Buck Beck Beach
A Guide To Sea Fishing the Buck Beck Beach- Accessible year-round with good warm-season and cold-season fishing options.
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Offers a diverse variety of species depending on the season.
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Requires some strategy—knowing tides and gear requirements helps maximize success.
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In the warmer months, the area can be a popular spot for dog walkers.
- A well-known spot for targeting smoothhounds during the warmer months
General Information
Buck Beck Beach also known as Bonkers Bank sits at the southern end of Cleethorpes’ seafront, just where the Buck Beck stream meets the Humber. Parking is available on st, car park, Anthony’s Bank Rd, Humberston, Cleethorpes DN35 0PL and a short slipway gives you direct beach access.
UPDATE 13/08/25 – The council has started locking the only road in and out (Meridian Road) at 10 pm sharp. If you get locked in, they’re not keen on coming out to open it, so plan your trip accordingly!
There’s alternative parking available opposite the Oriental Express on Kings Rd, Cleethorpes DN35 0AG. Normal parking restrictions still apply, but you won’t risk getting locked in. It’ll add roughly 5 minutes to your walk to the mark as you have to pass through the Cleethorpes Boating Lake.—
In summer you’ll find flounder, plaice and dab patrolling the shallow sandbanks, with bass & smooth-hounds moving in on the flood tide from late May through August. As the water cools, whiting become more common, especially if you’re fishing the ebb or flood around high water. Rays and dogfish turn up here occasionally, too, for anyone using crab or fish-strips.
Access
st, car park, Anthony's Bank Rd, Cleethorpes, DN35 0PLApproaching Buck Beck Beach means crossing a tidal marsh that can be deceptively treacherous. What looks like solid ground is often a mixture of soft mud, hidden channels, and unstable “quicksand” patches that shift underfoot. As the tide pushes in, low-lying areas flood quickly—sometimes faster than you’d expect—cutting off escape routes and leaving you stranded in deep, sucking mud. Even on an outgoing tide, waterlogged channels can leave you knee-deep or worse, making progress slow and exhausting.
To stay safe, always plan your marsh crossing at low water and in daylight, when you can clearly see the terrain. Wear sturdy, waterproof boots with good ankle support and carry a stout walking pole to probe for hidden hollows.
ETA 35 Minutes
From Shop To MarkCommon Catches
Smoothhounds, Tope, Haddock, Flounder, Dab, Bass, Rays, PlaiceSmooth Hounds
On The Hunt For Smooth-Hounds- Seasons – June To August
- Rigs – Pulley Pennel & Dongle Rig
- Tide – On A Strong Flood
- Bait – King Prawn, Peeler Crab, Hermit Crab.
Flounder.
When Flounder Are BitingSole
Targeting Sole- Seasons – June To August
- Rigs – 2 Hook Flapper.
- Tide – On The Ebb
- Bait – Blow Lug & Rag Worm & Mussels
Bass.
Tactics for Humber BassPlaice
When Plaice Are Biting- Seasons – June To August
- Rigs – 2 Hook Flapper.
- Tide – On The Flood
- Bait – Squid, Blow Lug & Rag Worm.
Thornback Ray
Targeting Thornback RaysGet Your Fresh Bait Here
Your Source for Fresh Bait-
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From £6.00 Buy now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageFresh Sea BaitsRagworm (Live)
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From £7.50 Buy now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageFresh Sea BaitsBlow Lugworm (Live)
FAQ's
Frequently Asked QuestionsIs The Mark Accessible For Less Mobile Anglers?
We would advise against it for less mobile anglers. There’s parking on Alexandra Road and a gently sloping concrete slipway straight onto the sand. However, the final approach crosses a tidal marsh with deep changing channels, which can be soft and uneven, especially outside of very low water. In the colder months the tidal marsh can quite literally become a bog.
Can You Fish This At Low Water?
Yes—but we would advise against it. Most of the sand flats will be exposed, so you’ll need to work the deeper water that remains. Fishing Buck Beck Beach at low water does carry added risks. With most of the flats exposed, you’re confined to the deeper beck channel. If you choose to wade out, you could easily lose your footing in the suction mud or step into an unexpected hole. What’s more, the tide can flood back in quickly, cutting off your return route.
Can You Fish Here On Big Tides?
Yes—you’ll have more water over the flats and deeper channels to work, but you must take extra care. On spring (big) tides the marsh approach can flood quickly and the slipway may be under several feet of water at high. Always check tide charts, wear buoyant, non-slip boots (and ideally a life-jacket), and never fish alone on big tides—plan your exit route before you start. Tight lines and stay safe!
Take Your Rubbish Home.
Please remember that every piece of litter you leave behind—from empty bait wrappers to broken line and snack wrappers—diminishes the beauty and health of our fishing spots. When you take away your rubbish, you’re not only protecting the fragile estuary ecosystem and its wildlife, but you’re also ensuring that fellow anglers can enjoy a clean, welcoming environment on your next visit. Leaving no trace means fish habitats stay unpolluted, and birds and marine creatures aren’t put at risk by discarded plastics or nylon.
