Summary
Boat Cove, Pendeen is a small, rugged launch cove tucked beneath Pendeen Watch on Cornwall’s exposed north coast. It’s classic granite-and-kelp country with quick access to depth, perfect for wrasse, pollack and bass in the right conditions. The setting is dramatic and remote-feeling, rewarding careful anglers with quality fish and big-swell ambiance.
Location and Access
Reaching the mark involves a short coastal walk and a steep descent to the historic slipway. It’s not a casual stroll—expect uneven ground and a bit of a scramble, but the payoff is a compact, fishy cove with immediate water underneath you.
- Drive to Pendeen Watch and use the lighthouse car park (closest commonly used postcode: TR19 7ED), or limited roadside lay-bys nearby—do not block gates or passing places.
- From the car park, follow the South West Coast Path a short distance and drop down the steep path to the cove/slip; footing is rough, and the final section can be slippery with weed.
- The mark comprises a small cobbled/slab slipway and low ledges; space is limited at high water.
- Trolleys are impractical; pack light and use a rucksack. Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Seasons
This is mixed rough ground with kelp gullies and quick depth, producing a classic north-coast species mix. Summer and autumn are prime, but there’s winter sport for the prepared.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early bass on calmer spells
- Occasional garfish later in spring; rockling in rough seas and at night
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Mackerel, scad, pollack, wrasse (ballan/corkwing), garfish
- Bass on lures or crab baits around twilight and after dark
- Conger eel from the rough ground after dark; occasional bull huss
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bass at their best, chunky pollack, mackerel (early autumn), big scad
- Conger and huss in coloured seas at night; occasional gurnard from cleaner patches
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting on onshore blows, conger and rockling after dark
- Rare codling on heavy northerlies (uncommon, but possible)
Methods
Work with the structure: kelp fringes, gullies and ledges. Lure and float tactics shine in clearer water; heavier bottom gear scores after dark or when there’s some colour in the sea.
- Lures:
- Soft plastics (10–20 g) on 20–30 lb braid for pollack and bass; weedless paddletails and darting minnows excel along kelp edges at dawn/dusk.
- Metals/abachi jigs for mackerel and scad; step up leader to 20–25 lb fluoro to cope with granite.
- Float fishing:
- Set 8–15 ft for wrasse/pollack depending on ledge; baits: ragworm, live prawn, sandeel, mackerel strip.
- Use 20–25 lb trace and size 1–1/0 hooks; present tight to the weed line.
- Bottom tactics:
- Pulley or pulley dropper with a short snood and rotten-bottom weak link for leads; 3/0–5/0 strong hooks.
- Baits: peeler crab for bass/wrasse, squid or mackerel head/flake for huss and conger.
- A lead-lift helps clear snags on the retrieve.
- LRF/HRF:
- Micro metals and 2–7 g jigheads for scad and small pollack at dusk; HRF craws and creature baits for wrasse in daylight.
- Timing:
- Dawn and dusk are premium for bass and pollack; after-dark bait sessions produce conger/huss on a gentle to moderate swell.
Tides and Conditions
Tide and swell call the tune here. Aim for movement without danger, and use light levels to your advantage.
- Tide:
- Flood to high water often fishes best for wrasse and pollack; last two hours of flood into the first of the ebb are reliable.
- Neaps give manageable flow and good lure control; springs can be lively but productive if you can present safely.
- Swell and wind:
- Moderate W–NW swell with clear to lightly tinged water is ideal for lures.
- Strong northerlies and long-period swell create heavy backwash off the cliffs—avoid low ledges in these conditions.
- Light E/SE winds can flatten the sea and suit finesse methods.
- Light and water clarity:
- Clearer water: lures/float for pollack, gar, wrasse at first and last light.
- Coloured water: bait after dark for bass, huss and conger.
- Seasonality:
- Late spring to early autumn is the headline window; winter sport is largely nocturnal and bait-led.
Safety
This is an exposed Atlantic rock mark with a steep approach and limited standing room. Treat it as a committing venue: plan your exit, wear a lifejacket, and turn back if the swell feels marginal.
- Steep, uneven path and a slimy/weeded slip—sturdy boots with good grip; cleats help on the green stuff.
- Atlantic swell rebounds off the cliffs causing surges; avoid low platforms on any swell and never fish with waves washing the slip.
- Space reduces at high water—do not get boxed in; identify a safe retreat before setting up.
- Snaggy ground: expect to lose gear; use rotten-bottoms and keep rods high on the retrieve.
- Falling rocks are possible after heavy rain/frost; don’t linger under crumbling faces.
- Phone signal can be patchy in the cove; a whistle and headtorch are sensible. Fish with a partner after dark.
- Not accessible for those with limited mobility; no rails or even surfaces.
- Respect seals and nesting seabirds—keep distance and minimize noise, especially in spring.
Facilities
Facilities are sparse at the mark, so arrive self-sufficient. Nearby villages offer essentials within a short drive.
- Parking at Pendeen Watch (TR19 7ED) and limited lay-bys—no facilities at the cove itself.
- Nearest public toilets, café and hot drinks typically at Geevor Tin Mine (TR19 7EW) during opening hours; pubs/shops in Pendeen village.
- No tap water, shelter or bins at the cove—pack out all litter and line.
- Mobile signal varies: generally better up by the lighthouse than down in the cove.
Tips
Small tweaks make a big difference on this compact, snaggy venue. Think stealth, angle control and smart tackle choices.
- Fish high and tight to the kelp line with a float rather than dragging bottom in daylight—you’ll hook more wrasse and lose fewer leads.
- Use a short 12–18 inch snood on bottom rigs to reduce snagging in gullies.
- Carry a lead-lift and a few 3–4 oz leads on 10–12 lb rotten-bottom links; accept some losses as the price of entry.
- On clear evenings, try a slow-rolled 12–16 g paddletail just sub-surface at dusk—bass patrol surprisingly close in.
- If seals are working the cove (common), switch to lures and keep fish in the water until release; move a short distance if they’re persistent.
- Tidal height changes the ‘feel’ of the venue—at LW target gullies and tongues; at HW work the slip edge and eddies with a float or soft plastics.
- Keep noise and headtorch use low at night; the cove fishes better when it’s quiet.
Regulations
Angling is generally permitted from the shore here, but you are within protected coastal designations where responsible fishing is expected. Always check the current year’s rules before your trip.
- Marine Conservation Zone: The West Penwith MCZ covers this coastline. Recreational hook-and-line angling is allowed, but avoid disturbing protected habitats and wildlife.
- European seabass (as of 2024 rules): 2 fish per angler per day may be retained from 1 March to 30 November; catch-and-release only in January–February and December; minimum size 42 cm. Check for updates for the current season.
- Mackerel (MMO): Recreational daily bag limit of 20 fish per person (introduced 2024) applies in this area; verify any changes before fishing.
- Cornwall IFCA minimum sizes: Adhere to local MLS for species such as bass (42 cm) and all crab/lobster rules if you incidentally catch crustaceans; do not interfere with pots or marker lines.
- No local shore-angling ban is posted at the time of writing, but always obey any onsite signage, seasonal bird protection notices, and private property boundaries.
- General: Use barbless or crushed barbs for easier releases; retain only what you’ll eat, and release big breeding wrasse and bass where possible.
