Hayle Towans Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Hayle Towans Fishing Map

Expansive surf beach backed by dunes on the east side of the Hayle Estuary (St Ives Bay). Mostly clean sand with shifting bars and gutters; deeper water and strong tidal pull near the estuary channel. Good for surf bass, flatfish and winter whiting; summer can see mackerel, scad and garfish, with the chance of a small-eyed ray on sandeel. Best around the flood and at dusk or after dark. Access via multiple Towans car parks and dune paths; beware rips, soft sand and no-fishing bird reserve areas within the estuary.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Hayle Towans

🐟 Bass 9/10
🎯 Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work white-water gutters. Sandeel, peeler or shallow-diving lures. Keep mobile along the surf line.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 7/10
🎯 Tip: Calm surf, evening into night. Long cast to outer gutters/sandbars; fish 2 hrs either side of low. Sandeel or squid wraps.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; peeler/hard crab baits. Flooding tide into the estuary mouth; 50–100 yds over clean sand in gentle surf.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Oct–Feb nights. 2–3 hook flappers with mackerel or squid; 60–100 yds over clean sand. Best last 3 hrs of flood and first of ebb.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late autumn–spring. Small rag/lug or maddies; cast into channels by the river mouth on ebb or first of flood. Use light rigs.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sept on calm, clear evenings. Metals or small feathers; look for bird activity and clearer water beyond the surf.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer. Tiny rag/isome on size 8–10 hooks; surf margins and gutters at dusk on a push. Stealth and light gear.
🐟 Dab 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter. Small lug/rag cocktails; clipped rigs and long casts to flat sand. Fishes well on neaps in daylight.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, calm nights. Small rag on long snoods; short to mid cast over clean sand. Best around slack water into first push.
🐟 Turbot 4/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–autumn. Whole sandeel or fish strip worked along sandbars and cuts on the flood; stay mobile between rips.

Hayle Towans Fishing

Summary

Hayle Towans is the sweeping dune-backed stretch on the eastern side of St Ives Bay, running from the Hayle estuary mouth up towards Mexico Towans, Sandy Acres and Gwithian. It is classic Cornish surf beach fishing: mobile sandbars, defined gutters, and rips that draw in bass, rays and winter shoals of whiting. With multiple access points and room to roam, it rewards anglers who read the water and stay mobile.

Location and Access

Reaching Hayle Towans is straightforward from the A30 into Hayle, with several signed car parks dotted along the dunes. Expect short but sandy walks over undulating paths to the beach; distances vary from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the car park.

Seasons

This is an open surf beach with a productive estuary influence, so species change with season and sea state.

Methods

Hayle Towans suits both lure and bait approaches; success comes from matching your method to the surf shape and where the food lanes form.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and surf shape are everything here. Aim to fish where moving water concentrates food—rips, gutter mouths and bar edges.

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic surf beach: treat waves, rips and shifting sandbanks with respect. The estuary end also has fierce currents and soft silt away from firm beach sands.

Facilities

Amenities are spread along the dune-line car parks and in Hayle town. Expect more services in summer and fewer in winter evenings.

Tips

Hayle Towans rewards anglers who travel light and read the beach rather than fixating on a single peg. Use the height of the dunes to study bars and rips before choosing where to fish.

Regulations

Regulations can change—always check current notices on-site and the latest guidance from the Marine Management Organisation and Cornwall IFCA before you go.