Black Head, St Austell Bay Fishing

Summary

Black Head sits on the south side of St Austell Bay, a rugged National Trust headland between Porthpean and Pentewan. Deep water close in, kelp-fringed gullies and mixed rough ground make it a classic Cornish rock mark for lure and float fishing. It rewards effort with wrasse, pollack and summer surface life, and offers shelter in many prevailing wind directions.

Location and Access

Access is via the South West Coast Path, with the easiest approaches from Porthpean or the tiny hamlet of Trenarren. Expect a scenic but committing walk and some exposed ground near the fishing spots. Plan your route in daylight first if you intend to fish dusk or after dark.

• Park at Porthpean Beach car park (pay-and-display, seasonal) or in the small National Trust car park above Trenarren; spaces are limited and lanes are narrow with passing places.
• From Trenarren/Black Head car park it is roughly 15–25 minutes on foot to the headland; from Porthpean allow 30–45 minutes depending on pace and kit.
• The last sections are on uneven cliff paths with short steep pitches and occasional loose surface; good boots are essential and hands-free carry (rucksack) is strongly advised.
• Fishing is from rock ledges and firm platforms on the flanks of the headland; some lower ledges are only sensible in calm seas. Avoid climbing down wet, weeded ramps.
• Do not block gateways or farm access, keep dogs under control, and stay on marked paths across National Trust land.

Seasons

The headland fishes like a classic rough-ground Cornish mark with lively summer sport and scratchier winter options. Expect resident wrasse and pollack, with pelagic species sweeping past in settled weather.

• Spring (Apr–May): Ballan and cuckoo wrasse, school pollack, early bass on lures, occasional mackerel late spring.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Pollack, ballan and cuckoo wrasse, mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, occasional bass; chance of black bream and squid in calm clear spells.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Pollack at their best (especially at dusk), mackerel and scad shoals, wrasse still reliable, garfish through to first blows, occasional bass; strap conger after dark.
• Winter (Dec–Mar): Pouting, poor cod, whiting in calmer periods, dogfish; strap conger on big baits; rare codling in cold snaps.
• Year-round occasionals: Bull huss on heavier bottom gear, launce (greater sandeel), and the odd gurnard where rough meets cleaner patches.

Methods

Lure and float tactics shine here over the rough ground, with bottom fishing best kept simple and sacrificial. Travel light, fish mobile, and adapt to water clarity and tide.

• Lure fishing:
  • Pollack: 15–40 g metals, or 4–6 inch soft plastics (white, sandeel, or natural browns) on 10–20 g jig heads or weedless Texas rigs; work tight to kelp edges and drop-offs.
  • Bass: Shallow-diving plugs and 4–5 inch weedless soft plastics across tide seams on calmer evenings and flooding tides.
  • Mackerel/scad: Small metals, casting jigs and slim spoons; single lures are safer than multi-feather rigs on cliff marks.
• Float fishing:
  • Set 8–15 ft for wrasse and pollack over kelp; ragworm, prawn, peeler crab, or sandeel strips.
  • Shallow set (2–6 ft) for garfish with tiny size 6–8 hooks and slivers of mackerel belly; keep bait moving.
• Bottom fishing:
  • Simple running ledger or pulley with a weak link (rotten-bottom) to sacrificial leads; 30–50 lb leader over abrasive granite.
  • Baits: Peeler crab, hardback crab, big ragworm or prawn for wrasse; mackerel, squid or bluey cocktail for conger, huss and dogfish after dark.
• Tackle notes:
  • Medium lure rod (7–35 g) for pollack/bass; a heavier 20–50 g rod if working bigger jigs in tide.
  • For bait, use strong gear (20 lb+ mainline or 30–40 lb braid with 50–60 lb leader) and 3/0–5/0 patterns for larger fish; consider a drop net for safe landing.

Tides and Conditions

Black Head has depth close in and will give bites over most states, but timing improves results. Water clarity and sea state are the key variables.

• Best tide windows: Flood to high water for wrasse and bass; last of the flood and first of the ebb for pollack and pelagics.
• Light to moderate northerly or westerly winds leave the south-facing bay relatively settled; strong southerly or easterly swells make it dangerous and poor for fishing.
• Dusk and dawn are prime, especially the hour around sunset for pollack, scad and garfish.
• After 2–3 days of settled weather, expect clear water and increased lure/float action; wrasse tolerate a little colour but not heavy swell.
• Springs can run hard around the head; neaps give easier float and bottom control. Use heavier metals or add weight to get down on springs.

Safety

This is an exposed cliff and rock mark with committing access. Treat it with the same respect as any high-energy Atlantic shoreline, even on calm days.

• Not suitable for those with limited mobility; paths are narrow, uneven and occasionally exposed with steep sections.
• Wear a personal flotation device, grippy boots, and carry a headtorch plus spare light if fishing into dusk or dark.
• Swell can surge and rebound off the headland; avoid low ledges in any swell and never turn your back on the sea.
• Use a rotten-bottom for rough ground and consider a drop net rather than hand-lining fish up cliffs.
• Avoid visiting alone; tell someone your plan and carry a charged phone. Be mindful of loose rock and wet weeded slabs.
• Some lower platforms can become cut off or heavily washed on high spring tides and southerly swells; always assess in daylight first.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the headland itself, and the walk-in means you should pack self-sufficiently. Services exist in nearby coastal villages and St Austell.

• Nearest public toilets are typically at Porthpean Beach (seasonal) and in Pentewan/Mevagissey; check opening times outside summer.
• Cafés, pubs and shops in Charlestown, Pentewan and Mevagissey; full supermarkets and fuel in St Austell.
• Tackle and bait are available in St Austell and Mevagissey; phone ahead for live bait (ragworm/peeler) in peak season.
• Mobile signal ranges from fair to patchy on some networks around the headland and in coves.

Tips

Think stealth and precision rather than heavy static fishing. The fish hold to structure and edges where tide brushes the kelp.

• Spend five minutes scanning from height to pick out kelp tongues, clearer patches and working birds before choosing a ledge.
• Weedless soft plastics save gear and reach fish lurking tight to fronds; colour up white/pearl on dull days and go natural in bright sun.
• For wrasse, a fist-sized crab bait or a big bunch of rag under a float often out-fishes small ledgers; keep moving until you find a resident pocket.
• On calm summer evenings, scale down for garfish and scad at surface with tiny strips and slow retrieve under a float.
• Avoid using full feather strings from cliffs; single lures or two-hook sabikis are safer and tangle less when multiple fish hit.
• A couple of cable ties make quick rotten-bottom links; accept losing leads to save rigs and fish.
• Respect National Trust land: no camping or fires, take all litter out, and keep noise down at dusk when wildlife is active.

Regulations

Recreational sea angling is generally permitted at Black Head, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check for updates with the MMO and Cornwall IFCA before your trip.

• Bass: In 2024 the English south-west rule allowed up to two bass per angler per day at a minimum size of 42 cm during the open retention period (typically Mar–Nov). Outside the retention period it is catch-and-release only. Check the current dates and limits before fishing.

• Tope: It is illegal to retain tope caught by rod and line in England; release unharmed.

• Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS): Cornwall IFCA/MMO publish sizes for species such as bass, wrasse (where applicable), mackerel and others; measure fish and release undersized specimens.

• Marine protected areas: The headland lies on National Trust coastline; there is no local angling ban, but additional bylaws may apply to commercial gear. Anglers should avoid disturbing nesting seabirds and seals.

• Access: Stick to public rights of way and NT guidance; do not cut new paths or climb fences. Night fishing is not prohibited, but be considerate to residents and wildlife.

• Bait collection: Some local beaches and rocks allow hand-gathering of bait for personal use; observe local bylaws and avoid hammering living rock. Never use crowbars in SSSI features.

• Litter and fish welfare: Take all line and litter home, and consider using barbless or crushed-barb hooks where practical for easy release.

• Always verify the latest rules on the MMO and Cornwall IFCA websites before you go, as regulations can change mid-season.