Summary
Lansallos Cove is a quiet National Trust beach between Polperro and Polruan on Cornwall’s south coast, backed by farmland and accessed by an old smugglers’ path. Rugged rock ledges flank a shingle/stone cove with clear water and mixed ground that holds bass, wrasse and pollack, with summer visitors like mackerel and garfish. It rewards mobile, observant anglers who are happy with a walk and comfortable on uneven rock.
Location and Access
This is a remote-feeling mark reached on foot from the National Trust car park at Lansallos village via a signed footpath. Expect a 15–25 minute walk through fields and woodland with a steeper, sometimes muddy descent to the beach and short sections of steps. The fishing is from the shingle and the rocky headlands either side of the cove.
- Access: Drive narrow lanes from the A387/B3359 via Pelynt/Polperro to Lansallos; follow National Trust signs to the village car park.
- Parking: Small National Trust car park (pay-and-display or app); can fill quickly in peak season; arrive early or late.
- Walk-in: 0.7–1 mile each way; final approach is steep and can be slippery after rain. Pack light.
- Terrain: Shingle/pebble beach with rocky platforms and kelp-fringed gullies on both flanks; mixed rough ground underfoot.
- Footpath etiquette: Keep to waymarked paths, close gates, and respect farmland and stock.
Seasons
The cove and its rocky points hold a classic south-coast mix with seasonal peaks. Expect resident wrasse and pollack, plus summer pelagics and autumn bass.
- Spring (Mar–May): Ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, pollack, early bass on lures in onshore stir, occasional flounder/plaice on sandy patches, rockling.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass, mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel), wrasse (ballan/corkwing), pollack, mullet in calm water by the stream plume, pout at dusk.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass time, pollack, wrasse, scad into darkness, mackerel/gar linger in fair weather, conger after dark from deeper gullies.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and pout on quieter nights, rockling; bass possible in rough, coloured water; conger on the rocks for the keen and cautious.
- Occasional/bonus: Black bream late summer on calmer, clear days; bull huss from rough ground at night; small rays rare but possible over cleaner sand tongues.
Methods
Mobile lure work and careful float tactics excel around the ledges; use robust bottom rigs with weak links when bait fishing into the rough.
- Lures for bass/pollack:
- 10–30 g metals and sandeels; 4–6 inch soft plastics (weightless/weedless on texposed hooks) for kelp gullies.
- Surface/sub-surface lures (poppers, walkers, minnows) at dawn/dusk and on a lively flood.
- Float fishing:
- Mackerel strip, prawn or ragworm set 6–15 ft for pollack, wrasse and garfish along the rock faces.
- Slide the float to explore depth changes off the headlands.
- Bottom fishing (mixed/rough ground):
- 4–5 oz leads on pulley/pulley pennel or simple running ledger with a rotten-bottom (weak link) to save gear.
- Baits: Peeler or hardback crab, prawn and ragworm for wrasse; squid/mackerel cocktails for bass and conger after dark.
- LRF/HRF:
- Isome, small creature baits and micro metals for mini-species in pockets and harbour-like nooks among the rocks.
- Mullet (calm, clear days):
- Bread flake under a light controller or small baited spinner near the stream outflow; stealth and fine gear essential.
- Tackle notes:
- 9–10 ft lure rod (10–35 g) for roaming; 11–12 ft beach/estuaries rod or 9–10 ft HRF rod for baiting close-in.
- 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro/mono leader around rocks; step up to 40–60 lb leader for conger/huss at night.
Tides and Conditions
Tide, swell and water clarity dictate the day here. Plan around a building tide and manageable swell for safe positioning and fish movement.
- Tide state: Flood into high water is most productive; first 2 hours of ebb can still fish. Some ledges are only safe/accessible mid-to-low—plan exit routes.
- Swell/wind: Northerlies/offshore give shelter and clarity; a light to moderate onshore ripple adds bass opportunities. Avoid big southerly swell.
- Water clarity: Clear for wrasse/pollack/gar; a touch of colour and fizz for bass. After heavy rain, fish the stream plume edges for hunting bass.
- Time of day: Dawn/dusk prime for lures and float; full dark for conger/pout/scad.
- Seasonality: May–October is the most consistent; winter windows possible in calm spells for whiting/rockling and opportunist bass in rougher water.
Safety
This is a committing, uneven rock-and-shingle venue with a steep walk. Treat swell, slippery weed and rising tides with utmost respect.
- Footing: Weed-slick rocks and round shingle—wear grippy boots/cleats and take a wading staff if unsure.
- Swell: Rogue waves possible on southerlies; keep well back from the edge and never fish overtopped ledges.
- Cut-off risk: Some platforms disappear on the flood—identify retreat lines and timings in daylight.
- Remoteness: No lifeguard; phone signal patchy. Tell someone your plan; carry headtorch, first aid, and extra layers.
- Lifejacket: Strongly recommended on rock marks.
- Night fishing: Only for experienced anglers who’ve recce’d the terrain at low light first.
- Courtesy: In summer, keep clear of bathers from the central beach—fish the headlands or go early/late.
- Access notes: Stick to waymarked paths; after storms the NT may close/advise—heed any signage.
Facilities
Expect very limited on-site amenities—come self-sufficient. Nearby villages have supplies, but not at the cove.
- On-site: No toilets, taps, bins or lighting; pack out all litter.
- Parking: National Trust car park in Lansallos village; seasonal charges apply.
- Nearest services: Shops, cafés and pubs in Polperro and Looe; basic provisions in Pelynt.
- Tackle/bait: Several tackle shops in Looe; limited angling supplies in Polperro at best—stock up before the walk.
- Connectivity: Mobile signal can be weak or intermittent in the cove.
Tips
A stealthy, light-footed approach outfishes heavy static tactics here. Read the water and move until you find fishy lanes and gullies.
- Work lures across current seams at the edges of kelp beds; bass often sit tight to the white water line.
- After rain, target the fizz line where the stream meets the sea for bass and mullet.
- Use rotten-bottoms and keep terminal gear simple—snags are inevitable on the rough ground.
- Crab and prawn baits pick out quality wrasse; strike and lean hard to turn fish before they bury.
- Summer evenings can see garfish and scad under surface activity—switch to small strips or micro metals.
- Pack light for the walk: one lure roll, a compact box for end tackle, and a water bottle.
- If seals are patrolling, move mark; they’ll shut the fishing down.
- Polarised glasses help you spot ambush lanes and avoid stepping into kelp holes.
Regulations
Standard English recreational sea angling rules apply here, plus Cornwall IFCA byelaws. Always check the latest official sources before you go.
- European sea bass (ICES 7e–h): As of 2024, minimum size 42 cm; recreational bag limit 2 fish per angler per day from 1 March–30 November; catch-and-release only December–February. Regulations are reviewed annually—check GOV.UK/MMO for updates.
- Tope: Protected from retention by rod-and-line under the Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008—release carefully.
- Spurdog: Recreational retention is generally prohibited—treat as catch-and-release; confirm current status with MMO/Cornwall IFCA.
- Shellfish and foraging: Cornwall IFCA regulates recreational potting/netting and sets minimum conservation sizes (e.g., lobster, crawfish, crab). Permits/marking rules may apply—do not set gear without checking CIFCA rules. Return all berried lobsters/crabs.
- Marine protected areas/wildlife: Hook-and-line angling is typically allowed, but do not disturb nesting seabirds or seals; keep clear of any seasonal exclusions or NT notices.
- General: Observe national minimum sizes, take only what you will eat, and never interfere with commercial gear or marker buoys.
