Godrevy Cove, Lizard Fishing

Summary

Godrevy Cove sits just north of Lowland Point on the sheltered, east-facing side of the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. It’s a quietly productive mixed-ground mark with clear water, a sandy bowl, and flanking rock ledges influenced by the famed Manacles reef system—ideal for bass, wrasse and pollack through the warmer months.

Location and Access

Godrevy Cove lies between Coverack and Porthoustock, within National Trust countryside around Lowland Point. Access is on foot via the South West Coast Path or a short inland footpath; there are no facilities or formal parking right at the beach.

• Approach options: from Coverack via the coast path around Lowland Point (roughly 30–40 minutes on uneven ground), or from Porthoustock heading south on the coast path (around 20–30 minutes).
• A shorter inland approach is possible from the Rosenithon area via a public footpath, typically 10–20 minutes’ walk; on-street parking is limited and sensitive—park considerately and heed any local signage.
• Terrain: grassy and sometimes muddy paths, short steep sections, and bouldery/rocky access down to the cove. Good boots are essential.
• Public transport is limited; most anglers drive to Coverack or St Keverne and walk in. Allow extra time in summer and at weekends.

Seasons

This is a mixed-ground venue that changes character with the seasons and sea state. Expect classic clear-water rock fishing in summer and quieter bait sessions over the sand in winter.

• Spring (Mar–May): bass (first arrivals on building tides), pollack, early wrasse, garfish late spring; chance of plaice/flounder on the sandy patch after settled spells.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): bass, mackerel, garfish, wrasse (ballan, cuckoo), pollack, scad after dark; occasional turbot or small-eyed ray on the sand in calm seas.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass, consistent pollack at dawn/dusk, mackerel and scad into the evenings; sporadic squid on clear, still nights.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting and dogfish over the sand at night; conger and bull huss from rougher ground; pollack still possible in settled water.

Methods

Tackle to suit both sand and rough ground pays dividends here. Travel light and be prepared to move between the sandy bowl and the rock fringes.

• Over the sand: 2-hook flappers (size 2–1) or a long-snood up-and-over with ragworm, lugworm, sandeel or strips of mackerel/squid for flats, whiting and bass. A light rolling lead helps search gutters on a flooding tide.
• Rock fringes: float-fish crab, prawn or rag for wrasse; or work soft plastics (10–20 g jig heads, weedless paddletails) and metal lures for pollack and mackerel at dawn/dusk.
• Bass on lures: surface plugs in choppy, overcast conditions; slim white/tobacco soft plastics and sinking minnows in calmer, clear water—target the sand/rock interfaces and flood-tide seams.
• After dark: large fish/squid baits on a pulley pennel (4/0–5/0) for huss/conger from the rougher ground; scale down to small hooks and fine snoods for scad/whiting on the sand.
• LRF/HRF: isome/worm imitations and tiny metals around boulders for mini-species when the sea is calm and clear.

Tides and Conditions

As an east-facing cove, Godrevy is often fishable when south-westerlies make the west coast wild, but it’s exposed to easterlies. Tidal movement across the bay edges and around Lowland Point creates useful seams and ambush lines.

• Tide: the flooding tide into dusk is a prime window for bass; mid-flood daylight for wrasse; first light and last light over the ebb for pollack.
• Wind/sea state: a small, dying easterly swell can switch on bass in the surf; strong or persistent easterlies make it dangerous and poor. Light offshore or north-westerly winds bring excellent clarity for wrasse and lure work.
• Springs vs neaps: springs add movement and can help bass, but increase cross-drift—neaps are kinder for float and finesse lure presentations.
• Time of day: dawn and dusk are consistent producers year-round; night sessions in summer bring scad and in winter the whiting/dogfish.
• After storms: water here often clears faster than the west coast—48 hours after a SW blow is a common sweet spot for lures.

Safety

This is a natural, undeveloped cove with uneven access. Treat it as a serious rock-scrambling venue at the fringes.

• Slips and falls: kelp, weed and spray make the rocks slick—wear grippy boots and consider studded soles.
• Tidal cut-off: ledges at either end can become isolated near high water—set a safe backstop and keep a headtorch and spare light.
• Sea hazards: strong tidal flow around Lowland Point and towards the Manacles; avoid wading near the points and in any swell.
• Rock stability: expect loose stones and occasional rockfall at the cliff base—don’t loiter beneath overhangs.
• Comms: mobile signal can be patchy—tell someone your plan and ideal return time. A personal flotation device is strongly recommended on the rocks.
• Accessibility: not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies; the final approach is steep and rough.

Facilities

There are no facilities at Godrevy Cove—plan to be self-sufficient and pack out everything. Nearby villages offer basics.

• Nearest amenities: public toilets, cafés and a pub in Coverack; additional shops and parking in St Keverne (limited hours off-season).
• Tackle and bait: head to Helston or Falmouth for full-service tackle shops; limited seasonal bait locally—bring what you need.
• Bins and water: none on-site—take all litter home and carry drinking water.
• Phone/data: variable coverage; don’t rely on streaming charts or forecasts once at the cove.

Tips

Clear water and structure reward stealth and precision. Treat the cove as several micro-marks rather than one beach.

• Work the edges: cast along the sand/rock line and any small tongues of current; move every 10–15 casts until you find fish.
• Fluorocarbon and finesse: long leaders (12–20 lb fluoro) and slim lures often outfish bulky patterns in gin-clear conditions.
• After a small easterly: fish the first pushing tide as the swell eases—bass commonly patrol the first gutter.
• Floats for wrasse: set just off the bottom and feed little-and-often with prawn scraps; expect a quick bite window on mid-flood.
• Scad and gar: scale down hooks and use luminous beads or small strips after dark in late summer; bites can be fast and furious.
• Divers and pot lines: the Manacles area is popular with dive boats—keep casts clear of floats/ropes and give water users space.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted at Godrevy Cove. The area sits within or adjacent to the Manacles Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), which does not prohibit shore angling but protects sensitive reefs and seabed habitats.

• MCZ/Protected habitats: avoid disturbing eelgrass, maerl, and reef life; do not pry off sessile species or damage kelp holdfasts. Shore angling with rod and line is generally allowed.
• Bass: minimum sizes and seasonal daily bag limits for recreational sea bass apply in Cornwall and change periodically—check the latest on GOV.UK before retaining any fish.
• Shellfish/crustacea: national and Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes apply; all berried females must be returned. Check Cornwall IFCA byelaws for any local restrictions.
• Wrasse: no statutory MLS for wrasse, but large ballan wrasse are slow-growing—local clubs promote catch-and-release.
• Licences: no rod licence is required for sea angling in England (a licence is needed only when targeting migratory salmonids in certain estuarine waters).
• Access and land: much of the hinterland is National Trust—no fires, no camping, respect fences/livestock, and follow any seasonal dog or cliff safety signage.
• Always verify current rules with Cornwall IFCA and the MCZ guidance before your trip; regulations can change.