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Cornwall

Hemmick Beach

6.3 · Beach · Cornwall

A secluded, south-facing cove west of Dodman Point with clean sand in the middle and rough, kelpy rock ground at both ends. Suits float and lure fishing around the rocky points for wrasse and pollack, with summer shoals of mackerel and scad passing close. Surf or a bit of colour after a blow can draw bass over the sandy patches. Clear, calm days often reveal mullet in the corners. Best fished from mid to high water; evenings and into darkness are productive in summer and early autumn. Access is via a small cliff path from the limited parking above, so pack light. Exposure to swell and slippery rocks demand care, and there are no facilities on the beach.

Should you fish Hemmick Beach?

66 Good

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Garfish

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

NW 3 mph Rain 6% High tide 11:12

Worth fishing if you can hit the best window.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Hemmick Beach — 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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Hemmick fishes best when you treat it as two connected marks: clean sand through the middle for bass, dogfish, occasional spotted ray and winter whiting, and rough kelpy ground at both ends for wrasse, pollack, mackerel, scad, garfish, pout and night conger. The key decision is sea state: a bit of surf and colour can switch the sand on for bass, while the rocky ends usually need calmer, clearer water and minimal swell to be worth the risk.

  • Know when the sandy middle beats the kelpy ends.
  • Time the flood for bass instead of wasting low water.
  • Pick the right plan for surf, clear water or darkness.
  • Avoid the rock marks when swell makes them unsafe.
  • Use Hemmick’s clean tongues for rays, dogs and whiting.
  • Have a nearby fallback without guessing on the day.

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Gorran Haven 1.2 mi Mevagissey 3.1 mi Tregony 5.0 mi Sticker 5.8 mi Grampound 6.0 mi

Explore nearby towns: Gorran Haven · Mevagissey · Tregony · Sticker · Grampound

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

Overall rating

6.3 /10

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

Category scores

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

Bass 8/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work surface or shallow-diving lures in the surf and rocky gullies at either end; sandeel or peeler crab in swell; summer–autumn.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Rocky ends and kelp gullies; daytime flood; fish crab or rag on strong gear, running rig or float; keep hooks close to structure; best late spring–autumn.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: From rock ledges; dusk into night on the flood; retrieve soft plastics or metals tight to kelp lines; summer–autumn, clear water helps.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Sandy centre of the beach; evening into dark on a flood; 2-hook flappers with mackerel or squid; bites year-round, most reliable spring–autumn nights.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Rocky margins and kelp; after dark on the flood; small fish baits or rag on flappers; year-round bycatch.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Summer shoals in settled seas; small metals or feathers from the rocks mid-flood to high; move to find clear water and bird activity.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late summer–autumn after dark; mini-sabikis or 1–2 inch lures; try deeper water off the points on a flooding tide.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float-fish thin mackerel strip or small sandeel over kelp edges on the flood; bright, calm days best.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Winter evenings from the beach; 2–3 hook flappers with mackerel, squid or worm; bites build from dusk into the mid-flood.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: Night from rocky ends; big mackerel or fish baits on strong running ledger; fish slack to first of the flood; expect snags.
Spotted Ray 4/10
Tip: Occasional over clean sand; evening flood in calm seas; long casts with sandeel or squid on a pulley pennel; spring–autumn.

Local knowledge

Hemmick Beach fishing guide

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

Hemmick Beach is a small, quiet cove on Cornwall’s south coast, tucked just west of Dodman Point. It offers mixed ground fishing with a sandy gut flanked by kelpy reefs, giving options for bass in the surf and wrasse or pollack off the rocks. Its seclusion, lack of crowds, and wild feel make it a rewarding mark for mobile, prepared anglers.

This is a remote National Trust-backed beach reached by narrow country lanes; take your time and expect passing places. The final approaches are steep and the paths onto the sand and rocks can be rough underfoot.

  • Access: Signposted locally from Gorran/Boswinger/Penare; approach via very narrow lanes with high hedges.
  • Parking: Tiny National Trust parking right by Hemmick fills quickly; a larger NT car park at Penare gives a 10–15 minute walk down to the beach. Arrive early in summer/settled weather.
  • Walk/difficulty: Steep descent with uneven, sometimes muddy paths. Rock platforms at either end require sure footing and care in swell.
  • Terrain: Clean-to-mixed sand in the middle; kelp, boulders, and rough ground at both ends. At low water, gullies and patches of firmer sand open up among the rock fingers.
  • Night access: Straightforward with a headtorch once you’ve pre-scouted in daylight; no lighting on site.
  • Note: Do not block gateways or passing places; some lanes are single track for long stretches.

Hemmick fishes as a classic south-coast mixed mark. Expect bass and wrasse from late spring to autumn, with nocturnal rays and huss on the sandier tongues, and winter whiting in the darker months.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Bass (schoolies to modest fish), wrasse, pollack
    • Plaice/gurnard on the cleaner patches in settled spells
    • Early dogfish and the odd small-eyed ray towards late spring
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Bass (best at dawn/dusk and in surf), wrasse (ball/corkwing), pollack
    • Garfish and occasional mackerel within casting range in calm, clear water
    • Thick- and thin-lipped mullet in quiet corners; dogfish common after dark
    • Bull huss possible from rough ground at night
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Bass (often the best run), wrasse (until the first real chills), pollack
    • Small-eyed ray and spotted ray on settled evenings
    • Pouting and conger from the rocks after dark
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting and pout on bigger tides at night
    • Strap conger, dogfish; the odd codling is very occasional here
    • Wrasse activity largely shuts down once water temps drop

A flexible approach pays: fish the surf with baits or lures for bass, then work the rock edges for wrasse/pollack as the tide floods. After dark, target cleaner tongues for rays and huss with robust end tackle.

  • Bass (surf and edges):
    • Lures: Surface walkers, shallow divers, and 20–40 g metals when baitfish show; weedless paddle-tails over kelp margins.
    • Bait: Fresh peeler crab, rag/lug cocktails, whole sandeel; fish on a long pulley or running ledger with a clipped-down presentation for range.
  • Wrasse/pollack (rocky ends):
    • Wrasse: Float rig or simple running ledgers with hardback or peeler crab, prawn, or rag; weedless soft plastics on 10–20 g heads for snaggy ground.
    • Pollack: Weedless paddle-tails/slugs on 10–30 g Texas/weighted hooks, worked at dusk along the kelp line.
  • Rays/huss (cleaner patches):
    • Rigs: Pulley or pulley-dropper with rotten-bottom link; 3–5 ft traces, 4/0–5/0 strong hooks for huss; 3/0–4/0 for rays.
    • Baits: Sandeel (single or launce), squid wraps, mackerel flank. Fish into dusk and first hours of dark.
  • General scratching/variety:
    • 2-hook flapper or up-and-over with size 2–1/0 for gurnard/plaice/whiting.
    • Keep a light lure rod ready for sudden garfish/mackerel shows.
  • Tackle notes:
    • 12–13 ft beach rod, 4–6 oz grips; 0.35–0.40 mm mainline with shock leader.
    • Use rotten-bottoms and strong snoods in the kelp; keep the rod high to lift over boulders.

Tide timing and sea state rule this mark. Aim to fish a flooding tide into dusk with a bit of push on the water for bass, and calmer, clearer spells for wrasse and pollack.

  • Tide state:
    • Best two hours of the flood through high and the first of the ebb for bass.
    • Springs expose more low-water gullies and clean tongues to mark for the flood; neaps can reduce cross-drift and weed.
  • Sea/ wind:
    • Bass: A light-to-moderate onshore (S–SW–W) breeze with some surf and light colour is prime.
    • Wrasse/pollack: Settle/clear conditions with minimal swell; easterlies often flatten the sea here.
    • Rays: Prefer a settled sea and steady barometer; dusk into night.
  • Time of day:
    • Dawn/dusk for lures; after dark for dogs, huss, rays, and winter whiting.
  • Seasonality:
    • Late spring to late autumn is the productive window; winter is mainly a night scratch for whiting/pout and the odd strap conger.
  • Weed and viz:
    • After a blow, expect floating kelp and weed lines; give it 24–48 hours to clear for lures.

This is an exposed, wild-feeling cove with slippery rocks and changeable swell. Plan your exits, wear appropriate footwear, and keep a wary eye on the sea at all times.

  • Slippery/uneven ground: Kelp-covered boulders and weeded ledges are treacherous—use studded boots and move deliberately.
  • Swell/rogue waves: Ocean swells wrap in; keep well back on rock edges and never turn your back on the sea.
  • Cut-off risk: The very ends of the beach and base of headlands can flood quickly on springs—identify escape routes and retreat early.
  • Cliff fall hazard: Avoid loitering tight under crumbly faces; do not climb or shortcut steep sections.
  • Night fishing: Strong headtorch/spare batteries; ideally fish with a partner; mark safe paths in daylight.
  • Personal safety: Consider a waist-belted lifejacket when working close to water; carry a phone/whistle. Mobile signal is patchy at beach level.
  • Access notes: No formal disability access; gradients and surfaces are not suitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility.
  • Restrictions: No known angling ban, but respect National Trust guidance, nesting birds, and any temporary notices.

Hemmick is deliberately basic: there are no on-beach facilities, bins, or lifeguards. Plan to be self-sufficient and carry your litter out.

  • On-site: No toilets, water, lighting, or café; no lifeguard cover.
  • Nearest amenities:
    • Porthluney (Caerhays) beach: Seasonal toilets and café; pay parking.
    • Gorran Haven: Public loos, small shops/café, seasonal food options.
    • Tackle/bait: Mevagissey and St Austell have tackle shops and fuel.
  • Connectivity: Mobile reception is variable—often weak at the beach, better on higher ground.
  • Public transport: Limited; practically, this is a drive-and-walk venue.

Treat it like two marks in one: surf over sand in the middle for bass and cleaner-ground species, and rock-ledges at either end for wrasse/pollack. A quick reccy at low water pays dividends later.

  • Scout at LW: Note the positions of clean tongues and gutters so you can drop baits back onto them on the flood/dusk.
  • Rotten-bottoms: Essential on the rougher edges; a weak link saves leads and rigs.
  • Beat the crabs: In summer, use tougher baits (squid heads, crab wraps) and plenty of bait elastic.
  • Lure rotation: Start high in the water column (surface/sub-surface) at first light, then step down to minnows and soft plastics as the sun lifts.
  • Rod position: Keep rods high and lines tight to steer fish over kelp; a long drop net is handy if you must fish from rocks.
  • Rays: Fish sandeel/squid at last light into the first 3 hours of darkness on a settling sea.
  • Mullet: Carry a small float rod and bread—mullet often graze around rock pools in calm spells.
  • Parking etiquette: Arrive early, park tight, and never block farm access or passing places; lanes are used by locals and tractors.
  • Expectations: Winter cod are vanishingly rare here—focus on whiting/pout and the odd strap conger if you’re out in colder months.

Angling is generally permitted from Hemmick Beach. Regulations can change—always check the UK Government, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and Cornwall IFCA before you go.

  • European seabass: Recreational rules (bag limits/season) are reviewed annually. Minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) is 42 cm; retention limits and any seasonal closures vary—check the current notice before keeping a bass.
  • Minimum sizes: UK/EU MCRS apply to finfish and shellfish; return undersized fish promptly. Cornwall IFCA publishes local minimum sizes and ID guidance.
  • Crabs/lobsters: Potting (even recreational) in Cornwall generally requires an IFCA permit and correct tag/marking; berried/v-notched lobsters must be returned. Hand-gathering has strict size limits—check Cornwall IFCA rules.
  • Protected species/habitats: Do not target shad, tope for retention, or disturb seals and nesting seabirds. If you accidentally catch a protected species, release it immediately.
  • Bait collecting: Follow local byelaws and best practice—avoid any seagrass, saltmarsh, and SSSI features; fill in any bait holes.
  • Access and conduct: Stick to public paths, respect National Trust guidance, close gates, and take all litter home. No open fires/BBQs where prohibited.
  • Keep only what you need: Many local anglers practice catch-and-release for big wrasse and breeding bass to protect the stock.