Kennack Sands Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Kennack Sands Fishing Map

A broad sandy bay on the Lizard with rocky headlands at both ends (West and East Kennack). It offers classic surf-beach bass fishing over clean sand plus wrasse and pollack from the rocks. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad; nights produce dogfish, and occasional rays and turbot show on the sand. Access is easy from the West Kennack car park with seasonal facilities; expect strong rips in swell and slippery weeded rocks at the ends. Best results typically come on a flooding tide into dusk with a modest southwesterly swell.

Ratings

⭐ 7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Kennack Sands

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach with rocky flanks; best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Shallow-divers, metals or surf crab/ rag baits in coloured water. Work gutters and the stream mouth.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Rocky ends/kelp. Short casts with crab or rag on strong gear, or weedless soft plastics tight to boulders. Mid–high water, summer–autumn.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Lure fish from headlands at dusk into dark on the flood. 20–40g jigs or weedless soft plastics along reef edges and drop-offs.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night, May–Oct over clean sand. Cast 60–100m from low into first of the flood. Sandeel or small fish baits on pulley rigs, avoid reef patches.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night over sand with small fish or squid baits. Short casts into gutters; steady on the first of the flood.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sept over clean sand with peeler crab. First two hours of the flood into dusk; long traces and light leads help presentation.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals from rocky points, especially evenings on a flooding tide. Metals or small feathers; stay mobile and cast to showing fish.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: May–Sept from headlands. Float-fish mackerel strip high in the water or small spoons; best on the flood at first light.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months in shallow surf and by the stream mouth. Small prawn or isome on size 8–10 hooks; stealthy approach on a gentle surf and rising tide.
🐟 Spotted Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional over clean sand at night, summer–autumn. Sandeel or squid cocktails at medium range; neap tides reduce weed.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Rocky fringes; small hooks and rag/shrimp baits under a float or light ledger. Productive mid to high water in summer.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark from rocky ends. Big mackerel/squid baits on strong gear; fish the first of the ebb when tide eases. Watch swell and access.

Kennack Sands Fishing

Summary

Kennack Sands is a sweeping double beach on the east side of the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, with golden sand flanked by rugged, weedy headlands. It’s a classic Cornish surf strand for bass, with rocky ends that also produce wrasse and pollack in the right conditions. The mix of clean sand, gullies and reefs gives year‑round potential if you pick your tide, wind and spot carefully.

Location and Access

Access is straightforward to West Kennack with parking virtually on the beach; East Kennack is quieter and reached either across the sand at lower water or via the coast path. Narrow lanes and seasonal crowds mean it’s worth arriving early in summer.

Seasons

The venue fishes differently between the sandy bays and the rock fringes. Expect clean-ground species on the beach and rough-ground species from the points.

Methods

Match your approach to the ground and sea state. The beach favours straightforward surf tactics; the points respond to float/lure work in clear water.

Tides and Conditions

Kennack is tide‑sensitive: the beach reveals useful structure at low, yet many fish arrive with water movement on the flood. Wind direction sets the tone—onshore pushes surf for bass; offshore calms it for rays and lure work.

Safety

This is a family beach with seasonal lifeguards at West Kennack, but anglers must respect surf, rips and slippery rock. Night fishing and rock marks require extra caution.

Facilities

Kennack has better amenities than many Lizard marks, especially on the west beach in summer. Expect fewer facilities if you head over to East Kennack.

Tips

Small adjustments make a big difference here: read the beach, move to find fish, and tailor tactics to weed and surf on the day.

Regulations

There is no widely posted local ban on angling at Kennack Sands; normal public beach and marine protected area rules apply. Always check onsite signage and current byelaws before fishing.