Foulney and Roa Island

Foulney Island is reached via a long, sweeping shingle spit at the southern end of the Walney channel. It is a nature reserve and during the nesting season visitors are required to keep to the marked paths. On high springs the spit is covered although the island itself remains above water level - not a disaster, more of a couple of hours wait until the tide recedes. The main problem is the distance - it's well over a mile and a half to the end of the spit and seems twice that on the way back.

There are low water marks off the end of Foulney into the channels but these are not without some danger and local knowledge is essential as the tide can flood very quickly. In general most of the fishing is for bass on the flood tide which can be fished right back to high water. Spinning can at times be productive for the bass. The shallow, muddy area to the west of the spit can produce good plaice and flounder during the last couple of hours to high water.

Just along from Foulney is Roa Island. This is essentially a low water mark - once the tide begins to flood strong currents hamper fishing and access is very limited at high water. Anglers normally fish to the right of the slipway into an area known as Copes Hole. This mark can produce good cod, plaice and flounder together with bass and mullet. Parking can be a problem at times.