Crinnis Beach Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Crinnis Beach Fishing Map

Crinnis Beach is the western beach of Carlyon Bay near St Austell, a broad, gently shelving sand-and-shingle strand backed by cliffs, with rocky points at either end. It’s a relatively sheltered south-coast mark that fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Expect summer sport with bass and mackerel when baitfish are in the bay, with garfish and scad on calmer evenings. Over clean sand, winter and shoulder months produce flounder, dab, whiting and the odd plaice or sole, while thornback rays show occasionally on bigger baits. Access is via paths/ramps from the top of the bay; the walk back up can be steep. Watch for swell on onshore winds and avoid fishing too close to the cliffs after heavy rain or strong seas.

Ratings

⭐ 6.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Crinnis Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work surf gutters and patches of rough. Peeler crab, lug or shallow divers/soft plastics.
🐟 Dover Sole 7/10
🎯 Tip: Calm nights on clean sand; small rag/lug or maddies on size 2-4 hooks; short casts; summer–autumn, after dark.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; 2-3 hook flappers with lug or mackerel strip at medium range over clean sand; best on the flood.
🐟 Plaice 6/10
🎯 Tip: Spring to early summer; long casts over clean sand on a gentle flood; beads/spoons with worm or squid tips; let the bait roll.
🐟 Gilthead Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months; peeler or hard crab, or lug/cockle; fish close to the surf line and channels on a building tide; light snoods and sharp hooks.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Autumn–winter; short casts into gutters along the surf line; ragworm or small crab; slow retrieve to search.
🐟 Spotted Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Evening into night over clean sand; sandeel or squid on pulley rigs; medium range; neap tides can help.
🐟 Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; peeler crab on pulley/flowing traces; cast to sandbanks/gullies at dusk on making tides.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals at dusk; small metals or feathers; watch for birds and clear water; best on the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer/autumn nights; small sabikis or micro metals retrieved slowly midwater; lights help if present.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 5/10
🎯 Tip: Calm summer evenings; tiny rag or mackerel strips on size 8-10, float or light paternoster in the first breaker; rising tide.

Crinnis Beach Fishing

Summary

Crinnis Beach (Carlyon Bay), near St Austell, is a long, gently shelving sand-and-shingle beach on Cornwall’s south coast. It’s a clean-ground venue that fishes well for bass, rays, smoothhounds, and winter whiting, with rocky points at either end offering extra variety. The bay is sheltered from prevailing westerlies but comes alive on a modest easterly swell, making it a flexible mark across the seasons.

Location and Access

Crinnis is the central beach of Carlyon Bay, just east of Charlestown and west of Par. Access has varied over the years due to ongoing seafront works, but public access is typically allowed via signed paths and seasonal ramps over the rock armour sea defences.

Seasons

This is a classic clean beach with seasonal variety and bonus fish near the rocky fringes. Expect bass and flatties in modest surf, summer hounds on crab, and winter shoals of whiting after dark.

Methods

Standard beach tactics shine here, with clean-ground rigs and fresh baits. Keep an eye on the surf line and gutters, and tailor range to conditions rather than always blasting long.

Tides and Conditions

The beach fishes on most states, but the flood and dusk/dark transitions are the headline acts. Easterly airflow is the swell-maker here, while strong westerlies often leave it calm and clear.

Safety

This is a generally safe, open beach but the rock armour and shore-dump deserve respect. Access arrangements occasionally change with local works; always follow on-site signs and marked routes.

Facilities

Facilities are decent in the wider area, with beach amenities variable by season. Don’t rely on year-round services on the sand itself.

Tips

Crinnis rewards mobile anglers who read the sand and react to conditions. Small tweaks in range and bait often out-fish a static approach.

Regulations

Normal recreational sea angling is permitted here, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check the latest notices before your session.