Summary
Lelant Beach (Porth Kidney Sands) sits on the eastern side of St Ives Bay at the mouth of the Hayle Estuary, backed by dunes and the West Cornwall Golf Club. It’s a broad, gently shelving surf beach with shifting sandbars and dynamic channels that draw in bass and flatfish.
For the mobile beach angler it offers classic Cornish surf fishing: big skies, clean sand, and productive flood tides when conditions line up.
Location and Access
Lelant Beach lies between Carbis Bay and the Hayle Estuary. Access is straightforward via Lelant village or from the Carbis Bay side, with a short but sandy walk across dunes. Expect a bit of a yomp if you want to reach the estuary mouth.
- Parking (Lelant side): Limited spaces around St Uny Church area (approx. TR26 3DY) and village streets; be considerate of residents. Follow signed public footpaths skirting West Cornwall Golf Club to the dunes.
- Parking (Carbis Bay side): Pay parking around Carbis Bay; footpath via Hawke’s Point down to the sands. Steep in places; not ideal for barrows.
- Public transport: The St Ives Bay Line stops at Lelant and Carbis Bay; short walks from stations to the beach.
- Walk-in: 5–20 minutes depending on start point and where you intend to fish. Underfoot is soft sand and dune paths.
- Terrain: Clean sand with shifting bars and gutter systems; firm sand at low water, softer patches nearer the estuary channels.
Seasons
This is a sandy surf venue influenced by the estuary, so bass and flatfish are the main draw, with seasonal visitors when baitfish are present.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Bass (schoolies building, occasional better fish after blows)
- Flounder (fringe of the estuary), plaice (sporadic), turbot (odd fish on sandeel)
- Rays occasional on milder evenings (spotted/small-eyed rare but possible)
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass (prime time across the surf and along the estuary run-off)
- Golden grey mullet in the fringe surf; thin-lipped mullet near the estuary outflow
- Gurnard, weever fish, the odd sole at night; mackerel shoals may brush close in calm spells
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bass peak (night tides and lively surf best)
- Spotted ray, turbot chance improves; increasing whiting later in the season
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting, flounder, dabs, dogfish; bass still possible in rough milky seas on milder spells
Methods
Think classic surf tactics with a mobile approach. Fish light when you can, and step up gear if you’re pushing baits long or near the estuary run.
- Surfcasting/bottom fishing:
- Rigs: 2-hook flapper for close-range flats; pulley/dropper or up-and-over for longer casts with bigger baits; a rolling lead for bass along the first breaker line.
- Baits: Fresh lugworm, ragworm, peeler crab, razorfish, mussel; sandeel (whole or sections) and squid for turbot/rays; crab and lug cocktails for bass.
- Lure fishing:
- Shallow-diving minnows, surface walkers, and weedless soft plastics along the gutters on flooding tides and at dawn/dusk.
- Work parallel to the surf line; keep moving to find fish.
- Float/trotting for mullet (where permitted away from bird-sensitive areas):
- Bread flake or small worm baits along the estuary fringe in calm, clear water.
- Timing:
- First light and last light are standout for bass; night tides for sole, better whiting and bigger bass close in.
- Tackle notes:
- 11–13 ft surf rods and 5000–8000 reels with 20–30 lb braid/0.35–0.40 mm mono and shock leader. Size 2–1/0 hooks for flats/bass; 3/0–4/0 if crabbing for better bass.
Tides and Conditions
The beach is heavily shaped by tide and wind. Success often hinges on reading the bars and gutters and timing your session as the tide floods over new ground.
- Best tide windows:
- Flood tide, especially mid-flood to the top, over the first and second banks for bass.
- Last of the ebb/first push around the estuary plume can switch fish on (use extreme caution in the current).
- Sea state:
- Moderate onshore surf from W–NW with some colour is excellent for bass.
- Calm, clear conditions favour lures and mullet, but can be scratchy for bait anglers midday.
- Springs vs neaps:
- Springs carve stronger gutters and rips; great movement but can be weedy and challenging near the mouth.
- Neaps offer easier presentation and steadier surf lines for flats and turbot prospecting.
- Time of day/seasonality:
- Dawn/dusk year-round; night fishing shines in late summer/autumn. After storms, the coloured estuary outflow can fish very well for bass.
Safety
This is an exposed surf beach bordering a powerful estuary. Conditions and channels change frequently; treat the estuary mouth with great respect.
- Tidal hazards:
- Fast-flooding tide across low-lying sands; risk of cut-off by channels and the river. Plan exit routes and avoid wading near the outflow.
- Strong rips along bar ends and near the estuary on springs.
- Ground conditions:
- Soft sand and occasional patches of sinky estuary silt; test footing before wading. Weever fish in summer—wear boots.
- Exposure and visibility:
- Little shelter; carry warm/waterproof layers and a headtorch if fishing dusk/night.
- Golf course crossing:
- Use the marked public paths across West Cornwall Golf Club; watch for golfers and heed signage.
- General:
- A waist-belted PFD is sensible if wading; fish with a partner near the estuary; keep phones charged and note your nearest safe exit.
- Accessibility:
- Not ideal for reduced mobility due to dune paths and soft sand; no handrails or firm slipways to the main beach.
Facilities
Facilities are limited at the beach itself; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages have what you need before or after a session.
- Toilets: None on the beach; seasonal/public facilities in Carbis Bay and in St Ives/Hayle. Lelant has limited options—use local pubs/cafés as customers.
- Food and drink: Pubs and cafés in Lelant and Carbis Bay; wider choice in St Ives and Hayle.
- Tackle and bait: Tackle shops in St Ives and Hayle; call ahead for fresh lug/rag or sandeel.
- Lifeguards: Typically not lifeguarded; do not rely on lifesaving cover.
- Mobile signal: Generally good on higher dune ground; can dip in hollows.
- Bins: Limited—take all litter and line home.
Tips
Local knowledge pays at Lelant—reading the sand is half the battle. Keep mobile, travel light, and fish the features rather than standing your ground.
- Find the lanes: Look for the darker, deeper gutters running parallel to the beach; fish the up-tide ends where rips peel off the bars.
- Roll for bass: A slightly undersized rolling lead and a crab or lug bait bumped along the first breaker is deadly on a flooding tide.
- Match the hatch: After warm spells, sandeel move tight; whole small sandeel or slim sandeel-pattern soft plastics shine.
- Stealth at night: Keep headtorch use minimal; bass push very tight—don’t wade through the first trough.
- Weed watch: On springs with onshore winds, floating weed can be heavy. Step a bay or two along the bar to find cleaner water.
- Bird sense: Diving terns and gulls on the plume often mark bait; work lures along the colour change.
- Respect the reserve: The estuary is a key bird site—stay off mudflats and heed any RSPB or council signage.
Regulations
Angling is generally permitted from the open beach, but the adjacent Hayle Estuary is environmentally sensitive and may have local access restrictions. Always follow on-site signs and current byelaws.
- Bass rules (in Cornwall/ICES 7b–k): As of recent seasons, recreational anglers may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day between 1 March and 30 November, minimum size 42 cm; catch-and-release only December–February. Check MMO/DEFRA updates before your trip as rules can change year to year.
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: Observe local minimum sizes and any seasonal protections. Some Cornish estuaries are designated Bass Nursery Areas with restrictions on fishing for bass from boats—consult Cornwall IFCA maps for the Hayle area if launching or fishing from a vessel.
- Protected sites: Parts of the Hayle Estuary are SSSI/RSPB-managed. Keep off saltmarsh/mudflats, avoid disturbing birds, and follow any seasonal access or dog restrictions.
- General: Return undersized fish carefully; avoid excessive bait digging in sensitive dune/estuary margins; no open fires on dunes; pack out all litter and line.
This summary is not exhaustive—check the latest Cornwall IFCA, MMO/DEFRA, and local council/RSPB notices before fishing.
