Summary
Daymer Bay sits on the eastern side of the Camel Estuary between Rock and Polzeath in North Cornwall. It’s a sheltered, clean-sand beach with rocky fringes toward Greenaway and Brea Hill, offering easy, family-friendly access and consistent sport for bass, flounder, and summer species.
Location and Access
Access is straightforward by road via Trebetherick, with a large pay-and-display car park just behind the dunes. The approach is short and gentle, and you’re fishing within minutes of leaving the car.
- Postcode for the main car park: PL27 6SA (signed “Daymer Bay” via Trebetherick)
- 2–5 minute walk on firm paths and soft sand; sloping access rather than steep steps
- Terrain: clean sand with tidal channels; rockier ground at the northern end (toward Greenaway) and around the base of Brea Hill to the south
- Public footpaths run behind the dunes; please stick to marked paths to protect the dune system
Seasons
This is a classic estuary-mouth venue with a mix of clean sand and nearby rough patches, so expect bass and flats, with mullet and gilthead opportunities in warmer months. Seasonal highlights below:
- Spring (Mar–May): school bass, flounder, thick‑lipped mullet; early garfish in May near the estuary mouth; first gilthead bream trickle in late spring
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (including better fish at dawn/dusk), gilthead bream, thick- and thin‑lipped mullet, garfish; wrasse and small pollack from rougher ground toward Greenaway
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass time, improved flounder, chance of Dover sole after dark on neaps; gilthead bream can linger into October; odd whiting in the outer estuary late season
- Winter (Dec–Feb): flounder on settled days, schoolie bass in mild spells (catch‑and‑release period often applies for bass), very occasional whiting; expect leaner fishing in heavy freshwater run-off
Methods
Light, mobile fishing shines here. Follow the flooding tide up the channels for bass, or settle into a gentle ledger for flats when the sea is calm and coloured.
- Lure fishing for bass: small soft plastics on 5–12 g heads, weightless weedless SPs, topwater and subsurface hard lures at first/last light over the flood
- Bait fishing: running ledger or two‑hook flapper; size 2–1 hooks for flounder/sole, 1/0–2/0 for bass
- Best baits: ragworm and lugworm for flounder/sole; peeler or hardback crab, sandeel, or squid strip for bass; small peeler or crab cocktail for gilthead bream
- Float tactics: bread flake or small rag for mullet on calm, clear evenings near the margins; keep gear ultra‑fine
- Rigs: long flowing trace (2–4 ft) for bass on sand; short snoods for flats in stronger tide; use minimal lead—1–2 oz often holds on neaps
Tides and Conditions
The bay fishes well on a flooding tide as water pushes over the sandbars and channels, drawing bait and bass tight to the margins. It’s naturally sheltered from heavy Atlantic swell, so clarity and tide strength matter more than surf height.
- Tide: mid to high water on the flood is prime; first hour of the ebb can also produce as fish drop back off the bars
- Springs vs neaps: springs give more flow and movement (great for bass, take care with channels); neaps are kinder for flounder and sole
- Time of day: dawn and dusk are standout for lure‑caught bass; after-dark neaps for sole and better flounder
- Water clarity: a light colour (not chocolate) after a blow is ideal for bait bassing; very clear, calm water suits topwaters and subtle soft plastics
- Wind: the mark is relatively sheltered—moderate westerlies are manageable; strong northerlies can add chop and weed
Safety
This is a comparatively safe beach mark, but the Camel Estuary’s channels flood fast and can cut you off if you stray onto bars or around the rocks toward Greenaway. Plan your position with the tide in mind and avoid wading deep channels.
- Rapidly flooding gullies and bars—identify your exit routes on a falling tide and don’t get marooned on the flood
- Soft sand and shifting channels: avoid heavy wading; use a wading staff if uncertain underfoot
- Rock edges (Greenaway/Brea Hill): slippery weeded ledges, uneven ground, and trip hazards—consider a buoyancy aid if venturing onto the rocks
- Boat/watersports traffic: kitesurfers, windsurfers, and paddlecraft are common—avoid casting near water users and keep lines short near launch areas
- Limited night lighting—take a headtorch, spare light, and keep to known paths
- Mobile signal is generally good but can dip behind Brea Hill; let someone know your plan
Facilities
The beach is well-served in season, with essential amenities close by and full services in Rock, Polzeath, Wadebridge, and Padstow.
- Parking: large pay-and-display at Daymer Bay (seasonal charges)
- Toilets: seasonal public toilets by the car park
- Food and supplies: cafés, shops, and takeaways in Rock and Polzeath (5–10 minutes’ drive)
- Tackle and bait: nearest dedicated tackle shops in Wadebridge and Padstow; limited seasonal bait sometimes available locally—ring ahead
- Bins: beach and car park bins in season—pack out at quiet times
- Lifeguards: Daymer is typically not lifeguarded; nearby Polzeath usually is in the main season
Tips
Treat Daymer like a roaming bass venue on the flood: travel light and cover the seams where new water meets dry sand. Flats fishing rewards finesse and fresh bait.
- Track the floodline: cast diagonally across the advancing edges of channels—bass patrol these ‘fronts’
- Use long leaders and small, natural baits for flounder; keep hooks sharp and snoods supple
- Topwater lures at first light over knee-deep water can be explosive—pause near the lips of freshly covered bars
- Gilthead bream show after warm spells—try crab baits on a strong but short snood, positioned on the up-tide edge of a channel
- Weed can be an issue on certain winds: switch to weedless SPs and clip‑down rigs with bait shields
- Holiday crowds are heavy—fish dawn/dusk or shoulder seasons for space and better bites
Regulations
Daymer Bay is open to recreational sea angling from the shore. The wider Camel Estuary is a designated Bass Nursery Area, which imposes restrictions on vessel‑based bass fishing; shore angling is permitted. Always check on‑site signage and the latest official guidance before you go.
- Bass Nursery Area (Camel Estuary): fishing for bass from a vessel is restricted for much of the year—if launching a boat/kayak from nearby slips, check current dates and rules
- Recreational bass: minimum size 42 cm; seasonal daily bag/catch‑and‑release rules apply—check current MMO/DEFRA notices for dates before retaining any bass
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: observe local minimum conservation/reference sizes and any estuary netting restrictions (rod‑and‑line anglers should still comply with sizes for retention)
- No taking of berried or V‑notched lobsters or crawfish; adhere to shellfish permits where applicable
- Access and dunes: keep to marked paths; do not disturb protected habitats or wildlife
- If in doubt, release fish in good condition and verify current rules with Cornwall IFCA/MMO before retaining catch