Kynance Cove Fishing

Summary

Kynance Cove sits on the west side of the Lizard, Cornwall, famed for its turquoise water, serpentine rock stacks and powerful Atlantic swells. It’s a spectacular but serious shore mark that can produce bass, wrasse and pollack for mobile, safety‑minded anglers who pick their windows.

Location and Access

This is a National Trust site signed off the A3083 towards The Lizard; a clifftop NT car park sits above the cove with a steep path down. Reaching proper fishing platforms involves uneven, often slippery serpentine ledges and timing your approach to the tide.

• National Trust car park above the cove (pay‑and‑display; busy in summer; arrive early or late).
• Steep, stepped path to the beach; additional boulder-hopping to get onto either headland or out towards Asparagus Island at low water.
• Best rock access is from the north and south headlands flanking the cove; the outer points give depth but require calm seas.
• The coastal path offers alternative ledges north towards Pentreath and south towards Predannack, but expect longer, exposed walks.
• Avoid relying on precise postcodes; follow brown NT signs for Kynance Cove from the A3083 and on to the car park.

Seasons

Kynance fishes very differently by season and sea state; expect clear water, kelp and sand gullies. Bass dominate surf windows, with wrasse and pollack on the rough ground.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass on the first push of the flood in light surf.
  • Pollack from the outer ledges at dawn/dusk.
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse as water warms, especially on neaps.
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Mackerel and garfish on calm, clear evenings; occasional scad at dusk.
  • Wrasse (ballan to specimen size) tight to kelp and boulders.
  • Pollack to lures in the tide run off the points.
  • Thick‑lipped mullet mooching around the wash on very calm days.
  • Odd triggerfish in late summer warm spells on rough ground (patchy, some years none).
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Prime bass time with sandeel/juvenile baitfish shoals; lure and surf bait sessions can be excellent.
  • Bigger pollack on darker evenings; wrasse still reliable through October in settled seas.
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting and pouting in onshore seas; dogfish from sandy tongues.
  • Occasional conger or bull huss from deeper rough ground ledges on the calmest nights (experienced anglers only).

Methods

Mobility and timing beat brute distance here. Travel light, read the swell, and fish short productive windows rather than camping on one ledge.

• Lure fishing for bass:
  • Shallow swimmers, subsurface/surface pencils and soft plastics (weedless 4–6 inch) over sand/kelp seams.
  • Work the first two hours of flood and last hour of ebb; dawn or dusk in slight colour is ideal.
• Wrasse tactics:
  • Float‑fished prawn or peeler, or weedless soft plastics (crab/worm patterns) into kelpy pockets.
  • Use abrasion‑resistant leaders (20–30 lb) and short, stout hooks (size 1–2/0).
• Pollack and mackerel:
  • Metals, slim spoons and sandeels on 20–30 g heads; count down and retrieve just above the weed line.
  • Sabiki for mackerel/scad in summer, but single lures are safer around swell.
• Bottom fishing (select ledges only, calm seas):
  • Simple pulley or pulley‑dropper with 3–4 oz leads; baits: sandeel, squid, peeler for bass/huss; mackerel head/fillet for conger (experienced teams, heavy gear, release fish promptly).
• General kit:
  • Cleated boots, rock spikes or studs; chest bag; long‑handled lure clipper or Boga‑style grip; 9–10 ft lure rod (15–40 g) and/or 11–12 ft light surf rod.
  • Carry a headlamp even for evening sessions; pack down well before dark unless highly familiar with the ledges.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and swell call the tune. Many ledges only fishable on smaller neaps and low‑to‑mid water; big Atlantic swell makes most rock platforms unsafe.

• Best tide states:
  • Bass: last of the ebb and first half of the flood, especially with light surf and some colour.
  • Wrasse/pollack: neap tides with clear water; work the run around headlands at dawn/dusk.
  • Access: Asparagus Island and some platforms are only safely reachable near low; retreat early.
• Sea and wind:
  • Light to moderate E/NE winds create lee and clarity; SW–W swells quickly make it dangerous.
  • After a blow, a dropping sea with 1–3 ft surf is classic bass water across the sandy tongues.
• Time of day/seasonality:
  • First light and last light are consistently best for lure work.
  • Autumn baitfish pulses can transform the mark for bass and pollack.
• Tidal streams:
  • Strong pulls off the outer points on springs; use heavier lures or step back to inside seams.

Safety

This is a high‑energy Atlantic mark with complex, cut‑off terrain. If in doubt, don’t go; there are safer options nearby.

• Steep access and slippery serpentine rock; studs/cleats essential. Avoid weed‑glazed green rock.
• Atlantic swell and surges: never fish near the wash on a rising sea; observe at least 15 minutes before stepping onto a ledge.
• Tidal cut‑off risk around Asparagus Island and the southern platforms; only access on a falling tide and leave early.
• Rip currents across the cove’s sandy sections in surf; avoid wading.
• Rockfall/cliff edges: keep clear of undercuts and overhangs, especially after heavy rain.
• Night fishing is not recommended unless you know the ledges intimately and conditions are benign; never go alone.
• Wear a PFD (inflatable lifejacket) on the rocks; carry a phone in a waterproof pouch and tell someone your plan.
• Respect National Trust signage and any temporary path/area closures for erosion or nesting birds.
• Accessibility: unsuitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility; the path is steep with steps and uneven ground.

Facilities

Expect scenic but basic facilities geared to day visitors; angling amenities are in nearby towns.

• National Trust car park above the cove (charges apply; often full by late morning in peak season).
• Seasonal café by the beach and seasonal toilets (hours vary; toilets often also at/near the car park).
• No lighting and usually no lifeguard cover; plan daylight sessions.
• Mobile reception is patchy on some networks near the beach; stronger on the clifftops.
• Nearest tackle and bait: Helston and Porthleven (frozen sandeel/squid, lures, basics). No tackle shop on site.
• No water or bins on the ledges; pack in/pack out and leave no trace.

Tips

Local patterns at Kynance reward stealth, timing and minimal kit. Think two‑hour missions rather than all‑day hauls.

• Travel light with one lure box: a surface pencil, a shallow minnow, a couple of 20–30 g metals, and weedless SPs cover 90% of sessions.
• Watch the birds: gannets/terns picking tight to the points often precede a brief pollack/bass blitz.
• For wrasse, drop baits into pockets you can see—don’t cast far; bites often come within 10 seconds.
• Use fluorocarbon leaders (20–30 lb) and check for scuffs every few casts; serpentine is abrasive.
• On bright, clear days, fish ultra‑early or in evening shade; mid‑day is mostly sightseeing.
• Always plan your retreat route with at least 30 minutes tide margin; landmarks disappear quickly as the flood builds.
• Seals frequently patrol—expect follows on surface lures; if they’re working a gully, move rather than compete.
• Parking hack: arrive for the evening drop in summer as day‑trippers leave; the best bite often coincides with space in the car park.

Regulations

There is no general prohibition on shore angling at Kynance Cove, but standard national and Cornwall IFCA rules apply. Always check the latest official sources before your trip as regulations can change.

• Bass (recreational): Minimum size 42 cm and a seasonal bag limit/retention window apply; typically restricted to a small daily bag March–November with catch‑and‑release outside that period. Confirm current dates and limits with the MMO/IFCA before fishing.
• Tope: It is illegal to retain tope caught by rod and line in England (release required) under the Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008.
• Minimum sizes: Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for species such as bass, wrasse (where stipulated), mackerel, flatfish, rays, and crustaceans apply; measure and release undersized fish.
• Protected and sensitive wildlife: The area includes protected habitats and nesting seabirds; do not disturb wildlife, seals or roped‑off areas. No collecting or damaging of features within SSSI/NT sensitive zones.
• Bait collection: Any local restrictions or seasonal sensitivities on the Lizard’s protected shore should be respected; avoid hammering small pools and never use tools on living rock.
• No camping or fires on NT land; follow signage on access and path closures.
• If boat fishing nearby, note additional MCZ/SAC measures may apply offshore; shore anglers should still practice low‑impact methods and leave no trace.