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Cornwall

Lizard Point

6.7 · Rocks · Cornwall

Exposed rocky headland with very deep water close in, strong tidal movement and kelp-filled gullies. Best in settled weather with a light northerly or no swell. Summer brings mackerel, garfish, scad and wrasse; pollack year-round (dawn/dusk and into darkness), and conger after dark. Access is via paths from Lizard village to the lighthouse and down to ledges; footing can be uneven and waves dangerous.

Should you fish Lizard Point?

62 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Fair conditions. Best around 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 4 mph Rain 16% High tide 10:42

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Lizard Point — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

Saturday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Lizard Point is a deep, fast, exposed rock mark that rewards careful timing more than long casting. In settled weather it can produce excellent lure sport for pollack, mackerel, garfish and bass, with wrasse in the kelp and conger or huss after dark. The key decision is whether the swell and tide allow you to fish a safe ledge with a realistic landing route; if not, walk away or move to a nearby mark after checking access and conditions separately.

  • Know when the flood is worth fishing — and when the sweep will beat you.
  • Pick the right ledge: kelp edge, race or deep gully depending on target species.
  • Avoid wasting time on the wrong method in clear, fast water.
  • See when to fish lures, floats or rough-ground bait at Lizard Point.
  • Know the conditions that should make you walk away.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Lizard 0.8 mi Ruan Minor 2.6 mi Mullion Cove 3.2 mi Mullion 4.9 mi Coverack 6.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Lizard · Ruan Minor · Mullion Cove · Mullion · Coverack

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.7 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 4/10

Pollack 9/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; cast soft plastics or metals parallel to kelp-lined cliffs and retrieve mid-water. Use 30–40 lb leader and expect snags.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Daytime, mid-flood over kelp/rough ground. Float-fished crab or ragworm into gullies. Strong gear and a rotten-bottom link help save tackle.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Work surface/subsurface lures in white water around points on a rising tide at first/last light. After swell, try peeler crab or sandeel in gutters.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer evenings on the flood; feathers or small metals into deep water from the headland. Keep rigs simple; use a drop net for landing.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: After dark into deep gullies; large mackerel or squid baits on heavy mono trace with a rotten-bottom. Best around slack to first of the flood.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Small strips of mackerel or worm on size 2–4 two-hook rigs into mixed ground at night. Keep baits just off bottom to reduce crab attention.
Bull Huss 6/10
Tip: Night over rough ground; oily fish baits on 4/0–6/0 hooks. Fish first of flood or ebb. Abrasion-resistant trace and rotten-bottom recommended.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn on the flood; float-fished mackerel strip 3–6 ft down or small spinners worked fast off the edges in clear water.
Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
Tip: After dark in boulder gullies; small worm baits fished static on the bottom through the flood. Use simple rigs and short casts to limit tangles.
Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Calm daylight sessions; small hooks with ragworm or prawn under a float beside kelp-fringed ledges on the flood. Short casts.

Local knowledge

Lizard Point fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Lizard Point is the most southerly tip of mainland Britain, a dramatic National Trust headland of sheer green serpentine cliffs and fast, clear water. It’s a classic Cornish rock mark offering depth close in, powerful tidal flow, and year‑round potential for lure and rough‑ground fishing. Expect pollack, wrasse, summer mackerel and garfish, with bass on the right sea and conger after dark for those who know the ledges.

Perched at the end of the Lizard peninsula, the point is reached through Lizard village and the lighthouse complex. Access is straightforward to the viewpoints, but reaching fishable rock platforms involves steep paths and, in places, exposed steps. Plan your approach in daylight if it’s your first visit.

  • Drive to Lizard village and follow signs for the Lighthouse/Point; paid National Trust parking near the lighthouse and pay‑and‑display in the village (postcode area TR12 7NT/TR12 7NQ).
  • From the car parks, well‑made coastal paths lead to the headland; allow 10–20 minutes on foot depending on the chosen sector.
  • Descents to Polpeor Cove (west side of the point) and towards Housel Bay/Kilcobben (east side, near the lifeboat station) are steep with uneven steps and exposed sections.
  • Terrain is hard serpentine rock with kelp‑filled gullies and barnacle‑covered ledges; grippy footwear essential.
  • No vehicular access to the rocks; not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs beyond the main paths and viewpoints.

The Point fishes like a deep-water rock mark: summer variety on top, resident rough-ground species year-round. Expect fast tides and clear water influencing what shows and when.

  • Common (late spring to autumn): pollack (dawn/dusk), ballan wrasse, mackerel, garfish, scad (night), pouting.
  • In the right sea (May–Nov): bass, especially after a blow when the water has some fizz/colour.
  • After dark (all year, best summer–autumn): conger eel, bull huss; pout and poor cod as by‑catch.
  • Winter possibilities: pollack on lures, rockling and pout; whiting on coloured seas during onshore blows (less consistent here than on open beaches).
  • Occasional/odd years: ling from very rough, deep ledges; triggerfish in warm late summers; squid sporadically in very clear, calm spells.

Lizard Point rewards mobile lure work in clear water and stout rough‑ground tactics with bait. Tackle up for snags and surge, and carry a drop net for safe landing.

  • Lure fishing
    • 9–10 ft lure rod (10–40 g), 20–30 lb braid, 20–30 lb fluorocarbon/nylon leader.
    • Metals (20–40 g), sandeel‑pattern soft plastics (weedless/texas), and slim minnows for pollack and mackerel; surface/sub‑surface lures for bass in a gentle swell.
    • Work edges, gullies and the race at first/last light; count lures down and retrieve up the contour to avoid kelp.
  • Float fishing
    • Sliding float set 3–12 ft depending on ledge; 12–15 lb mainline, 1/0–2/0 hooks.
    • Baits: ragworm, prawn, sandeel, mackerel strip. Feed small slivers to draw garfish/scad in summer evenings.
  • Bottom fishing (rough ground)
    • 12–13 ft rod with 25 lb mono or 30–50 lb braid; strong 60–80 lb shockleader.
    • Pulley/pulley‑dropper rigs with 3/0–5/0 hooks; always use a rotten‑bottom/weak link to the lead.
    • Baits: peeler crab, squid or squid/mackerel cocktails, whole sandeel; fish into gutters and drop‑offs rather than maximum range.
  • Livebaiting
    • Live sandeel/joey mackerel for bass or pollack under a float or free‑lined into the race at dusk.
  • Handling/landing
    • Use a 4–5 m drop net; avoid gaffs, especially for bass and fish to be released.
    • Long‑nose pliers and barbless or crushed‑barb hooks help quick releases over high ledges.

This is a tide‑ripped headland: plan around flow, swell and light. Clarity is often excellent, which suits lures but can make bait fishing tougher at midday.

  • Tide state
    • Flood tide into dusk is prime for pollack and mackerel; bass often on the last of the flood and first of the ebb if there’s fizz.
    • Slack water windows are handy for setting baits in rough ground; springs create heavy lateral sweep—neaps are easier for bait placement.
  • Sea and wind
    • Light northerly/easterly winds leave it more sheltered; any south‑west to south swell can be dangerous and will close many ledges.
    • A slight swell and touch of colour lifts bass and wrasse; gin‑clear flat seas favour lures and float tactics.
  • Time of day/season
    • Dawn and last light are consistently best; night fishing brings conger/huss but requires intimate knowledge of exits.
    • May–October offers the broadest species range; winter is specialist territory for pollack and eels on settled, safe days.

The Point is spectacular but unforgiving. Treat it as serious rock fishing: plan exits, watch the sea for a long time, and be prepared to walk away.

  • Sheer cliffs, surge and kelp make slips and wash‑offs a real risk; wear a lifejacket and grippy boots/spikes.
  • Many ledges are cut off or wave‑washed at mid to high tide—know your retreat route and never let the sea get behind you.
  • Swell from S–W quarters is the main hazard; avoid during big seas or strong onshore winds.
  • Steep, exposed paths and step‑downs; not suitable for those with limited mobility. Consider a rope only if competent and with partners.
  • Fish with a partner, carry headtorch(s), spare light and first aid; tell someone your plan.
  • Mobile signal is generally good on the headland but can drop in coves; a whistle or VHF adds resilience.
  • Respect seasonal nesting bird diversions and any temporary path closures on the cliffs.
  • Do not fish from, block or leave gear on lifeboat slips or structures—launches can occur at any time and signage must be obeyed.

You’re close to a busy village and a lighthouse visitor site, but there’s nothing on the rocks themselves. Stock up before committing to a ledge.

  • Parking: National Trust car park by the lighthouse and village car parks (charges apply; seasonal attendants in peak months).
  • Toilets: Public toilets in Lizard village; facilities at the Lighthouse/visitor centre operate seasonally.
  • Food/drink: Seasonal cafés near the point and multiple pubs/pasty shops in Lizard village.
  • Bait/tackle: Limited basics sometimes in village shops; full tackle/bait options in Helston, Falmouth or Penzance.
  • Phone/data: Generally fair on the headland; patchy or absent once you drop into coves.
  • Water/rescue: RNLI Lizard lifeboat station is to the east at Kilcobben—keep well clear of the slip and approaches.

Think ‘clear, deep, fast’. Travel light, keep moving with lures, and anchor baits only where you can actually land fish.

  • Watch the water for 10–15 minutes before committing—identify gullies, back‑eddies and safe landing spots.
  • Metals and slim softs out‑fish chunky lures in the clear water; go darker/silhouette at dawn/dusk, natural/flash in bright sun.
  • For wrasse, weedless crab imitations or float‑fished prawn keep you fishing longer in the kelp.
  • A small sabiki above a 30–40 g jig covers mackerel/scad while still reaching depth in the race.
  • Grey seals patrol the point; expect ‘tax’—move ledge if one dogs you.
  • Use a long drop net and keep leaders long to hand‑line fish the last metre; plan before you hook up, not after.
  • After a short blow that adds fizz but not heavy swell, bass often show tight to rock edges on the flood.
  • Pack light but robust: spare weak links, leader material, and a cutting tool for emergency snag release.

Lizard Point is on National Trust coast and within The Lizard Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Shore angling is allowed, but you must follow national and local byelaws and any on‑site signage.

  • Access and site rules
    • Shore fishing is generally permitted; obey any temporary cliff‑path closures (nesting birds/landslips) and do not obstruct RNLI lifeboat facilities.
    • National Trust requests apply (no fires, no camping, leave no trace); follow any on‑site safety notices.
  • Fishery rules (check for updates before you go)
    • European seabass: recreational anglers have a minimum size of 42 cm and a seasonal daily bag limit; the open retention season typically runs March–November with catch‑and‑release only in winter. Always verify current dates on the UK government site.
    • Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes and byelaws apply to all species; measure fish and release undersized specimens promptly.
    • Some shark species (e.g., tope) are release‑only for recreational anglers—handle carefully and release unharmed.
  • Protected places and wildlife
    • The MCZ/SSSI status protects habitats and certain species; do not damage reefs or remove protected features. Avoid disturbing seals and nesting seabirds (it is an offence to harass wildlife).
  • Structures and private property
    • Do not fish from or leave gear on lifeboat slips, platforms or any fenced/posted areas; follow all local signage.
  • Always consult Cornwall IFCA and the UK Government fisheries pages for the latest sizes, bag limits and seasonal restrictions before your session.