Fishing
When it comes to relaxing outdoor activities, few can match the sheer pleasure of angling. Whether your interest is in sea, coarse or game, if you fancy some fishing, you will find Suffolk hard to beat. With its unspoilt rivers, beautiful coast line and abundant fishing lakes, which range from natural reed-fringed pools to large gravel pits stocked with specimen fish, there’s something for everyone.
Over the centuries commercial fishing has been one of Suffolk’s most important coastal industries. Its importance has gradually declined, but it’s still possible to buy wonderfully fresh fish, direct from the fishermen’s huts on the beach. Of course, it’s also possible (and much more fun!) to catch them for yourself - there’s tremendous sport to be enjoyed all along the coast and a range of species may be caught throughout the year. Information about tactics, bait and local hot spots can be found at the many local angling shops in the area.
The Waveney offers perhaps the finest river fishing and a wide range of opportunities, from wily chub in the intimate, alder-fringed upper reaches, to bream and pike in the open Broadland landscape of the lower river. Still water angling is widely available and the gravel pit complexes in the Waveney and Gipping valleys offer the chance to catch tench, bream, pike and especially carp to specimen size.
Game fishing is provided by a number of popular, day ticket fisheries. All offer excellent sport, in peaceful, uncrowded surroundings.
To fish in England you usually need to have a rod licence. These can be obtained from The Environment Agency.
The Go-Fish website is a useful listing of coarse fishing venues in Suffolk. The Cherry Tree Angling Club offers fantastic fishing in Suffolk along the Waveney Valley.
Boating in Suffolk
The coastline of Suffolk is probably best viewed from the deck of a boat. Five estuaries break up the coastline; the Stour, the Orwell, the Deben, the Alde and the Blyth. This creates a mosaic of landscapes with marshes and reed beds and provides a haven for sea and estuary birds.
The coast and estuaries of Suffolk provide some of the best leisure sailing on the east coast, with their many marinas, boat-builder's yards, sailing schools and clubs, waterside hamlets and ancient fishing villages.
Alternatively, there are numerous inland water sports centres where you can sail and windsurf. Oulton Broad and Alton Water are two of the most popular ones.
Water Sports
The Suffolk Water Sports Association has over 40 years experience of organising water sports activities from dinghy sailing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing.
Boat Trips
There are plenty of boat trips and boats for hire with a selection of cruises on rivers which are steeped in history and natural beauty. The following companies all offer boat trips in Suffolk:
Flatford, Stour (Trusty II): 01206 392656
Orford, MFL Lady Florence: 07831 698298
Orford, Regardless: 01394 450169
Orwell River Cruises, Orwell Lady: 01473 836680
Suffolk Cruises, Woodbridge Quay: 07850 773545
Canoeing and Canoe Hire
Canoes are a great way of watching wildlife. They are totally silent allowing you to get close to the wildlife on the rivers of Suffolk. Swans, herons and kingfishers can all be seen, and in summer the rivers are teeming with beautiful damselflies, butterflies and dragonflies. You may even glimpse a slight of an otter!
River Stour Boating, based in Bures St Mary, offers 2-day guided tours along the River Stour in the picturesque Dedham Vale.
Outney Meadow Caravan Park, at Bungay, has canoe hire in the Waveney Valley.
The Ipswich Canoe Club is an active club affiliated to the British Canoe Union and offers events year round including gentle paddles on local rivers.
Sudbury Canoe Club caters for both young and old paddlers, beginners or more advanced and organises trips along the River Stour.
The Waveney Valley Canoe Club is based in Bungay and is one of the largest clubs in East Anglia.
For detail of other clubs and centres in Suffolk and details on the British Canoe Union, visit the website of Canoe England.
Using the 'Interactive Suffolk Map'
Explore the Interactive Suffolk Map for information on all Suffolk County Council managed country parks and picnic sites, RSPB sites and Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves. Simply click on a brown information icon for further details of that site. Many sites have visitor centres, bird hides and information on the local environment and nature.
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