Bass Point Fishing

Summary

Bass Point sits on the eastern flank of the Lizard Peninsula, a short walk east of Lizard Point in Cornwall. It’s a classic rough-ground rock mark with fast tidal run, deep gullies and kelp—prime territory for bass, pollack and big wrasse if you time it right.

Location and Access

Set on the South West Coast Path, Bass Point is reached from Lizard village or the lighthouse area via well-trodden cliff paths. The last approach to fishing ledges involves uneven, sometimes steep goat tracks and is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

• Approach: Drive to Lizard village and follow signs for Lizard Point; Bass Point lies a 10–20 minute walk east along the coast path past the lighthouse area.
• Parking: Use the Lizard Point/Lighthouse car parks or Lizard village green (TR12 7NQ area). Very limited roadside spaces near Bass Point/NCI—do not obstruct gates, the watch station, or emergency access.
• Walk-in: 10–25 minutes depending on car park; final descents are on rock/earth paths that can be slick after rain or sea spray.
• Terrain: Serpentine and schist rock ledges, kelp-filled gullies and boulders; extremely snaggy ground underfoot and subsurface.
• Access notes: The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) station is at Bass Point—be courteous, keep noise down, and don’t block their sightlines or access.

Seasons

This is an energetic Atlantic-facing mark with seasonal variety. Expect rough-ground specialists and predators that work the tide lines and kelp edges.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • European seabass (first pushes on building tides and mild spells)
  • Pollack (in close at dusk/dawn)
  • Ballan and cuckoo wrasse (warming spells)
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (dawn/evening, around fizz lines and bait)
  • Pollack (all states of tide in colour), mackerel and scad at range
  • Garfish on calm, clear days
  • Ballan wrasse (all sizes; occasional 5lb+)
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass (stormy periods as seas settle)
  • Bigger pollack, scad shoals, late mackerel
  • Conger eel and bull huss after dark
• Winter (Dec–Feb, weather windows):
  • Pollack on calmer days, conger and huss at night
  • Rockling; odd whiting if you can find cleaner patches
• Occasional/bonus:
  • Triggerfish in warm late summers, thick-lipped mullet in adjacent calmer coves, very rare spur dogfish in winter blows

Methods

Fast water and kelp mean strong, simple gear and presentation that rides the rough. Travel light, fish mobile, and match your method to the water clarity and run.

• Lure fishing (bass/pollack):
  • Weedless soft plastics (paddle/slug) on Texas/weighted hooks; 20–30 lb braid and 30–40 lb fluoro leader.
  • Shallow divers/topwaters across the fizz lines at dawn/dusk; metals/jigs when birds/whitebait show.
  • Work edges of the tide race rather than the full blast; long pauses on topwaters often trigger takes.
• Float fishing (wrasse/garfish/pollack):
  • Sliding float, 8–15 g; depth 8–20 ft over kelp skirts.
  • Baits: live or frozen sandeel, prawn, ragworm, mackerel strip; size 1–2/0 strong hooks.
• Bottom fishing (conger/huss/bass):
  • Pulley or running ledger with a weak-link/rotten-bottom to save leads; 4–6 oz depending on run.
  • 40–60 lb mono traces; big mackerel/squid cocktails for eels/huss after dark, peeler or large crab wraps for bass in a sea.
• Rigs and tackle notes:
  • Keep leaders abrasion-resistant; use long-nose pliers and a head torch for night unhooking.
  • A drop-net is rarely practical on these ledges; plan safe gaff-free landing or fish barbless and hand-line carefully in calm surges.

Tides and Conditions

Movement is everything here. You’re fishing rips, eddies and seams created by the headland—hit them when they’re forming and breaking.

• Tide state:
  • Best: last 2 hours of flood and first 2 of ebb for bass and pollack.
  • Wrasse often feed well mid-tide as the run steadies along kelp edges.
• Springs vs neaps:
  • Springs create strong rips—great for lures on the edges, tough for bottom gear.
  • Neaps are kinder for float/bottom presentations but can be slower for bass without wind/swell.
• Sea and clarity:
  • A 0.5–1.5 m rolling swell with some colour is ideal for bass; crystal-clear, calm seas suit topwater and surface garfish work.
  • After big storms, give it 24–48 hours for swell to drop and colour to fine down.
• Time of day/seasonality:
  • Dawn/dusk are prime year-round; night ledgering produces conger/huss.
  • Peak bass: late spring and again Sept–Oct, especially on building pressure and a bit of fizz.

Safety

This is a committing rock mark on an exposed headland. Treat all ledges as wave-washed, plan exits, and wear the right kit.

• Key hazards:
  • Atlantic swell wrap and rogue waves; surges rebound off the cliffs—stay well back and never turn your back on the sea.
  • Slippery serpentine rock and weed; studs or cleats and gloves recommended.
  • Some ledges become cut off around high water—know your route and timings.
• Personal safety:
  • Wear a modern auto-inflating lifejacket and carry a head torch and phone in a waterproof pouch.
  • Fish with a partner; tell someone your plan and exit time.
  • Use a weak-link for leads to avoid over-leaning on the edge when snagged.
• Accessibility:
  • Not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, or those with limited mobility.
  • Keep clear of the NCI station compound and any rescue access paths.

Facilities

Facilities are concentrated around Lizard Point and in Lizard village; there’s nothing on the ledges themselves. Plan to be self-sufficient and pack out all litter.

• Toilets: At Lizard Point car park and seasonally at the Lighthouse visitor area; more in Lizard village.
• Food and drink: Cafés and kiosks at Lizard Point in season; pubs/shops in the village (pasties, coffee, basics).
• Tackle/bait: Nearest shops typically in Helston and Porthleven; limited options on the peninsula—bring what you need.
• Emergency services: RNLI lifeboat station at Kilcobben Cove to the east; do not obstruct access roads.
• Connectivity: Mobile signal is generally fair on headlands but patchy in coves.
• Parking: Pay-and-display at Lizard Point/village green; no facilities at the ledges.

Tips

Think like a hunter: read the water for rips, seams, and bait, and keep moving until you find life. Subtle presentation and abrasion-resistant end tackle pay dividends here.

• On a gentle swell, work topwaters across the fizz lines at first light—pause near seams where bait stacks.
• In weed, go weedless with a slow, sinking soft plastic and count it down to just tick the kelp tops.
• For wrasse, prawn or rag on a strong size 1 hook under a float outfishes hard crab many days; strike positively and bully them clear of weed.
• Use a short, sacrificial weak link for leads (6–10 lb mono) to beat the snags without losing the whole rig.
• Polarised glasses help spot bait and scum lines; if seals start shadowing you, move marks.
• Handle wrasse carefully—barbless hooks and quick release; they’re slow-growing and local stocks benefit from C&R.
• The green/red mottled serpentine can be like ice when damp—test every step and avoid grassy, undercut lips.

Regulations

Cornwall’s south coast includes several protected areas and local byelaws. Shore angling is generally permitted at Bass Point, but you must follow national and Cornwall IFCA rules and any on-site signage.

• European seabass: Recreational bass fishing has strict seasonal/bag/size limits. Check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice before you go; when retention is permitted it is commonly limited to a small daily bag with a 42 cm minimum size, with catch-and-release only outside the retention period.
• Cornwall IFCA byelaws: It is illegal for recreational fishers to take/spinylobster (crawfish) within the Cornwall IFCA district; berried or v‑notched lobsters/crabs must not be retained. Observe all local minimum conservation sizes for crustaceans and finfish—check CIFCA’s current tables.
• Marine Protected Areas: The Lizard coastline includes designated sites (SAC/MCZ). Angling from shore is allowed, but the collection of certain species/habitats (e.g., seagrass, maerl, some invertebrates) may be restricted. Do not remove living reef life or seaweeds.
• Night fishing/lighting: No specific curfew, but avoid dazzling shipping/shore stations and keep clear of NCI/RNLI access.
• General: Use barbless or crushed barbs where possible, return undersized fish immediately, and dispose of line/weights responsibly.

Always verify up-to-date rules with the MMO and Cornwall IFCA before your session, as regulations can change during the year.