Discover Carmarthenshire fishing

A Welsh county that hosts undiscovered beaches and rocky coves, miles of top class salmon and sea trout rivers, trout streams, scenic lakes and bespoke fishing accommodation, is one not to be bypassed by any angler or their family.

Carmarthenshire is perfect for all angling requirements - from a day on one of Carmarthen Bay’s Blue Flag sandy beaches with the family catching prawns in rock pools, to trout fishing on the remote and wild Usk Reservoir, to an angler’s treat on a beat of the River Tywi, there are endless opportunities to fish this beautiful and unexplored county.

River Tywi

One of the finest sea trout (known as sewin in Wales) rivers in Europe, the Tywi doesn’t need any introduction. April to September, sewin and salmon can be caught almost anywhere along its length from the under-fished upper stretches near Llandovery, to the lower section at Carmarthen. The river is famous for its night time sewin fishing: waiting for the first bat to venture out, drag your silver stoat fly across the pool, senses heightened with every cast and when the first sewin leaps out of the water, you’ll jump out of your skin. This is fishing at its most exciting. (Fishing Map »)

River Teifi

The county’s second largest river rises in the Cambrian Mountains, flows west to east along Carmarthenshire’s northern border and is renowned for its salmon fishing with sea trout enjoying a recent revival in this fast flowing scenic river. Large brown trout frequent the wilder upper reaches with various angling associations offering up to a total of 50 miles of fishing. The Teifi flows through various towns and villages with the advantage of public open space and pubs being located near the river bank so that families can look on as their provider of dinner wields their rod and line. (Fishing Map »)

River Cothi

There is reverential talk about this major tributary to the Tywi as being as good as its parent river with up to 40% of the sewin and salmon in the system heading up this river. The first sewin may be caught in May on a spate river with worm or spinner proving productive on falling, coloured flood water as it swirls through tree lined avenues and woods. Clearing water is required for fly fishing after dark and the lower stretches surrounded by farmland are easier for this style of fishing. The area holds plenty of accommodation with not just a bed and food but fishing knowledge as well. (Fishing Map »)

Rivers Gwendraeth, Loughor & Amman

On Carmarthenshire’s eastern boundary, a number of rivers have all but been forgotten under the shadow of the better known ones. Long since cleaned up from pollution incidents that prevented fish from entering the system, the Loughor is such a river with a number of clubs offering fishing for trout and sea trout with the chance of a salmon within countryside hidden under the slopes of Graig Fawr. Some cheaper than usual fishing for sea trout and salmon can be found on these rivers with the even the chance of a free stretch of river. (Fishing Map »)

River Gwili

Another tributary of the Tywi, though not as well known as the Cothi, the Gwili is a short dramatic river that snakes north from Carmarthen through deep wooded gorges, following some of the A484 road towards Newcastle Emlyn. A small Toby spinner lobbed across a fast flowing section could net a small wild brown trout or a 4lb sewin depending on what had come in on the recent tide with July commonly being the month with the most sewin in the system. A river to try with easy access from the road and every chance of fish as big as from a larger river. (Fishing Map »)

River Taf

A lowland, slow flowing river once famed for its spring salmon, the river Taf is enjoying a revival of salmon fishing with native parr being re-stocked at the head of the river. After a fresh flow of water, try trotting a bunch of worms down the deeper eddies or a use a coloured Flying C lure across the faster waters at the head of the pool. The banks are clearer than some other rivers and so fly fishing is a pleasure with a Dovey Black & Orange fly worked across the current anticipating the pull of a fish. (Fishing Map »)

Rivers Cowin, Cynin & Dewi Fawr

This hidden set of small tributaries running north from around St Clears into the Taf estuary, are generally undiscovered which is surprising with local angler’s lore of a 22lb sewin from the Cynin and 52lb salmon found in the Cywyn. The rivers are mainly tree lined and as with all smaller Carmarthenshire rivers, fishing is best after a falling spate though you must move fast before the water drops too far. And be ready to catch something larger than you expect. Worm fishing these closed-in rivers is one of the best ways to catch though the spinner, for many, has become the chosen method; while fly fishing is challenging though rewarding with a 7 foot rod and some skilful casting. The Cynin has public footpaths near the river which can be enjoyed by the family while anglers try their luck nearby and fishy tales abound in pubs at Meidrim and Bancyfelin. (Fishing Map »)