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Cornwall

Hannafore

7.5 · Rocks · Cornwall

Hannafore is a long stretch of rock and reef platforms along the promenade at West Looe, facing Looe Island. It’s classic mixed ground with kelp-filled gullies, boulder fields and pockets of sand. Excellent in late spring through autumn for lure and float fishing; night sessions can be productive year-round in settled seas. Best on the flood and first of the ebb, especially the last two hours of the rising tide when fish push tight to the rocks. Access is easy from Marine Drive with steps down to the ledges, but footing is slippery with weed and swell rebound can be significant. Watch the tide to avoid being cut off near Hannafore Point. Clear, calm days suit mullet and garfish; a bit of lift and colour helps bass and wrasse. Parking, benches and shelter along the road make it a comfortable venue with superb views of Looe Island.

Should you fish Hannafore?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse

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

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:19

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Hannafore — 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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Hannafore fishes best as a mobile mixed-ground rock mark rather than a single casting spot. The key is to use low water to read the kelp gullies, sand pockets and reef edges, then fish the flood as those lanes cover. Wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish and LRF species make it highly versatile, while bass and conger are more condition-led. The best general window is mid-flood to high and the first of the ebb, with the last two hours of the rise especially worth targeting when fish push tight to the rocks.

  • Know when the flood puts fish tight to the rocks
  • Pick the right gullies before they cover
  • Avoid wasting gear in the worst snag zones
  • Match wrasse, bass and pollack tactics to the tide
  • Know when Hannafore is too risky to fish

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Looe 0.8 mi Carey Park 2.7 mi Polperro 3.3 mi Downderry 3.6 mi Pelynt 3.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Looe · Carey Park · Polperro · Downderry · Pelynt

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

Overall rating

7.5 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Ballan Wrasse 9/10
Tip: Kelpy gullies and boulder ground; fish the flood to high. Float or ledger hard crab or big rag; weedless soft plastics also score. Daylight, clear water. Use strong gear to keep them from kelp.
Corkwing Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Abundant along kelp edges; small rag, worm or prawn on size 6-10 under a float. Best mid-flood over rough ground in clear seas.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Work metal jigs or paddle-tails along the reef edge at dawn/dusk on the flood; let lures sink then lift over kelp. Float-fished sandeel also works.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals on calm evenings; spinners or small metals, or float a strip of mackerel. Best on the flooding tide with birds working.
Rock Goby 7/10
Tip: LRF in rockpools and ledges at mid-low water; tiny strips of rag or isome on size 12-16 dropped into gaps between weed-covered rocks. Very easy in clear, calm seas.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Work shallow-diving plugs or weedless soft plastics through surfy gullies on a rising tide at first light; or fish peeler crab or sandeel into white water after a blow.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late-summer nights; small metals or sabikis tipped with fish strip retrieved slowly under the surface over deeper channels on the flood.
Tompot Blenny 6/10
Tip: LRF staple in holes and under ledges at low to mid tide; tiny hooks and rag or prawn lowered tight to rock faces. Fast bites.
Long-spined Sea Scorpion 6/10
Tip: Static small baits (rag, prawn) on size 8-12 over weedy margins and small sand patches between rocks on the flood. Often in very shallow water.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring to autumn; float a sliver of mackerel 2-3 ft below a float over clean patches on the flood. Keep bait near surface; strike gently.
Goldsinny Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Small wrasse on size 8-12 with bits of rag or shrimp, float or light ledger along kelp fringes at mid to high water. Clear, calm days best.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: After dark into deeper gullies; whole or half mackerel or squid on strong gear. Best last of flood to first of ebb; expect snags, use a rotten-bottom link.

Local knowledge

Hannafore fishing guide

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

Hannafore is the rocky shoreline west of Looe in southeast Cornwall, facing Looe Island (St George’s Island). It’s a classic mixed-ground mark with kelp-fringed ledges, gullies and small sand patches that hold wrasse, pollack and bass through the warmer months, plus mackerel and garfish in summer. Accessible, scenic and versatile, it’s a rewarding spot for lure, float and light rock fishing.

Set along Hannafore Road/Marine Drive in West Looe, the mark runs for over a kilometre of prom and rocks overlooking Looe Island. Access is straightforward to the promenade, with multiple slipways and paths down to the reef but expect uneven, weed-covered rock once you leave the path.

  • Drive into Looe via the A387 and follow signs to West Looe and Hannafore; the seafront is well signed.
  • Roadside parking along Hannafore Road/Marine Drive (can fill quickly in summer); large pay-and-display at Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF, about a 10–20 minute walk.
  • Handy landmark: Hannafore Point Hotel (PL13 2DG) near the eastern end of the stretch.
  • Access points: several slipways and steps from the promenade; choose ledges appropriate to tide/swell.
  • Terrain: low slatey rock platforms, kelp, barnacles and boulders with snaggy ground and gullies; sturdy footwear essential.
  • The walk is easy on the prom but scrambling is required for the best rock ledges; limited wheelchair access to actual fishing spots, though the prom itself is flat.

Hannafore fishes like a classic Cornish reef with seasonal visitors and resident rough-ground species. Expect variety if you adapt to conditions and move between gullies, points and sand patches.

  • Spring (Mar–May): ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, garfish (from May), early bass on lures, rock gobies and blennies for LRF.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): wrasse at their peak, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk/night, bass, mullet along the weed line, occasional triggerfish in hot calm spells.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass (often best), pollack, wrasse tailing off late Oct, scad, mackerel into Sept, occasional squid on calm nights, conger after dark.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): fewer options but conger, pout, odd pollack on bigger tides; dogfish possible at night on sand patches.
  • Year-round minis (LRF): rock goby, scorpion fish, shannies/blennies, small wrasse in milder spells.

A mix of lure, float and bottom fishing works here; match the method to the ground in front of you and the height of tide.

  • Lure fishing (pollack/bass):
    • Weedless soft plastics (10–20 g) and paddletails worked through kelp gullies at dawn/dusk; sink-and-draw or slow retrieve.
    • Metal jigs and casting spoons (20–40 g) for distance on a flooding tide; topwaters/sub-surface lures for bass in calm, overflooded reef.
  • Float fishing (wrasse/garfish/mackerel):
    • Set floats to fish just above the kelp for wrasse with crab, prawn or ragworm.
    • Shallower floats with sandeel strip or small slivers of mackerel for garfish and mackerel in summer.
  • Bottom fishing (snaggy rough ground):
    • Running ledger or pulley rigs with a weak/rotten-bottom link; 30–50 lb leaders for abrasion.
    • Baits: peeler or hardback crab, ragworm, prawn for wrasse; sandeel, mackerel or squid strip for bass/pollack; big fish baits at night for conger (60 lb trace, strong hooks).
  • LRF/UL gear:
    • Size 10–14 hooks, isome/gulp worms, tiny metals and micro-jigs to prospect gullies for minis; great when the sea is calm and clear.
  • Tackle notes:
    • Long rod (9–10 ft lure, 11–13 ft bait) helps steer fish up and over kelp; carry a long-handled disgorger/forceps.
    • Always use a weak link on your sinker; expect snags.

Tide state and clarity make or break Hannafore. The island offers some shelter, so you can sometimes fish here when other south coast marks are blown out.

  • Best tide windows: mid-flood to high water and the first of the ebb; the initial push over freshly covered reef often sparks wrasse and bass feeding.
  • Low-water tactics: access outer ledges and identify sand runs/gullies; fish the first two hours of the flood as water creeps back.
  • Sea state: light-to-moderate swell with fizz in the kelp is ideal for bass; avoid big groundswell which surges across ledges.
  • Water clarity: clear to lightly coloured water suits wrasse, pollack and garfish; very clear, bright days often favour LRF or finesse lures.
  • Wind: easterly/northerly gives calmer seas; strong S–SW can be dangerous unless the island provides enough lee—assess on arrival.
  • Time of day: dawn/dusk for bass and pollack; summer evenings for garfish/mackerel; after-dark for conger, scad and pout.
  • Seasonality: May–October is prime; winter sport is limited and conditions-driven.

This is genuine reef fishing: beautiful but unforgiving if you misjudge swell or tides. Plan your retreat route and dress for grip.

  • Slippery rocks and kelp: wear studded soles or rock cleats; avoid green weed and smooth, wet slate.
  • Tidal cut-off: some fingers of reef flood behind you—track the tide and step back early.
  • Swell and surge: rogue sets roll across ledges; never turn your back on the sea and keep a safe elevation in onshore conditions.
  • Looe Island causeway: exposed only at big low tides; do not attempt to walk to the island—floods rapidly and is hazardous.
  • Night fishing: bring a headlamp with spare batteries, mark safe exit routes in daylight, and fish with a partner if possible.
  • Lifejacket: recommended for all rock fishing; a throwline and phone in a waterproof pouch are sensible.
  • Accessibility: the promenade is flat with benches, but effective fishing generally requires scrambling; limited options for reduced mobility anglers from the rocks.

Hannafore is one of the more comfortable rock marks thanks to its promenade and proximity to town. You can combine a session with easy amenities.

  • Parking: roadside along Hannafore Road/Marine Drive; larger capacity at Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF.
  • Toilets: public conveniences along the seafront (seasonal opening hours) and in town.
  • Food and drink: cafés/kiosk along Hannafore in season; more options in West/East Looe.
  • Tackle and bait: available in Looe town; check opening hours, especially off-season.
  • Phone signal: generally good on major networks along the promenade; can dip on lower ledges.
  • RNLI: Looe Lifeboat Station is nearby in East Looe; always heed local safety signage.

Observant, mobile anglers do best here. Use the low tide to plan your high-tide session and match tactics to each micro-feature.

  • Scout at low water to mark gullies, sand tongues and kelp edges; return on the flood to fish these lanes.
  • Use a rotten-bottom link for all bottom fishing—snags are part of the game and this saves rigs and time.
  • For wrasse, hardback crab is king when peeler is scarce; hook through a leg socket on a strong 1/0–2/0.
  • Bass often patrol the white water tight to the ledge; a weedless soft plastic or shallow diver fished parallel can be deadly.
  • Mullet browse along the wrack line on calm mornings; bread flake under a small float or freelined can pick out a fish.
  • After dark in late summer, small metals or sabiki-style rigs worked mid-water can find scad; go barbless for quick releases.
  • If you want squid, consider East Looe’s Banjo Pier under lights on autumn evenings—success is sporadic off Hannafore itself.
  • Seals frequently visit; if one appears, move marks to avoid feeding it your fish and to reduce disturbance.

Recreational angling is generally permitted at Hannafore. Parts of the surrounding waters form the Looe and Whitsand Bay Marine Conservation Zone, and Looe Island is a protected nature reserve managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

  • Marine Conservation Zone: angling is allowed, but avoid damaging intertidal habitats and do not disturb seals or nesting birds; follow any local codes of conduct.
  • Looe Island: access is by organised trips only; no walking the causeway and no fishing from the island without explicit permission.
  • Bass rules (recreational): as of 2024, catch-and-release only in Jan–Feb and Dec; March–Nov a daily retention limit of 2 fish at a 42 cm minimum size. Always check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice before fishing.
  • Minimum sizes and protected species: Cornwall IFCA byelaws apply for finfish and shellfish; all berried lobsters/crabs must be returned and undersize shellfish must not be retained.
  • Local byelaws can change: check Cornwall IFCA and the Looe Harbour/ Town Council notices for any seasonal or area-specific restrictions (e.g., netting/collecting limits).
  • General: dispose of line and litter responsibly; no open fires on the rocks; respect private property and access paths.