Duckpool Fishing

Summary

Duckpool is a wild, north-coast Cornish cove a few miles north of Bude, backed by steep cliffs and the Coombe Valley stream. It’s a classic rough-ground mark with surf-facing sand patches, reefy gullies and kelp—ideal for bass, wrasse, pollack and nocturnal conger/huss when fished with care.

Location and Access

Duckpool sits on the Atlantic side of North Cornwall, managed by the National Trust, with a small car park close to the cove. Access is straightforward to the beach, but reaching the rock ledges to either side involves uneven, slippery ground and short climbs.

• Follow local signs for Duckpool from the A39 (Bude–Kilkhampton stretch), then narrow lanes into the Coombe Valley; drive slowly and be ready for passing places.
• National Trust car park near the beach; charges may apply seasonally (free for NT members). Arrive early in summer or on spring tides.
• Short walk from the car park over the stream to the beach; expect boulders, cobbles and slate slabs.
• North and south headlands are accessed via the South West Coast Path and informal paths down—steep in places; good boots essential.
• Terrain: mixed—sand pockets, large boulders, slate ledges, heavy kelp beds. Not suitable for trolleys; keep gear compact.

Seasons

The mark produces a classic north-coast mix. Wrasse and pollack love the kelp gullies; bass swarm the surf and stream mouth; after dark the rough ground draws conger and huss. Winter can throw up whiting and the odd codling in a blow.

• Spring (Apr–Jun):
  • Bass (schoolies through to better fish, especially on crab)
  • Ballan & corkwing wrasse
  • Pollack (increasingly reliable from May)
  • Smoothhound (occasional on peeler crab)
• Summer (Jul–Sep):
  • Bass (dawn/dusk surf)
  • Pollack and wrasse (best in clear water)
  • Mackerel and garfish off the points on calm evenings
  • Bull huss and strap conger after dark
  • Scad (horse mackerel) at dusk/night
  • Occasional small-eyed ray on the sand patches
• Autumn (Oct–Nov):
  • Bass (stormy seas settling, coloured water)
  • Huss and conger at night
  • Pollack (lure and float)
  • Whiting showing on night tides
• Winter (Dec–Mar):
  • Whiting and poor cod on calm nights
  • Occasional codling in the aftermath of big westerlies
  • Rockling and conger in the gullies

Methods

Mixed ground demands adaptable tactics: surf-style approaches on the sand tongues, rough-ground rigs on the ledges, and mobile lure work around the points. Think abrasion-resistant gear and rotten-bottoms.

• Surf bassing:
  • 10–12 ft surf/spinning rods or 12–13 ft beach rods with 2–5 oz leads depending on sea state.
  • Baits: peeler/soft crab, fresh lugworm, ragworm, sandeel; crab or lug/sandeel cocktails excel near the stream mouth.
  • Rigs: simple pulley/pulley–dropper with 3/0–4/0 hooks; use a weak-link/rotten-bottom to save leads around boulders.
• Rough-ground ledgering (huss/conger/ray):
  • 4–6 oz capability beach rod; 25–30 lb mono or 40–50 lb braid with tough leaders.
  • Big baits: mackerel or squid wraps, bluey, crab; longer soaks after dusk.
  • Pulley pennel (4/0–5/0) with strong snoods (40–60 lb); always include a rotten-bottom link.
• Wrasse/pollack on clear days:
  • Float-fish ragworm, prawn or crab tight to kelp edges; 15–20 g floats, fluorocarbon traces 12–15 lb for wrasse, 15–20 lb for pollack.
  • Lures: weedless soft plastics (paddle/slug 10–20 g heads), metal jigs and sandeel patterns around tide turns and dusk.
• Mackerel/gar/scad:
  • Light metals, feathers or small sabikis; downsize and add a small float for gar/scad at dusk.
• General:
  • Waders are rarely necessary and can be risky among boulders; stout boots and a long-handled drop-net or gaff (where legal and ethical) help on higher ledges.
  • Travel light and be mobile; work different gullies and seams rather than static fishing all session.

Tides and Conditions

This coast is exposed: tide state and swell direction are critical. Bass love a building sea and movement; wrasse/pollack prefer clear, settled water with some flow.

• Tide:
  • Flood into high water fishes well for bass along the stream mouth and sand tongues.
  • Mid-to-top of the tide fills the wrasse/pollack gullies; neaps make presentation easier in surgy gullies.
  • Low water exposes kelpy ground and can give short windows for lure work—avoid being cut off.
• Conditions:
  • Best bassing: a moderate W–NW swell with some colour in the water, especially dawn/dusk and the first push of flood.
  • Wrasse/pollack: calmer days with good clarity; light onshore ripple is fine, heavy swell is dangerous and puts wrasse down.
  • After big blows, try 24–48 hours into the settling period for bass/codling.
• Seasonality/time:
  • First light and last light are prime year-round; night sessions target huss/conger/whiting.
  • Summer mackerel/gar on calm evenings; autumn often gives the best mixed-bag sessions.

Safety

Duckpool is a committing, rough-ground venue with Atlantic swell exposure and slippery slate. Treat it with full rock-fishing precautions and avoid the ledges in big seas.

• Swell & wash:
  • Rogue waves are common—observe for 15–20 minutes before stepping onto any ledge; if swell is booming, fish the higher, safer ground or the beach only.
  • Never turn your back on the sea; keep an exit route.
• Ground & tides:
  • Weed-slick rock is extremely slippery; use studded boots and carry minimal gear.
  • Beware cut-off ledges around mid–high; know the tide height for your chosen platform.
• Personal safety:
  • Wear a buoyancy aid/lifejacket and carry a headtorch and spare; fish with a partner where possible.
  • Mobile signal can be patchy in the valley; tell someone your plan and ETA.
• Accessibility:
  • Not suitable for wheelchairs or anglers with limited mobility; uneven boulders and steep paths.
  • Avoid crossing the stream in spate; use bridges/stepping points.
• Wildlife/cliffs:
  • Respect nesting birds and seals; give them space and avoid cliff edges which can be crumbly.

Facilities

This is a low-facility, wild cove—plan to be self-sufficient. Bude has everything you’ll need before or after.

• On-site:
  • Small National Trust car park close to the cove; limited spaces. No lighting.
  • Toilets/café: generally none at Duckpool; facilities are at larger nearby beaches (seasonal) and in Bude—check ahead, especially outside summer.
  • Bins may be limited—take all litter and line home.
• Nearby (Bude, ~15–20 min by car depending on lanes):
  • Tackle shops, supermarkets, cafés, fuel, public toilets.
  • Emergency services access is via narrow lanes—carry a first aid kit and location details.

Tips

Success here often comes from reading the water and moving between micro-marks—stream mouth seams, kelp tongues and reef points. Keep it simple, tough and stealthy.

• Work the stream mouth on a flooding tide with crab or a shallow-running lure; bass patrol the colour change line.
• In coloured water, fish bigger, smellier baits (mackerel/squid wraps) for huss; give baits time to soak after dusk.
• For wrasse, present baits tight to rock edges, but lock up—don’t give them an inch or they’ll bury you.
• Use rotten-bottom links for every bottom rig; a handful of pre-tied weak-links saves sessions here.
• Metal lures can snag—switch to weedless soft plastics and single hooks to glide over kelp.
• Calm, clear evenings can bring gar/scad tight in—add a small starlight above a sabiki and fish midwater.
• Park considerately in the valley and keep gates/lanes clear; it’s a quiet spot with limited space.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted at Duckpool. As with all Cornish marks, you must follow national and local fisheries rules, and seasonal conservation measures. Regulations change—always check before you go.

• Bass regulations:
  • Recreational bass measures (bag limits, size, and open seasons) are reviewed annually. Check current guidance from the UK government/MMO before retaining any bass.
• Minimum conservation/reference sizes:
  • Observe national minimum sizes for common species (e.g., wrasse have no statutory MLS but are often self-regulated—consider releasing larger breeding fish). Carry a measure and release undersize fish.
• Cornwall IFCA byelaws:
  • Local byelaws cover matters such as netting close to shore, bait collection in sensitive areas, and shellfish restrictions. Review Cornwall IFCA rules relevant to your activity.
• Protected areas and access:
  • The coastline forms part of designated conservation areas (AONB/SSSI/MCZ). Shore angling is generally allowed, but avoid disturbing wildlife, do not damage vegetation/dunes, and heed any on-site signage.
• General:
  • No fires/BBQs on fragile cliff-top turf; take all litter and line home.
  • If photographing fish for release, keep them wet and minimize air time; barbless or crushed barbs help in rocky marks.
  • Night fishing: carry lights but avoid dazzling wildlife and nearby residents.