though but some older posts on forums mention vandalised cars, the odd fox shows up and the promenade is well lit with the odd bench too, comfortable fishing.
There is plenty of free parking along the promenade and it’s only a short walk in most cases.
Click on the link below, your google maps will start up an take you straight to the car park at the bottom of Jericho lane. Fish any part of the stretch here, the pumping station is further to the left (directly under where it says festival gardens)
https://goo.gl/maps/KRUc4L4JcuQ2
Tight lines, live tide times below.
Check out our online shop at www.halenfishing.co.uk Terminal tackle of all types and sizes, if you can’t see it just ask and we will try and stock it. Check out the the home page on here for any promo codes.
