Carne Beach Fishing

Summary

Carne Beach sits on the Roseland Peninsula between Pendower Beach and Nare Head, a sweeping south‑facing arc of clean sand with rocky fringes. It’s a classic Cornish surf mark for bass and flatties, with the option of lure fishing around the rockier ends when the surf is down. Quiet, scenic, and versatile, it rewards anglers who read the bars, gutters, and tide movement.

Location and Access

This is an easily reached, gently shelving beach with parking close by and straightforward paths. Access is best via the Roseland back roads, and the beach joins Pendower at low tide, giving plenty of room to spread out.

• Approach from Truro via the A390 then A3078 (St Mawes road); turn for Veryan (B3287) and follow signs to Carne/Pendower.
• Small beach‑level car park at Carne; larger National Trust parking at Pendower a short walk west along the sand. The Nare Hotel (postcode TR2 5PF) sits behind the eastern end.
• Beach access via sloped paths/ramps; the walk is easy on firm sand but lengthens if you park at Pendower and head to the far (Carne) end.
• Terrain: wide clean sand with intermittent shingle fringes; rocky outcrops and low reef at both ends towards Nare Head (east) and towards Pendower (west).

Seasons

The mark fishes year‑round with classic surf and mixed‑ground species. Seasonality matters, with bass peaks in late spring through autumn and winter whiting when the water cools.

• Spring (April–June):
  • Bass, schoolies building to better fish
  • Plaice and dabs on the cleaner patches
  • Spotted and small‑eyed ray in settled seas
• Summer (July–September):
  • Bass consistently, including at dusk/dawn in modest surf
  • Garfish and mackerel shoals within casting range in calm spells
  • Turbot (mostly small), gurnard, dabs
  • Wrasse and pollack from the rocky ends
  • Lesser weever fish in the shallows (hazard)
• Autumn (October–November):
  • Peak bass before the first big blows
  • Rays continue on sandeel/squid
  • Whiting arrive after dark; dogfish present
• Winter (December–March):
  • Whiting, dabs, flounder
  • Rockling and dogfish common
  • Odd codling in cold snaps (uncommon in recent years)

Methods

Match your approach to the surf and where you set up on the beach. The open sand favours simple surf rigs, while the rocky ends respond to lures and wrasse tactics.

• Bottom fishing (open beach):
  • 2‑hook flapper or wishbone with size 1–2 hooks for dabs/plaice/whiting
  • Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) or up‑and‑over with whole sandeel/peeler/squid for bass and rays
  • Clipped‑down rigs for range when the fish sit beyond the first bar
  • Best baits: fresh lugworm, ragworm, whole sandeel (frozen fine), peeler crab, squid/mackerel cocktails
• Lure fishing (rocky fringes and first gutters):
  • Surface/sub‑surface plugs and slim minnows in clear, gentle surf at dawn/dusk
  • Soft plastics on weedless hooks worked along reef edges for bass; small paddletails for pollack
• Float/spinning (calm, clear water):
  • Float‑fished strips of mackerel or sandeel for garfish
  • Metals (20–40 g) for mackerel when they’re showing
• Tactics by time:
  • Dusk into night boosts bass and later whiting; daylight with a light chop fishes well for plaice and gurnard
  • After a blow, step up to stronger snoods and bigger baits to punch through surf and crab activity

Tides and Conditions

Reading the bars and gutters is key here. Carne fishes best with a gentle to moderate surf and some movement in the water, with the flood often out‑fishing the ebb.

• Tide states:
  • Last third of the flood, high water, and first hour of the ebb are prime for bass and rays
  • Spring low tides expose gullies and reef—great for prospecting, but plan your route off
• Sea conditions:
  • A 1–3 ft rolling surf with a touch of colour is ideal for bass; too much swell/weed can kill it
  • Clear, calm seas suit lures and float tactics at the rocky ends
• Wind:
  • Light to moderate S–W onshore builds helpful surf; easterlies flatten and clear the water (better for lures)
• Time of day/seasonality:
  • Dawn/dusk year‑round; autumn evenings are often the most consistent for better bass
  • Give it 24–48 hours after big blows for sand/weed to settle

Safety

This is a friendly, open beach, but rips and slippery rocks at the ends demand respect. If you step onto ledges or boulders, treat it like a rock mark.

• Rips form around sandbars and near the rocky ends—avoid wading deep in a building swell
• Rocky platforms are kelp‑covered and very slippery; never fish them on a rising swell
• Ends can become isolated by tide and swell—know the tide times and your exit routes
• Lesser weever fish in summer—wear footwear; hot‑water first aid for stings
• Soft cliffs/erosion behind sections of beach—don’t sit or stash gear under them
• Night sessions: headtorch, spare light, and a buddy recommended
• Lifejacket strongly advised if fishing from rocks or wading beyond knee depth
• Accessibility: beach access is via sloped paths; once on the sand it’s flat but not wheelchair‑friendly

Facilities

Facilities are low‑key but adequate if you plan ahead. Expect seasonal availability typical of rural Cornwall.

• Parking at Carne (small) and Pendower (larger; National Trust) with seasonal charges
• Public toilets typically at Pendower car park (often seasonal); limited or none directly at Carne out of season
• Seasonal beach café/kiosk at Pendower; The Nare Hotel (Carne) is primarily for guests
• Nearest provisions in Veryan and Portscatho; wider services in Truro/St Austell
• Tackle and bait in Truro, Falmouth, or St Austell—buy before you head down the peninsula
• Mobile signal is generally fair on open sand but can dip near the cliffs

Tips

Small tweaks make a big difference at Carne. Treat it like two or three micro‑marks rather than one long beach.

• Read the beach: pick a gutter draining off a sandbar and drop a bait at its mouth on the flood—classic bass trap
• If crabs are rampant, use tough baits (squid wraps, crab elastic) or switch to lures at the rocky edges
• For rays, fish medium springs, 1–3 hours after low with sandeel/squid at range; avoid heavy kelp days
• Pop‑up beads can lift worm baits over tiny weed strands and help dabs/plaice find them
• Night whiting often sit surprisingly close—don’t ignore a short rod at 30–50 yards
• Late‑summer nights can glow with bioluminescent plankton—great fun on lures and easy to track line
• Carne and Pendower join at low water—use the extra space to escape bathers/daytime swimmers
• After a big SW blow, check the eastern (Nare) end first; it can clear a touch quicker

Regulations

Rules are straightforward but do change—always check current guidance from the MMO and Cornwall IFCA before you go. Do not rely on outdated online posts.

• European bass (recreational): as last published for 2024, 42 cm minimum size; 2 fish per angler per day; retention typically permitted 1 March–30 November, catch‑and‑release outside those dates. Verify current year rules before retaining fish.
• Tope: it is illegal to retain rod‑caught tope in England; catch‑and‑release only.
• Spurdog: no recreational retention—release carefully.
• Undulate ray: protected—release if caught.
• Shellfish: Cornwall IFCA size limits and protections apply (e.g., no taking undersized or berried crabs/lobsters); check local bylaws if gathering.
• Protected sites and access: sections of the backshore are sensitive (SSSI/erosion). Keep off vegetated dunes, obey any National Trust/Council signage, and note any seasonal dog restrictions.
• General: no fires/BBQs on dunes, take all litter and line home, and be considerate of swimmers and watersports users.