Summary
Church Cove, Gunwalloe sits on Cornwall's west Lizard coastline, with the little church of St Winwaloe tucked behind the sand and rocky ribs. It is a scenic, mixed-ground mark offering surf beaches and reefy edges in close reach. Bass, wrasse and rays are the main draw, with pollack and huss from the rough ground and summer mackerel in the runs.
Expect a classic Cornish mix of clean sand, kelp gullies and boulder patches; Church Cove links north to Dollar Cove, giving options to match the swell and wind on the day.
Location and Access
Access is straightforward via the signed National Trust lane to Gunwalloe Church Cove off the A3083 (Helston–Lizard road), then a short walk to the beach. Dollar Cove lies just to the north via the coast path.
- Parking: National Trust car park for Church Cove (pay and display; free for members). Spaces can fill on summer days.
- Walk-in: 2–5 minutes on a firm path and short steps. Coast path to Dollar Cove adds another 5–10 minutes over uneven ground.
- Terrain: Church Cove is mainly sand with rock ledges at either end; Dollar Cove is more pebbly with boulders and kelp-scattered ground.
- Night access: Simple, but bring a good headtorch; paths are unlit and can be slippery in dew.
- Public transport: Infrequent rural services; most anglers drive.
- Notes: Follow National Trust and RNLI signage; avoid trampling fragile dunes.
Seasons
This is a year-round venue with a strong summer–autumn surf-bass window. Mixed ground supports wrasse, pollack and nocturnal predators.
- Spring (Mar–May): bass after onshore blows; ballan and corkwing wrasse on the reefs; early pollack; occasional smoothhound on peeler crab; first mackerel late spring.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass, mackerel, garfish and scad; wrasse (best in clear water); pollack at dusk; dogfish; small to mid-sized rays (small-eyed most likely, the odd blonde on sand patches); gurnard occasional.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bassing; more reliable rays; pollack and pouting; conger and bull huss after dark; mackerel tapering; whiting start late.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting and pouting on calm nights; dogfish; bass in mild surf windows; pollack from the rocks when clear; conger after dark on the rougher edges.
- Occasional: a rare turbot or brill from the clean gullies; odd codling only after severe winter storms along this stretch.
Methods
You can fish both the surf and the rocks without long walks, so carry a compact surf setup plus a lighter lure/float outfit for the reefs.
- Surf bass and rays: 11–13 ft beach rod, 4–5 oz leads. Pulley or pulley-dropper with 20–30 mm clipped-down snoods for range. Baits: fresh peeler crab in spring, sandeel (whole or launce), squid/sandeel cocktails, lug or razor in coloured water.
- Wrasse: medium spinning rod or 9–10 ft lure rod. Weedless soft plastics (2–4 inch paddletails/creatures) or float-fished crab/rag along kelp edges. Scale up leaders (20–25 lb fluoro) to bully fish from snags.
- Pollack: lure fishing at dusk with metal jigs or sandeel patterns; count down over kelp and retrieve steadily. A simple running float with sandeel can be deadly in gentle swell.
- Night predators: big fish baits (mackerel or squid sections) for bull huss and conger from the rockier corners; strong abrasion-resistant rigs and rotten-bottoms recommended.
- Mobile lure work: in modest surf, cover water with surface walkers and shallow divers at first and last light along the Church–Dollar gutter lines.
- Rig notes: use rotten-bottom links over rough ground; long clip-down traces for rays; shockleader of 60 lb for 5 oz leads (10 lb per oz rule).
Tides and Conditions
Tide and sea state dictate where to stand: surf over sand for bass and rays; clearer, calmer water for wrasse and pollack on the reefs.
- Tide: mid-flood to top fishes well on both coves; first of the ebb can be good for bass. Low water is best for scouting reefs and safe ledges.
- Swell: 1–3 ft onshore surf with some colour is prime for bass; big westerly swells make it unfishable and hazardous. Light northerly/easterly winds clear the water for wrasse/pollack.
- Water clarity: coloured water for bass and rays; clear water for wrasse/pollack/garfish.
- Light: dawn, dusk and into dark for bass and pollack; full darkness for huss/conger; bright days still fine for wrasse tight to cover.
- Seasonality: June–November is the headline run for bass and mixed bags; winter windows reward patience on calmer nights.
Safety
This is a beach-into-reef venue with shifting sand bars, rips and kelp-slick rock. Take a cautious approach and prioritise safe stances.
- Rips and surf: strong rips form near rock points and gutters, especially on a pushing tide. Never wade beyond knee depth in surf and give flagged bathing zones a wide berth.
- Rock hazards: weeded ledges are extremely slippery; wear cleated boots and consider a flotation lifejacket when fishing off rocks.
- Cut-off risk: some ledges and boulder platforms toward Dollar Cove flood behind you on the mid-to-high; plan exits and check tide times.
- Casting space: in season the main Church Cove beach is popular; avoid casting anywhere near bathers and surfers. Obey RNLI lifeguard instructions.
- Night fishing: bring spare lights, a whistle and fish with a partner if possible; mobile signal can be patchy in dips.
- Accessibility: the beach path includes steps and uneven ground; not ideal for wheelchairs or very limited mobility.
Facilities
Facilities are simple but adequate, with seasonal services and larger amenities within a short drive.
- Parking: National Trust car park by Church Cove; overflow can occur in peak season.
- Toilets: typically seasonal near the car park (check opening times outside summer).
- Lifeguards: RNLI patrols usually operate in the main summer period at Church Cove; no patrol at Dollar Cove.
- Food and drink: Halzephron Inn sits above the cliffs; cafés at nearby Poldhu and Porthleven.
- Tackle and bait: options in Helston and Penzance; buy fresh bait en route in summer as it can sell out on hot days.
- Phone signal: generally fair on the cliff tops, variable down on the beach and in gullies.
Tips
This pair of coves rewards mobility and timing. Think like a hunter: read the water, fish the gutters and adjust with the swell.
- After a moderate blow, work lures tight along the Church–Dollar seam where sand meets reef; bass patrol these rips.
- Use a pulley-dropper to keep baits just above snags on the mixed ground and still present well for rays.
- Ballan wrasse love crab baits wedged behind foamy rocks; feed line on the take and then turn them fast.
- Summer evenings often see garfish dimpling tight to the backwash; a small strip of mackerel under a float is simple and deadly.
- Weed rafts can be heavy on onshore winds; step 20–30 m along the beach to find clearer lanes.
- Fun fact: Dollar Cove is named for coins lost to old wrecks that sometimes reappear after storms; if you find wreck material, report it to the Receiver of Wreck rather than pocketing it.
Regulations
Cornwall falls under Cornwall IFCA and national marine rules. Regulations change, so check Cornwall IFCA and GOV.UK/MMO before your trip.
- Bass: recreational rules commonly include a closed catch-and-release period over winter, with a 42 cm minimum size and a limited daily retention period and bag in spring–autumn. Verify current dates and limits before retaining any fish.
- Size and bag limits: observe minimum conservation reference sizes for species like cod, rays and flatfish; release undersized fish carefully.
- Shellfish: never take berried (egg-bearing) lobsters or crabs; respect MLS and any local potting or nursery ground restrictions.
- Marine protected areas: this stretch is outside the Manacles MCZ, but nearby sites exist on the Lizard; check if any specific local byelaws affect methods or areas.
- Bait collection: follow local bylaws and SSSI guidance; avoid damaging reefs and dune systems when gathering bait.
- Beach management: do not fish within flagged bathing areas when lifeguards are on duty; comply with any National Trust on-site signage.
- Wreck material: it is unlawful to remove finds from wrecks without reporting to the Receiver of Wreck.
