Summary
Kingsand Beach sits on the sheltered, easterly-facing side of Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula, looking into Plymouth Sound. It’s a tidy, sandy cove with rocky margins that lends itself to light shore work, producing flats, bass and seasonal pelagics when the conditions line up.
Location and Access
Set in the twin villages of Kingsand and Cawsand, access is straightforward and the ground is friendly for most anglers. The beach itself is sand with patches of shingle and low reef at either end.
- Drive via the A38 to the Torpoint Ferry, then follow signs through Millbrook to Kingsand/Cawsand; alternatively via the Tamar Bridge and A374/A387 if you wish to avoid the ferry.
- Pay-and-display village car parks in Kingsand and nearby Cawsand; they fill quickly in summer—arrive early or fish evenings.
- Short, easy walk from the car parks to the beach via slipways/steps; the promenade backs much of the strand.
- Terrain is mainly clean sand, with mixed and rocky patches toward the edges—choose your spot based on target species and snag tolerance.
- Public transport option: Cremyll foot ferry from Plymouth, then a local bus to Cawsand and a short walk to the beach.
Seasons
Kingsand fishes like a sheltered bay with pockets of mixed ground, offering a good spread of species across the year.
- Spring (Mar–May): Plaice, flounder, dab; school to mid-size bass; garfish arrive late spring; wrasse around the rocks from May.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass, mackerel, garfish, pollack (from rocky edges), wrasse, gurnard; thornback rays on settled evenings; scad after dark; occasional smoothhound.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass (often peak), mackerel (to Oct), garfish, gurnards, thornback ray, dogfish; odd squid in clear, calm nights.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and pouting after dark; flounder/dab on the sand; occasional codling in colder snaps; thornback rays on quiet, settled nights.
Methods
Light to medium shore tactics excel here, with bait for the flats and rays, and lures or floats when the water clears.
- Bottom fishing: 2–3 hook flapper rigs (size 2–1) with ragworm, lug, or maddies for plaice/flounder/dabs; clip-down variants help at range.
- Rays/bass: Pulley or up-and-over (3/0–4/0) with sandeel, bluey or squid-fish cocktails; fish the flood into and over high, especially after dark.
- Lure fishing: Shallow minnows and weedless soft plastics for bass along the seams and rock fringes; small metals for mackerel/scad at dawn/dusk in summer.
- Float fishing: Small strips of mackerel or sandeel for garfish; rag/crab for wrasse along the rocky ends at half-tide up.
- Distance and placement: Many fish come 20–60 yards over sand gullies; rays can sit a touch further—seek the slightly darker/greener water lines.
- Bait notes: Fresh rag/lug for flats, peeler or soft crab for bass and wrasse in late spring/summer; sandeel and bluey for rays; add colour beads/attractors for plaice.
Tides and Conditions
The bay is sheltered from prevailing south-westerlies, so it’s often fishable when open coast marks are blown out. Timing and water colour matter.
- Tide: Productive from mid-flood through the first hour of the ebb; two hours either side of high water is prime for bass and rays.
- Wind/sea state: Light SW winds keep it calm; a gentle onshore easterly can stir food and suit bass—too much easterly stacks weed.
- Water clarity: Clearer water favours lures, garfish and mackerel; slight colour helps bass on bait. After heavy rain, switch to scent-led baits.
- Time of day: Dusk into dark improves bass, rays, whiting and dogfish; early mornings in summer are best for pelagics before beachgoers arrive.
- Seasonality: Spring flats on neaps; late summer–autumn for mixed bags and bass; winter nights for whiting/pouting with the chance of a thornback.
Safety
Kingsand is generally benign, but take care around the rocky ends and during very high tides when space tightens.
- At very high water the beach can back up to the sea wall; plan your session to avoid being squeezed for casting room.
- Rocks at either end can be slippery with weed—good boots, avoid hopping around at night, and consider a lifejacket if you step off the sand.
- Beware swimmers, paddlecraft and moorings in summer; keep rigs clear of buoys and small craft lanes.
- Minimal lighting at night—carry a headlamp and spare.
- Mobile signal is generally good, but do not rely solely on phones for tide/safety info.
- For mobility: Slipway and short, level approaches make the central beach comparatively accessible, though soft sand and shingle ridges can challenge wheel users.
- Always check tide times and forecast; use a lifejacket when fishing near water’s edge or on uneven ground.
Facilities
The twin villages provide most basics within a short walk of the beach.
- Public toilets near the seafront (check seasonal opening times); additional facilities in Cawsand.
- Pubs, cafés and small shops close to the promenade; hot food available most of the year, with more choice in summer.
- Pay-and-display parking in Kingsand and Cawsand; spaces can be scarce in peak season.
- No dedicated tackle shop on the beach—nearest bait and tackle are in Torpoint or Plymouth; consider buying bait en route.
- Generally good phone reception; limited shelter on the beach itself in poor weather.
Tips
Small, tidy presentations catch more fish here than brute force casting. Keep it stealthy, especially at dusk.
- For plaice, use long snoods, small beads and a slow retrieve every few minutes to flutter the bait.
- A long, flowing trace with peeler or sandeel fished just behind the surf line is a classic bass tactic on a lightly stirred sea.
- Garfish under a float 6–10 ft deep with a sliver of mackerel can be nonstop on clear summer tides—strike gently to avoid tearing hooks free.
- Thornbacks often show an hour before high on neaps after a warm, settled spell; keep baits fresh and sit quietly.
- Fish the rocky fringes at first light for wrasse and opportunist bass with weedless soft plastics to cut down snags.
- Summer crowds: fish dawn or after sunset and give any marked swim zones a wide berth.
- There are seagrass beds within Cawsand Bay—avoid wading through eelgrass patches and retrieving across moorings to reduce damage and lost gear.
Regulations
Recreational sea angling is permitted from Kingsand Beach, but be mindful of seasonal and conservation measures in the wider Plymouth Sound area. Always check the latest official sources before you go.
- Bass (European seabass): Recreational limits commonly include a minimum size of 42 cm and a restricted bag season; recent rules allow up to two fish per angler per day from 1 March to 30 November, with catch-and-release outside those dates. Verify current-year regulations before retaining fish.
- Minimum sizes and protections: UK national and Cornwall IFCA byelaws apply (e.g., no taking of berried lobsters/crabs; species-specific MLS). If you intend to keep crustaceans or other species, check Cornwall IFCA for up-to-date sizes and closures.
- Marine designations: Parts of Plymouth Sound and Estuaries are protected (SAC/MCZ). Shore angling is allowed, but avoid disturbing eelgrass/seagrass beds and intertidal habitats; follow any local signage.
- Local beach use: Expect seasonal swimming zones and dog restrictions during peak months—do not fish into designated bathing areas and respect lifeguard or council signage if present.
- Lead use and litter: Use only non-toxic weights where required and take all waste line and hooks home.
- Private property and moorings: Do not fish from signed private structures or interfere with moored vessels—keep clear of mooring lines when casting.
- Biosecurity: If wading or using tackle between venues, follow Check, Clean, Dry to prevent spread of invasive species.
