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Cornwall

Gribbin Head

6.6 · Rocks · Cornwall

Exposed rocky headland with deep gullies and kelp-lined ledges. Tide runs hard off the point bringing baitfish; best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide in settled seas. Summer to early autumn sees the most action. Access is via the South West Coast Path with steep, uneven descents to fishable platforms; avoid in big swells or strong westerlies.

Should you fish Gribbin Head?

66 Good

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Good conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 3 mph Rain 8% High tide 11:17

Worth fishing if you can hit the best window.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Gribbin Head — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Gribbin Head is a rough, exposed Cornish rock mark where the main decision is balancing tide movement against swell and kelp. It is strongest for pollack, wrasse, bass and summer pelagics, especially from dawn or dusk through a flooding tide, but it becomes a poor choice in big seas, poor visibility or strong westerly/S–SW weather.

  • Know when the flood turns Gribbin’s kelp gullies on.
  • Pick the fishable side of the tide before you cast.
  • Target pollack and bass without feeding tackle to the kelp.
  • Spot the swell and wind setups that make Gribbin a no-go.
  • Have nearby fallback marks ready when the headland is too exposed.

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Polruan 2.0 mi Fowey 2.0 mi Polkerris 2.3 mi Par 2.7 mi Tywardreath 2.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Polruan · Fowey · Polkerris · Par · Tywardreath

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.6 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Pollack 9/10
Tip: Weedless soft plastics or metal jigs worked along kelp gullies at dawn/dusk on the flood. Cast from the points into deeper water.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Hardback crab or rag on strong gear into rough kelp gullies over mid-high tide; short traces and a rotten-bottom to beat snags.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Lures or live sandeel in the wash on a flooding tide and onshore breeze; fish rips and points at first/last light.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals; cast sabikis or small metals from the tip on the flood, evenings best.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Dusk into dark around rough ground; small fish or squid strips on two-hook flappers, keep baits just off bottom to cut snags.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late summer/autumn nights; small sabikis or size 6 hook under a glow float, keep baits midwater in the tide run.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small worm or crab baits tight to the rocks on the flood; scale down hooks and lift steadily to avoid snags.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark over neaps; big mackerel or squid baits dropped into gullies. Use heavy gear and a rotten-bottom.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Calm, clear days on the flood; float-fished sliver of mackerel 1-2 m under a float, or small spoons retrieved fast.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Winter nights; small fish or worm baits cast to sand patches from the points, keep rigs light and tip moving.
Bull Huss 5/10
Tip: Occasional after dark; fish half mackerel or large squid on a 5/0 pulley dropper into cleaner patches on the ebb.

Local knowledge

Gribbin Head fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Gribbin Head is the bold, red-and-white daymark headland between Fowey and Polkerris on Cornwall’s south coast, owned by the National Trust. Rugged rock ledges, kelp-filled gullies and fast tide runs make it a classic rough-ground shore mark. It rewards careful anglers with pollack, wrasse, bass and summer pelagics in scenic, wild surroundings.

Set on the South West Coast Path, Gribbin Head is reached by scenic but undulating walks with some steep sections. Plan your approach in daylight on a first visit and travel light if you intend to scramble to ledges.

  • Approaches: from Readymoney Cove (Fowey) east side; from Polkerris west side; or via National Trust parking above Polridmouth (shortest walk). Allow 20–60 minutes depending on start point.
  • Parking: National Trust car parks near Menabilly/Polridmouth (seasonal), Readymoney Cove (PL23 1JD), or Polkerris (PL24 2TL). Charges usually apply; NT members typically park free.
  • Path: well-marked SWCP with climbs/descents; final access to fishing ledges can involve narrow sheep tracks, bracken and rocky steps.
  • Terrain: high cliffs with rough rock platforms, boulder fields and kelp. Sturdy boots essential; a light pack and both hands free help on steeper bits.

A varied rough-ground venue with seasonal highlights. Expect wrasse and pollack most consistently, with bass and summer visitors in the right conditions.

  • Spring (Mar–May): pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early garfish; chance of bass in onshore pushes.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel), pollack, wrasse, bass; occasional gurnard or launce; mini-species (blennies, rock gobies, scorpion fish) for LRF.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass at dawn/dusk in rips, mackerel/scad into October in clear water, solid pollack, wrasse while seas stay settled; conger and pout after dark.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pout, rockling on calmer nights; conger possible from deeper holes; fewer wrasse in cold snaps.
  • Occasional visitors: bull huss, small tope pups, cuckoo wrasse (deep, clear days), squid in very calm, clear autumn evenings (less reliable than harbour lights).

Rough-ground tactics shine here. Choose tackle that handles kelp, barnacles and tide, and match methods to water clarity and movement.

  • Lure fishing: 7–9 ft rod, 20–30 g range; 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader.
    • Weedless soft plastics (10–20 g heads or Texas/cheb) for pollack and bass worked along kelp edges.
    • Metals and slim minnow plugs for mackerel/gar and searching tide rips; surface walkers/sub-surface stickbaits at dawn/dusk for bass.
  • Float fishing: clear wagglers or sliders with mackerel strip, prawn or sandeel over 10–20 ft for pollack, gar, mackerel.
  • Bottom fishing: strong gear with abrasion resistance; use a weak-link/rotten-bottom to save leads.
    • Pulley or pulley-dropper with 3–4/0 hooks for bass/conger; big mackerel or squid baits at dusk into dark.
    • Two-hook flapper with size 1–2 for pout/whiting on cleaner patches.
  • Baits: peeler/crab, prawn, ragworm for wrasse; sandeel, mackerel strip, squid for pollack/bass; whole mackerel/squid for conger at night.
  • Times: mobile lure work at first and last light; float/bottom tactics through the flood; larger static baits after dark for eels and huss.

The headland focuses tide and swell; choose the side with movement but manageable sea. Water clarity often dictates method success.

  • Tide: 2 hours up to high and the first of the ebb fish well for pollack and bass; wrasse like a steady flood. Slack water can be slow unless bait fishing.
  • Conditions: gentle to moderate swell with clear to lightly coloured water for lures/float; a little fizz helps bass. Heavy swell makes some ledges unfishable.
  • Wind: northerlies flatten the south coast; strong S–SW winds drive swell onto exposed points—seek the lee side.
  • Light: dawn/dusk best for bass and pollack; bright days suit wrasse in the rough ground; after-dark for conger/pout/whiting.
  • Seasonality: peak mixed fishing June–October; winter sessions are shorter and more weather-dependent.

This is a serious, high-cliff rock mark with no barriers. Treat it with full respect and avoid in big seas or poor visibility.

  • Steep drops and uneven, weeded rock ledges; keep well back from edges and avoid wet/green rock.
  • Atlantic swell can wrap the head; rogue waves and surge are real risks—if in doubt, don’t go out.
  • Tidal cut-off possible on lower ledges; always have an exit plan and watch the flood.
  • Wear a PFD/lifejacket, grippy boots, and carry a headtorch if finishing near dusk. Fish with a partner where possible.
  • Phone signal can be patchy on the seaward side; tell someone your plan and estimated return.
  • National Trust land: follow any on-site signage, especially around nesting birds and the daymark structure.
  • Not suitable for limited mobility; some approaches involve hands-on scrambling.

You’re a fair walk from amenities on the point. Plan to be self-sufficient for water, food, and light.

  • Toilets: usually at Readymoney Cove and Polkerris during the season; none on the headland.
  • Food/drink: cafés and pubs in Polkerris and Fowey; shops and takeaways in Fowey and Par/St Blazey.
  • Tackle/bait: tackle shops in St Austell area and Fowey/Par; buy bait before walking in.
  • Parking: National Trust and public car parks as noted; peak-season spaces fill quickly.
  • Mobile signal: variable—generally better on high ground, weaker on ledges.

Gribbin rewards stealth and mobility. Keep moving until you find fish-holding features like rips, colour lines and kelp edges.

  • Work the point methodically: fish the lee side of the tide first, then cross to the other as the run eases.
  • Use weedless rigging and tougher leaders to cut tackle losses in kelp and barnacles.
  • A small drop net can help on lower ledges, but many perches are too high—plan how you’ll land fish before you cast.
  • For wrasse, feed small bits of prawn/peeler little-and-often to hold fish; strike positively and keep them up out of the weed.
  • Watch for bird activity and surface slicks—mackerel, gar and bass often track these along the point.
  • LRF gear is great for species hunting in calm spells—expect blennies, scorpion fish and gobies in the holes.
  • Respect wildlife: seals and nesting birds frequent the area. Keep noise down and give them space.

Sea angling from the shore is generally permitted here; observe National Trust site guidance and any seasonal access notices. Always check current rules before you go as they can change.

  • Bass: recreational bass measures are updated annually; in 2024 a closed/limited retention period and 42 cm minimum size applied. Check the latest with the MMO/DEFRA before retaining any bass.
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits: follow the current Cornwall IFCA and national MLS for species like pollack and wrasse (some species have no legal MLS but consider voluntary conservation sizes).
  • Protected areas: parts of the nearby Fowey estuary/creeks are designated; rod angling is typically allowed, but additional restrictions (e.g., no bait pumping, no disturbance to features) may exist—check local signage and MCZ/SSSI notes.
  • No licence is required for sea fish from the shore, but you need an EA rod licence if intentionally fishing for salmon, sea trout or trout in tidal waters.
  • Shellfish: do not take berried (egg-bearing) lobsters or crawfish; observe local bylaws and size limits if gathering by hand.
  • Access and conduct: no fires, take litter home, and avoid damaging vegetation or cliff-top archaeology/daymark structure.