Doom Bar Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Doom Bar Fishing Map

A shifting sandy bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary between Stepper Point and Trebetherick Point, notorious for strong tides and breaking surf. Fished from the shorelines of Hawker’s Cove, Daymer Bay and Rock, it offers classic surf–estuary bassing and clean-sand flatfish. Best on a flooding tide as water pushes over the bar and along the channel edges; dawn/dusk and coloured water after a blow can be excellent. Winter favors flounder and dab; late spring to autumn brings bass, mullet, smoothhound and occasional rays, with mackerel/scad/garfish in late summer and whiting in winter. Access is by beach walks on soft sand; do not venture onto the bar itself on a rising tide. Hazards include rapidly flooding gutters, strong rip currents, shifting channels and boat traffic in the main fairway—fish well clear and plan exits. Ideal baits include sandeel/launce, peeler crab, lug/rag, with shallow-diving/soft-plastic lures for bass. Stunning scenery but fully exposed to wind and weather.

Ratings

⭐ 6.5/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Doom Bar

🐟 Bass 9/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf line and channel edges with surface/paddle lures at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, especially after a blow. Crab or sandeel baits also score; cast into white water along the bar.
🐟 Flounder 7/10
🎯 Tip: Rag or lug on light flappers/long traces in the channels over sand; best on the flood and first of the ebb. Winter into spring. Slow, regular recasts to search the gullies.
🐟 Mullet (Thin-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Baited spinners (Mepps) with small rag/Isome in clear water on the flood; work along channel margins and eddies. Summer–autumn; steady retrieve.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Bread flake under a float or freelined around calmer margins and moorings at slack water or on neaps. Stealthy approach; summer.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny rag or sandeel slivers on size 8–10 hooks in the shore break; keep baits moving. First/last light on a rising tide. Summer.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small worm or sandeel baits at range on winter nights from the surf line; two or three-hook flappers. Ebbing tides often best.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fished mackerel strip or small metals worked high in the water at the estuary mouth on clear neap tides. Mid–late summer; fast retrieve.
🐟 Gilthead Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Peeler crab or shellfish on strong size 2–1/0 hooks over clean sand by the banks on the flood. Warm months, especially after water clears.
🐟 Dab 4/10
🎯 Tip: Rag or lug on small hooks over clean sand; gentle surf and neap tides help. Winter daylight; keep baits small and static.
🐟 Mackerel 3/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional summer shoals push into the mouth; small metals or sabikis at first light on a flooding tide during calm, clear spells.

Doom Bar Fishing

Summary

The Doom Bar is the shifting sandbar at the mouth of the River Camel between Padstow and Rock in North Cornwall. It’s a dramatic, ever-changing surf–estuary interface that regularly draws bass, mullet and winter flounder within casting range. Fished with care and timing, it rewards mobile anglers with truly wild, surf-side sport in a spectacular setting.

Location and Access

Set between Rock Beach, Daymer Bay and Hawker’s Cove, you access the Doom Bar from either side of the Camel Estuary. The fishing is from surrounding beaches and channel edges rather than from the active ferry slips or harbour structures.

Seasons

A dynamic, sandy estuary mouth brings seasonal variety. Expect bass through the warmer months and flounder in winter, with mullet in quiet, clear water. Occasional surprises arrive on spring tides.

Methods

Mobile, light-to-medium tactics shine here. Fish the edges of channels rather than the featureless middles, and keep moving to intercept fish as the tide reshapes the bar.

Tides and Conditions

Tide state and swell dictate everything at the Doom Bar. Fish the movement, not just the clock, and tailor your approach to clarity and current speed.

Safety

The Doom Bar is infamous for a reason. Strong currents, fast flooding tides, shifting sand and boat traffic make caution non-negotiable.

Facilities

You’re close to well-served villages, but the bar itself is wild. Plan as if there are no facilities on the sand.

Tips

Local knowledge is everything here—watch the water for half an hour before you cast, then fish where life shows, not where you stood last time.

Regulations

This area sits within sensitive and regulated waters. Angling is allowed from the shore, but several overlapping rules apply—always verify current regulations before your trip.