Church Cove, Lizard

Church Cove (Landewednack) sits on the sheltered east side of the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall, offering rough-ground rock fishing with a classic Cornish backdrop of thatched cottages and a slipway. It’s a good option when the prevailing westerlies make exposed marks unfishable, with summer sport for wrasse, pollack and mackerel, and night bites from conger and huss.

Set just southeast of Lizard village, Church Cove is reached by a short lane and coastal path that drops to a small slipway and boulder-strewn shore. Access is straightforward but steep in places, with uneven rocks at the waterline.

• Drive to Lizard village and use the main village/Green car park (TR12 7NJ); on-road spaces near the hamlet are extremely limited and often signed for residents only.
• From the Green, walk 10–15 minutes along the signed lane/footpath to Church Cove; the final approach is steep and can be slippery after rain.
• Terrain is mixed: slipway, boulders and kelp-fringed rock ledges; expect scrambling and careful footing.
• Do not obstruct the slipway or any working boats; the RNLI station is nearby at Kilcobben Cove and launches can happen at any time.

The cove and surrounding ledges hold a mix of rough-ground species, with best variety from late spring to early autumn. Winter nights bring classic rock-dwelling predators.

• Spring (Apr–May): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, garfish on calmer days; early mullet nosing around the slip.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Wrasse at their peak; pollack (dawn/dusk), mackerel and scad shoals, garfish, thick‑lipped mullet in the cove, occasional bass on a stirring sea.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Pollack and scad into dark, wrasse until the first chills, mackerel tapering, squid possible on very clear, calm nights.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Conger eel, bull huss, pouting and whiting after dark; the odd bass in a lively sea; occasional rockling.
• Always expect kelp-loving species and snag-prone ground; sand patches are limited and usually just outside the cove.

Rough-ground tactics shine here. Travel light, fish strong, and use tackle you can afford to lose.

• Float fishing: Ragworm or hard crab for wrasse; sandeel or mackerel strip for pollack/garfish. Set floats to fish tight to the kelp line and ledges.
• Spinning/lures: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; weedless soft plastics (paddle/shad/eel patterns) on 10–20 g hooks/chebs for pollack and bass; keep retrieves slow and controlled along the kelp edge.
• Bottom fishing: Pulley or pulley‑dropper with 40–60 lb mono leader and a weak/rotten-bottom link; 3/0–5/0 hooks with fish baits (mackerel/squid) for conger/huss after dark. Scale down (size 2–1/0) with rag/squid cocktails for mixed species.
• Mullet: Light float or freelined bread flake in the cove on calm mornings; keep noise down and present delicately.
• Squid: Small egi jigs size 2.0–3.0 on clear, still autumn nights; work the deeper edges of the cove.

The east-facing aspect gives shelter from westerlies, but an easterly can send swell straight in. Time your session to avoid heavy surge on the ledges.

• Tide state: Two hours either side of high water fishes well for wrasse; flood and dusk into early night are prime for pollack and conger. Neaps are kinder in the tide run around the Lizard.
• Wind/sea: Best in light to moderate westerly winds and a small residual swell; easterlies can make it weedy and lumpy. Clear water favors lure and float fishing; a little colour helps bottom baits at night.
• Time of day: Dawn/dusk are standout for pelagics (mackerel/garfish/scad) and pollack; after dark for conger/huss/whiting.
• Seasonality: Late spring to early autumn for variety and surface activity; winter for nocturnal predators on the deck.

This is a true rock mark: expect slippery weed, uneven footing and occasional surge. If in doubt, don’t step out.

• Wear a PFD, use grippy boots/cleats, and consider a helmet on exposed ledges; carry a headtorch with spare batteries for any dusk/night session.
• Check swell forecasts and long‑period groundswell; surges can sweep boulders and low ledges even in “small” seas.
• Some ledges can be cut off by the flood—note your exits and avoid committing to platforms without a safe retreat.
• Keep clear of the slipway and any boat or RNLI activity; you may be asked to move at short notice.
• Cliffs above can shed loose stone after heavy rain or wind; don’t linger directly beneath overhangs.
• Mobile signal is better atop the path than down in the cove—tell someone your plan and ETA.
• Not suitable for those with limited mobility due to the steep approach and boulder hopping.

Facilities are limited at the cove itself; treat it as a self‑contained session and pack accordingly.

• Toilets, shops, cafés and pubs in Lizard village near the Green (seasonal opening hours).
• Nearest tackle supplies typically in Mullion or Helston; stock up before heading out.
• Parking at Lizard village car park (TR12 7NJ); extremely limited roadside space near Church Cove—respect residents and signage.
• Phone signal: generally fair on the cliff top, patchy down in the cove.
• No lighting at the mark; bring a robust headtorch and backup.
• Waste: no bins on the rocks—take all litter and line home.

Small tweaks make a big difference on this snaggy, kelpy ground.

• Use a weak/rotten-bottom link on any lead; it saves main rigs when you hook up or snag.
• Weedless soft plastics dramatically reduce losses and still find pollack and bass along the kelp canopy.
• For wrasse, fresh crab or quality rag outfishes most baits; keep terminal gear short and tough to turn fish away from the reef.
• Chum lightly with bread mash for mullet and present a single flake with fine fluorocarbon; keep movement on the slip to a minimum.
• Carry a compact drop-net if targeting bigger wrasse or conger from higher ledges—lifting by the trace is a recipe for heartbreak.
• In summer, watch for bird activity tight to the cliffs; brief surface feeds often betray mackerel/scad packs passing the cove.
• After onshore blow followed by settling seas, try big fish baits just into dark—conger and huss patrol the stirred-up gullies.

Sea angling is generally allowed at Church Cove, but you must follow national and local fishery rules and respect lifesaving operations.

• Do not obstruct the slipway or any RNLI activity; move immediately if requested by crew or local boat users.
• European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): recreational rules are time‑specific; commonly this includes a closed/retention‑limited winter period and a spring–autumn daily bag limit with a 42 cm minimum size. Check the latest UK government notice before your trip.
• Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes apply to many species (e.g., bass 42 cm; various sizes for crabs/lobsters). It’s illegal to take berried lobsters or crawfish; setting pots requires the correct permits.
• Marine protected areas: The Lizard coastline includes designated conservation sites. Shore angling is allowed, but avoid damaging habitats, keep to paths, and do not disturb seals or nesting seabirds.
• If in doubt, practice catch‑and‑release for larger wrasse and conger, and always verify up‑to‑date bylaws via Cornwall IFCA and GOV.UK before retaining any fish.