Summary
Lamorna Cove sits on Cornwall’s wild Penwith coast between Mousehole and Porthcurno, a granite-walled inlet with gin-clear water and rich kelp beds. It’s a compact mark offering a little of everything: easy fishing from the small quay and more adventurous rock marks on both sides. With wrasse, pollack, mackerel and mullet in season, it’s a rewarding venue when the sea is settled.
Location and Access
Tucked at the end of a narrow, steep valley road, Lamorna feels remote yet is a short drive from Penzance. Parking is in the private Lamorna Cove car park by the beach/quay (ANPR—pay carefully), with a short walk to the fishing. The South West Coast Path skirts both headlands for rock access.
- Approach via the B3315 and follow signs down the single-track lane with passing places; it’s tight and busy in summer—arrive early or late.
- Parking is at the cove car park beside the slipway/quay (charges apply; ANPR enforcement—ensure your reg is entered correctly).
- Quay access is straightforward; rock marks require short scrambles over uneven, weeded granite. Good boots essential.
- The western side (right as you look seaward) drops quickly into depth; the eastern side has more broken ground and kelp gullies.
- In peak season the cove is popular with swimmers, kayaks and divers—choose your spot with this in mind.
Seasons
Species change with the seasons, with reef fish resident and pelagics showing in warmer months. Expect clear-water, rough-ground fishing.
- Spring (Apr–May): Pollack (shore-range fish to 3–5 lb), early wrasse (ballan, corkwing), increasing chances of bass on a flooding tide; thick‑lipped mullet nosing around the slip and stream mouth.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Ballan wrasse in numbers, pollack at dusk, mackerel and garfish on calm days, scad after dark; occasional bass on a bit of lift; mini-species (blennies, gobies, rock cook) for LRF.
- Late summer/early autumn (Sep–Oct): Peak mixed sport—wrasse still strong, better pollack at dusk, scad in big shoals, mackerel, garfish; squid possible on clear, still nights.
- Winter (Nov–Feb): Thinner pickings but conger from the rocks after dark, pollack on lures in a bit of colour, the odd whiting/dogfish on baits when there’s movement.
Methods
This is classic rough-ground/reef fishing with options from finesse to heavy. Clear water suits floats and lures; a bit of sea helps bass and pollack.
- Float fishing: Sliding float set 8–15 ft over ragworm, prawn or crab for wrasse; mackerel strip for garfish; fish tight to kelp edges and granite faces.
- Lure fishing: 10–30 g metal jigs for mackerel/scad; weedless soft plastics (10–20 g) for pollack along drop-offs at dusk; small 2–3 inch LRF plastics or isome for species hunts inside the cove.
- Bottom fishing: Pulley or pulley‑dropper with a weak/rotten‑bottom link; 3–4 oz leads usually suffice. Baits: peeler/hardback crab, ragworm, squid strip or sandeel. Keep snoods short to reduce kelp fouling.
- Night tactics: Large fish baits (mackerel/squid cocktail) for conger and opportunist bass; headtorch with red mode helps keep light levels down.
- Mullet: Bread flake or small pieces of prawn under a light float; groundbait sparingly with mashed bread—stealth is everything.
- Squid (autumn): Size 2.5–3.0 egi jigs fished under the lights you bring; work edges of the quay/rocky points on clear, still evenings.
Tides and Conditions
Lamorna rewards planning around tide, swell and light. Aim for settled spells with manageable swell and make the most of dawn/dusk.
- Tides: Flooding tide into high is best for wrasse and bass; last light into the first of the ebb often best for pollack. Neaps give nicer presentation for floats/LRF.
- Conditions: Clear to lightly coloured water is ideal; a gentle onshore push livens bass/pollack but avoid big groundswell (surges are dangerous and kill the fishing).
- Wind: Northerly/NE winds flatten the cove and clear the water; strong SW/S winds can wrap in and cause heavy surging.
- Time of day: Dawn for mackerel/garfish and sneaky bass; dusk into dark for pollack, scad and conger. Bright middays suit LRF in the shade of the rocks/quay.
- Seasonality: Peak mixed fishing June–October; winter is very weather‑dependent.
Safety
This is an exposed Atlantic rock mark in miniature—surges, kelp and slippery granite are the main hazards. The quay is easier but still needs care.
- Wear studded boots or high‑grip soles; consider a belt and inflatable lifejacket on the rocks.
- Watch for swell sets and reflected surges inside the cove; never turn your back on the sea.
- Use a rotten‑bottom link over rough ground; take a long-handled net or gaff for safe landing from height (gaff only where legal/ethical for the species).
- Some ledges can become cut off on a big flood—plan your retreat and fish with a partner where possible.
- The quay/slip get very slippery with algae; keep clear of swimmers and slipway traffic.
- Access is not suitable for wheelchairs; the quay top is the least demanding option but still uneven.
- Private estate: respect any on‑site signage regarding no fishing from specific areas in peak bathing times.
Facilities
Facilities are basic but adequate for a short session. Expect seasonal variation and bring what you need.
- Parking: Private ANPR car park by the beach/quay (fees apply; check tariff/operating hours).
- Toilets: Usually present near the car park; may be seasonal—do not rely on them off‑season.
- Food/drink: Seasonal café/kiosk at the cove when open; the Lamorna Wink pub is up the valley.
- Tackle/bait: Head to Newlyn/Penzance for bait and tackle (several shops within a 15–20 min drive).
- Lighting: No pier lights—bring a good headtorch for evening sessions.
- Phone signal: Patchy in the valley; improve by moving up onto the coast path.
Tips
Small details make a big difference here—fish tight to structure, travel light, and time your sessions around light and swell.
- For ballan wrasse, hardback crab or prawn often outfishes rag; present tight to the rock face and hold on.
- Work weedless paddletails along the western drop‑offs at dusk for better pollack.
- Chum sparingly with breadcrumb for garfish/mullet; keep noise and footfall to a minimum.
- A short, stiff hooklength (20–30 cm) reduces kelp hang‑ups when ledgering.
- Bring an LRF rod: inside the cove you can rack up species on isome/bits of prawn when the swell kills the outer marks.
- Expect grey seals—don’t feed them, and be ready to move if one dogs your lure or baits.
- The car park is tightly managed; pay on arrival and keep proof to avoid unwelcome invoices.
Regulations
Rules can change—always check current notices on-site and review Cornwall IFCA/MMO guidance before you go. The points below are common, non-exhaustive highlights as of late 2024.
- European seabass (Area 7): Minimum size 42 cm. Recreational retention typically 2 fish per angler per day from March–November, with catch‑and‑release only in December–February. Verify current dates/limits before retaining any bass.
- Pollack: 2024 saw a zero commercial TAC in the Channel/Celtic Sea; while not a legal retention ban for anglers, you’re strongly encouraged to practice catch‑and‑release for pollack pending updated guidance.
- Shellfish: It is illegal to take berried (egg‑bearing) lobsters/crabs; minimum sizes apply to edible crab, lobster and other shellfish—check Cornwall IFCA size charts before keeping any.
- Bait and shore foraging: Follow local byelaws and best practice—only take what you need, replace any turned stones as found, and avoid collecting from protected features.
- Private estate/harbour areas: Obey any local signage restricting fishing on the slipway or within marked bathing/launch zones during busy periods.
- General: Take all litter and line home; dispatch retained fish humanely; respect conservation areas and wildlife protections in the West Penwith coast.
