Big fish sessions
For anglers who measure a day in pounds, not numbers
Most guided days are built around catching — plenty of fish, plenty of action. These sessions are built differently. They are built around one fish. The tope, the huss, the double-figure ray or the bass you have been chasing for years.
Tony on big fish
"Big fish are not luck. They are preparation, tide times and patience meeting in the same two hours."
I have spent most of my life on this coast, and a good part of it chasing the fish that don't come easy. Competition fishing taught me to find fish quickly and under pressure — but specimen fishing taught me something else entirely. It taught me that the big ones are where they are for a reason, and if you understand that reason, you don't need luck.
These sessions are for anglers who already know how to fish and want to fish for something that tests them. I'll bring the marks, the tide knowledge, the bait plan and the unhooking gear. You bring the patience. Between us, we give the fish every chance — and whatever turns up, you'll leave knowing more than you arrived with.
What we target
The big fish of the North Wales shore
Honest targets, honestly described. Each one needs the right mark, the right tide and the right bait — and each one is worth the effort.
Tope
Summer, with settled conditions and tidal flow
The one most shore anglers dream about. Fast, powerful and completely unforgiving of poor preparation. Tope fishing is about being on the right deep-water mark, with the right fresh bait, on the right tide — and having your unhooking sorted before the first cast, not after.
Bull huss
Autumn through spring, best after dark
A proper fish from the rough ground. Huss reward anglers who fish big baits over broken ground with patience and a well-built pulley rig. After dark on a quiet rock mark, they are one of the best fights the Welsh shore offers.
Conger eel
Summer to autumn, night sessions preferred
The heavyweight. Conger fishing is not pretty — it is strong tackle, short traces, rock marks with depth under your feet and total respect for what is on the other end. Tony will only plan conger sessions when the conditions genuinely allow them, because the fish deserves that.
Specimen bass
Late spring to autumn, dawn and dusk
A five-pound bass is a different animal from the school fish most people catch. It means reading surf beaches and estuary mouths properly, fishing the hours other anglers go home, and presenting a bait or lure exactly where the fish expect to find food. Tony's favourite target of all.
Smoothhound
Late spring to summer, flooding tides
Pound for pound, the hardest fighter on the Welsh shore. A double-figure smoothhound on beach gear will empty your legs. They run in over clean sand on the flooding tide in summer, and when they arrive they arrive in numbers.
Thornback ray
Spring to autumn, day or night
The classic specimen — a proper double-figure thornback is a benchmark fish and a genuine achievement from the shore. It takes the right clean-ground marks, quality baits stacked on the hook, and the discipline to fish a session through rather than chase every bite.
How the day is built
A session planned like a specimen hunt, not a day out
Big fish sessions are full days wherever possible — the fish rarely play by half-day rules. Here is the thinking behind every plan.
The mark comes first
Big fish live in a small number of places and use them at particular states of the tide. Tony has spent decades learning which marks produce and, just as importantly, which conditions each one needs. Some marks only fish for two hours a tide. Knowing that is the whole game.
Bait is not an afterthought
A big fish did not get big by eating carelessly. Sessions are built around fresh, quality bait — whole squid, peeler crab, fresh mackerel — presented properly. The standard bait note applies: bait is charged separately, usually £10–£20 per person, and Tony confirms what is needed closer to the date.
Timing beats effort
Big fish feed in windows. Dawn on a surf beach, the first two hours of the flood, or full dark on a rock mark. Tony will tell you honestly when those windows are — sometimes that means an early start, and sometimes it means being on the mark when most anglers are driving home.
Tackle that can actually do the job
There is a difference between tackle that lands a big fish and tackle that lands it quickly, in good condition. Tony will check your gear before the session and tell you straight if something needs changing — and what to bring if you have it.
The honest bit
What you are signing up for
- Big fish sessions are planned around the best tides and conditions available — Tony will talk through the options with you before the date is fixed.
- A blank is part of specimen hunting. Nobody catches a double-figure fish every time out, and anybody who promises one is not being straight with you.
- Every big fish is measured, photographed and returned. These fish are the future of the fishing, and they are treated that way.
"You don't catch the fish of a lifetime on the fish of a lifetime's schedule. You turn up, you do it properly, and you keep turning up."
Pricing
Simple session rates
Big fish work is best suited to a full day — 8 hours gives the tide windows room to come to you. Tony will confirm the exact plan and cost before anything is finalised.
Half day
£160.00
4 hours
- Covers up to 2 anglers
- Extra adult £40.00 · child £20.00
- £50.00 deposit to hold the date
Full day
£240.00
8 hours
- Covers up to 2 anglers
- Extra adult £60.00 · child £30.00
- £75.00 deposit to hold the date
A maximum of 4 people per party. Rates cover up to two anglers; extra adults and children are added per person, so you always see the true price up front.
Deposit
A deposit secures your date (£50 half day, £75 full day). The balance must be paid no later than 14 days before your trip.
Cancellations
Cancel more than 14 days before your session and your deposit is refunded in full. Inside 14 days the deposit is retained.
Rescheduling
You can move your date once. Any further change is at Tony's discretion and must be agreed by him. If Tony calls the session off for weather, sea state or safety you can rebook for free or take a full refund of your deposit.
Group sizes
A maximum of 4 people per party. Rates cover up to two anglers; extra adults and children are added per person, so you always see the true price up front.
Bait
Bait is charged separately and usually costs approximately £10–£20 per person. What is needed depends on the location, the fish you are targeting, the tide and the weather. Tony will confirm the bait and exact cost closer to your trip.
No catch guarantee
Fish are wild and conditions change. Tony will give you the best possible chance, but no catch can be guaranteed — you may not catch anything on the day, and this is not grounds for a refund.
Ready when you are
Pick your target and pick a date
Book a session and tell Tony in the notes which fish you are after. He'll come back with the marks, tides and bait plan for your date before you pay a balance.