Fishing venues

Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal

Chelmsford,Essex· CM2 6YT

Annual close season applies from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. Certain banks are private or out of bounds; observe canal notice boards.

AI-enriched — awaiting check

Species: 7 recorded
Day tickets: Check with venue
Night fishing: Available — check water
Waters: Not confirmed

About the water

The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal offers over 12 miles of river and canal fishing between the Gas Works at Browns Wharf in Chelmsford and Heybridge Basin. Named stretches include Hoe Mill, Papermill Lock and the water beside Tesco in Heybridge. Fishing access is from the towpath and public access banks, subject to signed exclusions and restrictions around navigation structures. The water holds roach, bream, tench, chub, perch, pike and carp. The website reports bream to 12lb and carp over 30lb, and notes that many remote stretches remain largely unfished. The fishing is shared with Maldon Angling Society, Chelmsford AA and Billericay DAA. Day tickets are available on the bank through Maldon Angling Society, not through CAPS. Night fishing is allowed, but the close season runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. Access and parking vary along the route. Springfield Lock has pay-and-display parking accessed from Wharf Road, while Heybridge Basin has a large public car park. Several other access points have limited or roadside parking, and some locks have no road access. No disabled facilities are provided. Anglers must keep the towpath clear and observe private or out-of-bounds banks. Live fish baits are prohibited, and an unhooking mat is required when fishing for carp or pike.

What you can catch

Species reported by anglers, owners or the venue’s website. Check current stocks with the venue.

Rules

Close season: 15 March–15 June inclusive. Do not dig swims, obstruct the towpath or behave inconsiderately towards other users. No live fish baits or carp sacks; unhooking mats are required for carp and pike. Fish must not be retained longer than six hours; distressed fish must be returned immediately. Carp over 5lb must not be retained except during officially booked matches. No fishing within 30 metres of locks or 15 metres of bridges, weirs, wharves, landing stages, permanent moorings or other navigational structures. Observe signed exclusions, including specified sections at Heybridge Basin, Paper Mill and Treasure Island. Fishing above Beeleigh Weir on the River Blackwater is excluded from the arrangement. Advertised match stretches close on both banks two hours before and one hour after the match.