Welcome to the best places to fish in Essex

Colchester Angling Preservation Society Ltd, or CAPS as we are known, have been providing angling in Essex since 1921.

2026/7 MEMBERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED.
Any queries to [email protected].

CAPS aim is to provide more and varied fishing for the members through the improvement of existing fisheries and the acquisition of new waters. Providing CAPS members with a good and varied sport in pleasant surroundings at a reasonable cost. In respect of the first point we have an ongoing programme of improvements to all our waters to help facilitate this, from fish stocking to swim building and most recently, protecting some of our fisheries with the installation of Otter fencing. 

We have 15 Stillwaters with over 80 acres between them, plus in excess of 12 miles of the Chelmer & Blackwater Canal and access to a 5 mile stretch of the River Stour between Nayland and Langham and a 1 mile section of the River Stour at Henny. Our waters contain Carp to over 40lb, Tench to over 12lb, Chub over 6lb, along with a good head of Pike, Roach, Bream and other silver fish. Night fishing is allowed on most of our venues. So, if you are a Carp angler after a PB or a pleasure angler looking for a day out, we have a water that caters for you. All of our Stillwaters are open all year.

Fishing is an active, outdoors activity and you should be mindful of your safety at all times.