Morecambe Bay is well
known to millions of people as a holiday destination with shallow
seas and warm, sandy beaches for children to play on. But those
who live and work the Bay often see a different side of it, a side
that the day trippers never see. When the westerly gales howl in
off the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay reveals its Jekyll
and Hyde nature.
The Bay itself is an area of 195 square miles and at extreme low
tides 120 square miles are exposed as a sandy desert, which boasts
the largest area of intertidal sand and mudflats in the UK. But
its funnel-shape, broad and shallow formation and a 10 metre-high
range in its tide mean it can change into a death trap in minutes.
The flood tide rushes into the
bay faster than a man can run and seawater that surges up gullies
between sand ridges can easily cut people off.
As most of you will remember,
in February 2004, more than 20 cocklers died whilst working out
of the Hest bank area. This is a tragic reminder of how dangerous
the sands can be.
People should understand this
is a dangerous place to be if you don't know it. There are untold
numbers of gullies and channels that run into the bay and they change
on a daily basis. Areas that can appear firm one day can be quicksand
the next
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Google
Maps Link of Morecambe
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The
venue: Mixed to rough ground. In summer expect School bass
with the odd bonus fish if you are lucky, eels, and flatfish. Codling,
Pouting and Whiting with the odd Dab in winter.
To the right of the skeer is open
sand where Lug can be dug if required. Walk straight out from the
paddling pool. Peeler crab can often be found by running your hand
along the inside walls of the paddling pool.
In strong tides be aware that
weed can become a problem on the flood. This usually eases as the
tide turns.
Where the Grosvenor hotel
once stood, the land is under development
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