Best Fishing in Liverpool (2026): Top Spots, Lakes & Rivers Within 25 Miles
28 named fishing venues sit within 25 miles of Liverpool — carp lakes, day-ticket fisheries, canals and river stretches. Below are the top 12, sorted by distance, with species, descriptions and direct links to each venue page.
Listicle
Top 12 Fishing Spots in Liverpool
Sorted by distance from Liverpool city centre. Click any venue for full details: species, facilities, postcode and how to book.
- 1
Firswood Fisheries
· 13 miles NE of LiverpoolA small, family-owned and operated fishery in Lathom South, Lancashire — well maintained and fully stocked with bream, carp, chub, roach, rudd and tench.
breamcarpchubroachruddtench
- 2
Moathouse Fisheries
· 13 miles E of LiverpoolMoathouse Fisheries is a customer-access fishing venue in Bold, St. Helens.
- 3
Weston Angling Club
· 14 miles E of LiverpoolWeston Angling Club is a private fishing venue in Sandymoor. The fishery holds bream, carp, catfish and chub, with bailiff on site.
breamcarpcatfishchubperchpike
- 4
Mary Ann Meadows
· 15 miles E of LiverpoolMary Ann Meadows is a fishing venue near Great Sankey.
- 5
Crompton's Pond
· 15 miles E of LiverpoolCrompton's Pond is a fishing venue near Wigan, unparished area.
- 6
Manley Springs Coarse Fishery
· 16 miles SE of LiverpoolManley Springs is a tranquil 3-pond coarse and carp fishery near Manley village, Cheshire, with carp, pike and tench. Wheelchair access available; just arrive and start fishing.
carppiketench
- 7
- 8
Lloyds Meadow Fishery
· 16 miles SE of LiverpoolLloyds Meadow Fishery near Chester comprises four mixed coarse lakes with carp, bream, barbel and chub. Disabled-friendly pegs and night fishing allowed; bring your own food.
barbelbreamcarpchubpike
- 9
The Mount
· 16 miles S of LiverpoolThe Mount is a fishing venue near Buckley, holding carp, common carp, gudgeon, mirror carp, perch.
carpcommon carpgudgeonmirror carpperchpike
- 10
Banister House Farm Fishery
· 17 miles N of LiverpoolCoarse fishery in Preston, Lancashire holding carp, catfish, barbel, bream and pike, with camping, glamping, lodges, tackle shop and night fishing.
barbelbreamcarpcatfishchubcrucian
- 11
Mere Lane Fishery
· 17 miles N of LiverpoolMere Lane Fishery is a fishing venue near Preston.
- 12
Banister House Fishery
· 17 miles N of LiverpoolBanister House Fishery is a fishing venue near Preston.
Want more options? Browse the full regional pond directory →
Access & Licensing
Free vs Day-Ticket Fishing Near Liverpool
Most UK fishing falls into one of three access types. Here's how they break down around your area.
Day-Ticket Fisheries
Commercial venues with stocked lakes, pegs, parking and toilets. Tickets typically £8–£25 per day. Best for beginners, families and anyone wanting reliable bites near Liverpool.
Free Fishing
Public stretches of river, canal towpaths and some park lakes. No venue fee — but you still need a valid rod licence (or permit in Scotland and NI). Plenty of free urban water exists around Liverpool.
Club Waters
Annual club memberships (£30–£150/year) unlock multiple lakes and river beats around Liverpool. Best value if you fish weekly. Most clubs have waiting lists for prime carp waters.
Licence requirement in Liverpool
Anyone aged 13+ fishing freshwater in Liverpool needs an Environment Agency rod licence. A 1-day licence costs £7.30, 8-day £14.70, and a full annual coarse and trout licence £36.80 (2025-26 rates). You can buy one in minutes at GOV.UK. Sea fishing from the shore is free and needs no licence.
When to Go
Best Time to Fish Near Liverpool
Each season opens different doors. Here's what to target through the year.
Spring
March – May
Spring is when waters near Liverpool wake up. Stillwater carp start feeding from late April once temperatures climb above 10°C. Trout season opens in most rivers and reservoirs from mid-March. Note the statutory river close season runs 15 March to 15 June for coarse fish in England and Wales.
Summer
June – August
Peak season. Carp, tench and bream feed hard on stillwaters around Liverpool, rivers reopen on 16 June, and barbel come into form. Early-morning and late-evening sessions beat the heat. Sea fishing along the nearest coast picks up for mackerel and bass.
Autumn
September – November
Autumn around Liverpool is the predator-angler's window — pike, perch and zander start hunting hard as small fish shoal up. Carp also feed up before winter. River conditions are usually at their best after the first decent rain.
Winter
December – February
Winter near Liverpool thins the crowds. Pike fishing peaks on rivers and reservoirs, chub stay catchable on rivers throughout, and stocked rainbow trout fisheries fish well year-round. Pick mild, overcast days and target deeper water where fish hold up.
Liverpool Fishing FAQ
There are over 28 named fishing venues within 25 miles of Liverpool, ranging from commercial day-ticket carp lakes to free stretches of river and canal. The top spots within easy reach include Firswood Fisheries, Moathouse Fisheries, Weston Angling Club. Each offers different species and access — see the listing below for distance, species and a description of each venue.
Yes. While you still need an Environment Agency rod licence, plenty of free fishing exists near Liverpool along Canal & River Trust towpaths (over 2,000 miles of waterway across England and Wales), public river stretches and some council park lakes. Many urban canals running through Liverpool can be fished for free with just a rod licence.
Yes. Liverpool is in England and Wales, so anyone aged 13 or over fishing inland waters needs an Environment Agency rod licence. Prices start at £7.30 for one day or £36.80 for a full year (2025-26). Under 13s fish free. Sea fishing from the shore is free and needs no licence unless you target salmon or sea trout.
The most commonly stocked and reported species across venues within 25 miles of Liverpool are Carp, Tench, Pike, Bream, Chub, Roach. Carp is the dominant target species at most commercial fisheries, while rivers and reservoirs in the area also hold pike, perch, roach, bream and tench.
Based on proximity and venue data, Firswood Fisheries is the closest fishing venue to Liverpool at around 13 miles NE. A small, family-owned and operated fishery in Lathom South, Lancashire — well maintained and fully stocked with bream, carp, chub, roach, rudd and tench. Browse the listing below to compare top venues by distance.
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