Summary
Little Molunan sits just below St Anthony Head on the Roseland peninsula, looking across the mouth of the Fal to Pendennis Point. A compact cove with access to adjacent rocky ground, it offers clear water, quick depth and plenty of tide movement—ideal for wrasse, pollack, mackerel and seasonal bass. It’s a scenic, relatively sheltered mark with options to roam between beach and rocks depending on conditions.
Location and Access
This mark is reached via St Anthony Head on the Roseland side of Falmouth Bay, with the National Trust car park the usual starting point. The descent to the beach is on a well‑trodden but steep path/steps; travel light and expect a lung-busting climb back up.
- Drive to St Mawes, follow signs for St Anthony Head (National Trust). Narrow Cornish lanes for the final stretch; allow time for passing places.
- Park at the National Trust St Anthony Head car park (pay and display for non‑members). If your sat nav needs a target, search for “St Anthony Head National Trust Car Park” rather than relying on a postcode.
- From the car park, waymarked paths lead down to Little Molunan in around 10–15 minutes. The path is steep in places with steps and uneven stone—grippy footwear recommended.
- Terrain is a small sand/pebble beach with kelp-fringed rocks at either end; additional ledges sit between Little and Great Molunan. Expect mixed ground beyond the sand with snag potential.
Seasons
The cove and adjacent rocks produce a classic southwest mix, with summer variety and a leaner but worthwhile winter.
- Spring (Apr–May):
- Pollack nosing back in around the kelp; ballan and corkwing wrasse from mid/late spring
- Early mackerel shoals on calm, clear evenings
- Garfish show by late spring; odd bass on the flood
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Ballan/corkwing wrasse in numbers; pollack at range and around rough ground
- Mackerel, garfish, scad at dawn/dusk; occasional squid in very clear, calm nights
- Bass around tide lines and surfy edges on spring tides
- Thick‑lipped and golden‑grey mullet mooching the margins in calm seas
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Peak bass window (especially after a blow as it settles)
- Mackerel and gar into October in fair weather; scad after dark
- Whiting begin on dark nights; pollack steadily reliable
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting, poor cod, the odd dab from the sand patches
- Pollack on lures in daylight; conger from rough ground after dark
- Dogfish occasional rather than prolific here
Methods
Little Molunan fishes well with mobile, light approaches, but you’ll want sturdier gear for the rough ground edges. Match your method to tide state and water clarity.
- Lure fishing:
- Pollack: 15–30 g metal jigs or 10–20 g weedless soft plastics (dark or natural) worked through the kelp gullies at mid to high water
- Bass: 20–30 g surface walkers or shallow divers in calm; 10–21 g paddletails on a light jig head along the seams when there’s push
- Mackerel/gar/scad: slim metals, spinners or sabikis under a 1–2 oz lead at dawn/dusk
- Float fishing:
- Wrasse: float‑fish ragworm, hardback prawn or peeler crab tight to rock faces, set 6–15 ft depending on ledge depth
- Garfish: sliver of mackerel belly on size 6–8, shallow set and kept moving
- Bottom tactics:
- Two‑hook flapper (1/0–2/0) to clean patches for whiting, dabs and scad using ragworm, mackerel strip or squid
- Pulley/pulley‑dropper with 3/0–4/0 and a big mackerel/squid bait for conger after dark near rough ground
- Use 3–5 oz leads; grip leads help when the flood pulls across the mouth
- Tackle notes:
- 9–10 ft lure rod (10–35 g) for roaming; 10–12 ft beach/estuary rod rated to 4–5 oz if bottom fishing
- 20–30 lb braid with 20–25 lb fluoro/mono leader for lures around kelp; step up to 40 lb mono leaders for rough ground
- Snag‑wise area: favour rotten‑bottom clips when ledgering near rocks
Tides and Conditions
The headland funnels tide, while the cove itself offers pockets of shelter. Work the flood, watch the cross‑set, and aim for low‑light windows in summer.
- Tide state:
- Flood tide is the prime window, especially the middle three hours; fish move along the edges into the cove
- Wrasse best from mid to high water around the rocks; bottom fishing to sand patches fishes HW±2 hrs
- Ebb can run hard across the mouth—adjust leads or switch to lures in the slack pockets
- Sea conditions:
- Clear to lightly coloured water is excellent for wrasse and pollack on lures
- A little surf/colour after a SW blow can switch on the bass; avoid heavy swell that wraps in and booms on the rocks
- Light easterlies give calm, clear water and good mackerel/gar sessions
- Time of day/season:
- Dawn and dusk are consistent producers May–Oct
- Autumn springs with a dying sea are prime for bass
- Winter nights bring whiting/poor cod; daytime for pollack on metals
Safety
Access is straightforward but steep, and the surrounding rocks can be slippery with kelp. Treat it as a light‑gear venue and plan your exit before dark.
- Steep path/steps: not suitable for heavy trolleys; carry a rucksack setup
- Rock edges are uneven, wave‑washed and can be cut off at higher states—know the tide and your retreat routes
- Swell wraps unpredictably around the headland; never turn your back on the sea
- Strong cross‑tide at the mouth on bigger springs—keep line angles sensible and avoid overhanging snags
- Large vessel wash from ships entering/leaving Falmouth can create surprise surges
- Wear grippy boots; a rock‑fishing lifejacket is strongly recommended
- Headtorch with spare batteries; mark your path up in daylight
- Accessibility: the final descent is steep and rough—unsuitable for those with limited mobility
- Respect fences/signage near the lighthouse and battery; do not climb barriers
Facilities
There are no facilities on the beach itself, so go prepared. The car park area has seasonal basics, and the nearest services are back in St Mawes.
- National Trust car park at St Anthony Head (pay and display); seasonal opening times may apply
- Toilets are typically available near the car park in season (check NT site for current status)
- No water or bins on the beach; pack out all waste
- Nearest shops, cafés, and pub options in St Mawes; broader choice in Falmouth (via ferry or a longer drive)
- Tackle/bait: options in Falmouth; limited on the Roseland—bring bait or arrange ahead
- Mobile signal usually good given line‑of‑sight to Falmouth, but can be patchy in the coves
Tips
A few small tweaks make a big difference at Little Molunan. Travel light, read the water, and use the tide to your advantage.
- Work lures across the current seams on the flood; bites often come as the lure swings and lifts
- For wrasse, hardback prawns pepped with a tiny elastic binding outlast rag in the pickers
- Keep a tiny wire trace handy for garfish if they’re snipping fine mono near the float
- After a summer mackerel session, switch to a single larger strip bait at dusk—scad often stack up close
- Watch for mullet cruising the wash line on glassy evenings; freelined bread flake or small ragworm can be deadly
- If the beach is busy with swimmers/snorkellers, hop the rocks towards the Great Molunan side for quieter pockets
- Ships’ wake arrives a minute or two after they pass the head—lift your gear and step back if you’re low
- Night conger: fish the up‑tide edge of rough ground rather than dropping straight into the snags
Regulations
Sea angling is generally permitted here, but you are within the Fal and Helford designated conservation area network, so local byelaws and national rules apply. Always check the latest Cornwall IFCA and UK government guidance before your trip.
- No rod licence is required for sea fishing in England, but local IFCA byelaws and minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) apply to retained fish and shellfish
- Bass (at time of writing): recreational limits typically include a closed/mandatory catch‑and‑release period and a daily retention limit with a 42 cm minimum size during the open season—check current MMO/CIFCA updates before retaining any bass
- All berried or V‑notched lobsters and crawfish must be returned; observe shellfish MCRS
- Shad, seahorses and certain other species are protected—do not target or retain
- No camping or fires on National Trust land; respect any onsite signage and access restrictions near the lighthouse/battery
- If bait collecting, avoid sensitive habitats (e.g., seagrass/maerl) and comply with local restrictions
- Dispose of line and hooks responsibly; ghost gear is an enforcement issue in local MPAs