Summary
Carbis Bay Beach is a sheltered, sandy cove just east of St Ives on the northern coast of Cornwall. With clear water and an easterly/north-easterly aspect that tucks it out of the worst south-westerlies, it offers relaxed, family-friendly angling plus some rewarding sessions for bass, flatfish, and summer pelagics. It gets very busy in season, so timing and etiquette are key.
Location and Access
Set between Porthminster and Porthkidney, Carbis Bay is easy to reach by road, rail, or the South West Coast Path. Access is straightforward to the sand, though the hill from the village is steep and the beach car park fills quickly in summer.
- Parking: Beach/Hotel car park near the waterfront (postcode TR26 2NP); spaces are limited and charges apply, especially in peak season.
- Overspill: Additional parking in the village and by Carbis Bay railway station; expect a steep 8–12 minute walk down to the beach and longer back up.
- Public transport: The St Ives Branch Line stops at Carbis Bay station. Frequent buses run between St Ives, Carbis Bay, and Hayle.
- On foot: The South West Coast Path runs behind the beach; short walks connect to Porthminster (west) and Porthkidney/Hawk’s Point (east).
- Terrain: Mainly clean sand with gentle gradient; patches of small stone, and rocky fringes/ledges toward both ends.
Seasons
The bay produces a mix of flatfish, bass, and summer visitors, with winter bringing the usual small predators. Expect clearer water than most north coast beaches.
- Spring (Mar–May): Plaice, flounder, school bass, garfish late spring; odd gurnard; chance of a small-eyed ray after dark on sandeel.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Mackerel and garfish on calm evenings; bass on lures or bait; pollack and wrasse off the rock fringes; dabs/flounder; occasional small-eyed or painted ray at night; dogfish.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass time; mackerel can linger into September; garfish; plaice; tub/grey gurnard; occasional squid on very calm, clear nights.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting after dark, dabs, flounder; the odd bass in mild, coloured seas; dogfish.
Methods
Clean sand calls for lighter end tackle for flats, with options to scale up for bass or rays. The rocky ends offer simple spinning or float tactics when the beach is busy.
- Bottom fishing (flatties/whiting): 1–2 hook flappers or long-snood plaice rigs; size 2–1 hooks; beads/spoons and long snoods (60–90 cm) help plaice. 3–4 oz plain or watch leads to let baits wander.
- Bass on bait: Whole or half sandeel, peeler crab, lug or razor on a pulley or clipped-down rig with size 2/0–4/0 hooks. Fish the flooding tide, dusk, and when there’s a bit of colour and lift.
- Lures: Soft plastics (paddle/shads) and surface walkers for bass at first/last light; 15–30 g metals or small jigs for mackerel and gar. LRF gear will pick out gobies, small wrasse, and pollack around the rocks.
- Float fishing (rock fringes): Small strip baits (mackerel, sandeel) or sandeel sections set 4–10 ft for mackerel/gar/pollack in summer.
- Night sessions: Scale down for flats and whiting; small fish baits (mackerel strip, squid, worm cocktails). Scale up only if targeting rays with fresh sandeel or launce.
Tides and Conditions
Carbis Bay fishes through the range, but movement helps. Clarity is often excellent, favouring finesse and lure work in calm spells.
- Tide: Productive on the flood and around high water (last 2 up, first 2 down). Neaps can still fish well for flats; springs add welcome movement for bass.
- Wind/sea state: Sheltered in SW winds; best bassing with a modest northerly/north-easterly creating a push without heavy weed. Calm, clear evenings suit mackerel/gar and lure fishing.
- Time of day: Dawn/dusk for bass and pelagics; after dark in winter for whiting/dabs.
- Water clarity: In gin-clear water, drop line/trace diameter and use fluorocarbon; add subtle beads for plaice and keep baits neat.
Safety
This is a generally safe, gently shelving beach, but it’s a busy Blue Flag bathing beach in season and the ends can become cut-off on big tides. Treat the rock fringes as proper rock marks.
- Lifeguards (seasonal): Respect flagged bathing zones; do not fish inside red/yellow flags during patrol hours. Expect heavy watercraft traffic (SUPs, kayaks) in summer.
- Tides: Springs can reach the back of the beach—avoid setting up tight to the wall; be mindful of cut-off beneath the headlands.
- Swell and weed: Strong northerlies can push surf and rafts of weed into the bay; stand back from plunging water and reset if weed lines build.
- Rocks/cliffs: Slippery weeded rock, uneven footing, and occasional cliff debris near the ends. Wear boots with grip; a lifejacket is strongly advised if you step onto rock.
- Night fishing: Headtorch with spare batteries; tidy kit to avoid trip hazards on soft sand.
- Accessibility: Step-free slipway access exists, but soft sand makes mobility aids hard work. The hill to/from the station and village is steep.
Facilities
Facilities are good for a beach mark, with seasonal amenities right by the sand and more options in St Ives and Carbis Bay village.
- Toilets: Public facilities near the beach (seasonal opening).
- Food and drink: Beach café kiosks (seasonal) and hospitality at the Carbis Bay Hotel; numerous cafés and pubs in Carbis Bay and St Ives.
- Tackle/bait: Choice of tackle shops in St Ives and Hayle; check hours in winter and bring bait if arriving late.
- Lifeguards: Seasonal RNLI patrols—check noticeboards for dates/times.
- Connectivity: Generally good mobile signal on the promenade and beach.
- Transport: Carbis Bay railway station a short walk; frequent buses on the main road above the beach.
Tips
Beat the crowds and you’ll fish better—Carbis Bay rewards stealth and timing. Think light, long snoods and natural presentations in clear water.
- Early/late is king: Be set up for first light or fish into dusk; summer daytime sessions are often plagued by swimmers and paddlecraft.
- Plaice tweaks: Small orange/black beads and a spinner blade above the hook, slow-walked with a plain lead, can outfish static baits in spring.
- Follow the bait: Watch for sandeel shoals and working terns—clip on a slim metal or small casting jig when the birds switch on.
- Weed lanes: After onshore blows, fish a bait just outside the first weed line; flats and bass patrol these edges.
- Rays: If you must try, pick a quiet, dark night on a medium spring, cast long with fresh sandeel—and be patient.
- Travel light: A shoulder bag, one rod, and a small bucket keep you mobile on shifting tides and around crowds.
- Trains over parking: In high season the branch line is the least stressful way in and out.
Regulations
Sea angling from the beach is generally permitted; observe beach bylaws and lifeguard directions, especially during the bathing season. Always verify current rules before your trip—some measures change annually.
- Bathing beach rules: Do not fish within the red/yellow flagged swimming zone during lifeguard hours. Local seasonal bylaws may also restrict BBQs/fires and set dog access times.
- No licence: You do not need a licence to sea fish from the shore in England, but national and local byelaws still apply.
- Bass: Recreational bass retention is controlled by seasonal limits and a slot size. Check the latest DEFRA/MMO notice before retaining any bass.
- Minimum sizes: Cornwall IFCA publishes Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes for common species (e.g., plaice, mackerel, etc.). Measure your catch and return undersized fish promptly.
- Tope and protected species: It is illegal to retain tope caught by rod and line in England; release alive. Do not target or disturb seals, dolphins, or seabirds.
- Bait collection: Below mean high water mark, hand-gathering of common baits is generally allowed, but avoid protected areas and always follow the Shore Code; seek permission for any collection above the high-water line.
- Waste and access: Take all litter and line home; do not block emergency access points or private driveways when parking.
