Situated on the South West tip of the Lleyn Peninsula this is a prolific storm beach. The beach is framed by the headlands at Rhiw and Cilan and by steep clay cliffs along most of its length. High water washes the foot of the cliffs on spring tides and with an onshore blow, neap tides so it is no coincidence that the main access points are at areas which can be fished over high water. The sea bed from beyond the low water mark to the shingle foreshore is mainly sand and a few stones with boulders and kelp below the headlands.

From Caernarfon take the A487 and then the A499 to Abersoch via Pwllheli. From Abersoch follow the signs to Hells Mouth passing through Llanegan before parking in the laybay at the south eastern end of the beach. From there it is a comfortable 5 minute walk to the beach but allow a further 15 minutes to the marks under Cilan Head now that access through Nant Farm has been stopped. Access to the marks at the Northern end of the beach is via a footbath and a steep set of steps near the campsite at Rhiw.

Sport is slow early in the year and not until April do dogfish and a few school bass make travel from the main conurbations worthwhile. Better sized bass in the 3 to 6lb range (1.35 to 2.7kg), can be taken from May to October with the possibility of specimens to 10lb. Rass, rockiling and small bull huss can also be expected from the rougher ground then with small turbot, mackerel, coal fish and whiting from the main beach. Rays, in particular small eyed, are sometimes taken with some larger specimen fish found in October and November. When whiting, coal fish, dabs and school bass are at there most prolific.

The best times are from low water up the tide for one and a half hours and then again when the water reaches the shingle over high water for two hours of the ebb. Although fish will be taken on neaps the best tides are those between 8.5 and 9.2m at Liverpool. Larger tides than this wash the cliffs so they clay discolours the water with detrimental effect.

The top three baits on this beach are crab, sand eel and when a surf is running, razor fish. There are a few crab among the rocks below Cilan Head but it can be hard work to collect for enough for a session so it pays to bring a supply. Sand eel isn’t a problem since frozen is almost as productive as frees. Razor fish can be dug at Abersoch on low waters of less than 0.6 metres at Liverpool. Be careful when wading because the undertoe can be very strong.

Make sure that if you intend to fish over high water that the tide doesn’t cut off your exit from the beach. This beach fishes best in a moderate surf. A west to South western breeze force 3 or 4 is ideal.

Floating weed can be a problem but keeping the rod tip high and reducing the amount of line in the water helps.