Summary
Bude Breakwater guards the mouth of Bude Haven on Cornwall’s exposed north coast and offers classic rough-ground fishing with clean-sand fringes. It’s a dramatic, productive mark for bass, wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics—well worth the effort when the swell is small and the water clear.
Location and Access
Access is straightforward from Bude town and Summerleaze Beach, with a short but uneven walk to reach the best spots. The final approach is over rough stone with no railings, so plan and pack accordingly.
- Parking: Summerleaze Beach Car Park (pay & display; typical postcode EX23 8HJ). Alternative parking around The Wharf/Canal short walk away.
- Approach: Follow beach/harbour paths to the base of the breakwater, then continue along the paved/stone top; allow 5–15 minutes depending on tide and kit.
- Terrain: Uneven granite blocks and weeded rock edges; some sections are narrow and can be wet from overtopping waves.
- Where to fish: Outer (seaward) face and the tip for depth and tide run; inner (harbour) side towards the mouth for mullet and opportunistic bass on the flood.
- Kit carry: A trolley is OK on the paths but awkward on the blockwork—rucksack and rod sling are easier.
- Night access: Viable in settled weather; bring a headtorch and spare light. Sections may be taped off after storms—respect closures.
Seasons
Expect a classic Atlantic mix with rough-ground residents and summer visitors, plus winter shoal fish after dark. Seasonality matters here, and conditions can flip the switch quickly.
- Spring–summer: Bass, pollack, garfish, mackerel, scad (horse mackerel), ballan and corkwing wrasse, thick- and thin-lipped mullet (harbour side), occasional flounder inside the haven.
- Late summer–autumn: Peak for mackerel/gar at dusk, wrasse consistent in settled seas, increasing bass activity around the mouth.
- Autumn–winter: Whiting, pouting, bull huss, conger eel, rockling; the odd codling on a northerly blow.
- Year-round ever-presents: Dogfish (LSD), pollack on kelp edges, opportunistic bass in coloured water after rain.
Methods
Both mobile lure tactics and traditional bait fishing score here; choose methods to match the sea state and your tolerance for snags. Expect heavy abrasion—rig for rough ground and carry spares.
- Lure fishing: 20–40 g metals and sandeel-style spoons for mackerel/scad; diving plugs and soft plastics for bass/pollack along the outer face, especially at dawn/dusk. 20–30 lb fluoro leader over 15–30 lb braid.
- Float fishing: Set 8–12 ft for gar/mackerel with strip mackerel; rag/prawn/peeler for wrasse tight to kelp edges. Keep floats moving with the tide line.
- Bottom fishing (rough ground): Pulley or pulley-pennel (3/0–4/0) with a weak/rotten-bottom link to sacrificial sinkers. Baits: peeler crab, whole sandeel, squid, mackerel head/fillet for bass/huss.
- Scratch rigs (cleaner edges/inside): 2-hook flapper size 1–2 for whiting/pouting; small strips of mackerel/squid or worm baits.
- Wrasse tactics: Crab or prawn baits, or Texas-rigged creature soft plastics; hit and hold to keep fish clear of kelp. 30–40 lb abrasion leader recommended.
- Night conger: 80 lb mono trace, strong hooks (6/0), big oily baits; use a long-handled drop net for safe landing.
Tides and Conditions
This Atlantic mark fishes best on a rising tide in settled conditions with small swell. Big surf turns it into a snaggy, dangerous wash and is not worth the risk.
- Tide: Half-flood to HW and the first hour of ebb are prime for bass and pollack; low water reveals gullies for wrasse but watch your retreat.
- Swell: <1 m with shorter periods is generally manageable; long-period groundswell can overtop even at modest heights—assess in person.
- Wind: E/SE (offshore) brings clarity for lures; W/NW builds swell and weed. After rain, coloured outflow from the canal can switch on bass but hurts lure visibility.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk for bass/pollack and summer pelagics; darkness in autumn/winter for whiting, pouting and huss.
- Seasonality: May–Oct for mackerel/gar/wrasse; Sep–Jan for winter species; conger best Jun–Nov during calm nights.
Safety
This is an exposed breakwater with a history of wave overtopping—treat it with utmost respect. If you’re wondering whether it’s safe, it isn’t: choose another day or another mark.
- Hazards: Overtopping waves even on ‘small’ forecasts; slippery weeded rock; uneven surfaces; sudden surges around the tip.
- Personal safety: Wear a modern auto-inflating lifejacket, studded boots/cleats, and carry a headtorch. Fish with a partner and keep a safe set-back from edges.
- Closures: The Harbour Master/Council may close sections during storms—obey signage and barriers.
- Accessibility: Unsuitable for wheelchairs and challenging for limited mobility due to steps/blocks and lack of railings.
- Other users: Popular walking route and near lifeguarded bathing zones—cast considerately and avoid crowding.
- Emergency awareness: Know your exit paths, keep phones charged, and give someone your plan.
Facilities
Bude is a well-served seaside town, so you’re never far from amenities. Expect busy summer days and quieter winters with reduced opening hours.
- Toilets: Public toilets at/near Summerleaze Beach and car parks; seasonal showers.
- Food & drink: Cafés, kiosks and pubs within a short walk of the beach/harbour.
- Tackle & bait: Bait and tackle available in Bude town; check seasonal hours or ring ahead for fresh bait.
- RNLI: Lifeguarded beach in season adjacent to the breakwater; lifeboat operations near the harbour mouth—give clear water if launched.
- Connectivity & lighting: Generally good mobile signal; minimal lighting after dark—bring your own.
- Waste: Bins near car parks—pack out line and tackle offcuts.
Tips
Local patterns reward attention to swell period and water colour, and small moves can transform your session. Travel light, fish mobile, and don’t force it in marginal seas.
- Use a rotten-bottom link on any ledger rig; you’ll save more gear than you lose fish.
- A long-handled drop net makes safe landings from height and avoids risky climbs.
- Bass often show on the flood along the outer face and harbour mouth at first light—work white/pearl soft plastics or slim plugs up-tide.
- For wrasse, fresh crab or prawn outfishes everything in clear water; move a few yards if you’re snagging repeatedly.
- Summer evenings: micro-metals and small jigs pick up scad under ambient town glow—keep retrieves brisk.
- Mullet inside the haven respond to light groundbaiting with mashed bread; use fine lines and small hooks (size 8–12) and present naturally.
- If a seal appears, expect reduced hook-up/landing rates—switch to lure fishing or relocate to avoid feeding it.
Regulations
Rules are straightforward but can vary seasonally—always check on-site notices and the latest official guidance before you fish or retain fish. When in doubt, release.
- General access: Recreational fishing is typically permitted on the breakwater, but you may be asked not to fish into designated bathing zones when lifeguards are on duty; obey RNLI/Council and Harbour Master instructions.
- Bass: Recreational bass regulations (minimum size and seasonal bag limits) apply on the Cornish coast. As of 2024 the MCRS is 42 cm; check current MMO/DEFRA notices for open seasons and daily limits before retaining fish.
- Tope: No-take for recreational anglers in England under the Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order—release alive.
- Sizes/retention: Observe current Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for finfish and crustaceans; see Cornwall IFCA for up-to-date lists and any local byelaws.
- Handling: No gaffs on the breakwater; use a drop net. Practice careful catch-and-release for large wrasse, which are slow-growing breeders.
- Temporary restrictions: Severe weather can trigger closures; failure to comply may lead to enforcement action or rescue risk—plan alternative marks.
