Logan Rock Fishing

Summary

Logan Rock, set on the Treryn Dinas headland between Porthcurno and Penberth, is a classic west Cornwall rock mark with dramatic cliffs and deep water under your feet. It’s prized for clear water lure fishing, hard-fighting wrasse, and dusk pollack, with the chance of bass in the right swell. This is a serious, exposed mark that rewards good judgment and tidy tactics.

Location and Access

Perched on National Trust land, Logan Rock is reached on foot via the South West Coast Path from Treen. Expect a beautiful but committing walk with uneven ground and some light scrambling to reach lower ledges. Parking is limited in season, so arrive early.

• Park in Treen village (pay-and-display/seasonal attendants); follow signposted paths toward Logan Rock/Treryn Dinas, then pick your ledge off the coast path
• Alternative but longer approaches from Porthcurno or Penberth via the coast path; both involve steep ascents/descents
• 10–25 minutes walk depending on pace and chosen platform; allow extra time for careful route-finding on first visit
• Terrain is rugged granite: sloping slabs, broken ledges, and slick weed in places; footwear with good grip is essential
• No vehicular access to the headland; plan to carry minimal, secure kit and leave hands free for scrambling

Seasons

The headland offers mixed rough ground and clean patches, pulling in both resident reef fish and passing predators. Seasonality matters, with summer and autumn the most productive.

• Spring (Apr–May): Pollack, early ballan wrasse, occasional bass; first garfish show with warming water
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, bass (lures or baits in lively water); odd black bream and triggerfish in warm spells
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass at dawn/dusk and in a rolling swell, pollack peak at low light, scad into dark, increasing chance of conger and bull huss after dark
• Winter (Dec–Mar): Fewer options in rough weather; persistent anglers find pollack on lures, conger and rockling at night, occasional whiting on calmer evenings
• Year-round by-catch: Poor cod, pouting; occasional surprise visitors around the headland

Methods

This is classic granite rock fishing: travel light, fish neatly, and adapt to clarity and swell. Lures excel in clear water; bait scores for wrasse by day and conger/huss after dark.

• Lure fishing:
  • Soft plastics (weedless paddletails 12–20 g, eels 15–30 g) for pollack down the face; count down and keep moving
  • Slim minnow plugs and metal jigs for mackerel/garfish; surface and sub-surface lures for bass at first/last light
  • Use 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader; consider 40 lb leader around kelp and granite
• Float fishing:
  • Mackerel strip/sandeel for garfish and pollack; depth 10–20 ft and adjust to find the band
  • Prawn or peeler crab for wrasse tight to rock fringes and kelp gullies
• Bottom fishing (rough ground):
  • Strong running ledger or pulley with a short snood; always use a weak link/rotten-bottom for the lead
  • Baits: hardback crab or peeled for wrasse; mackerel/squid/bluey cocktails for huss and conger after dark
  • Hooks: robust 1/0–2/0 for wrasse; 3/0–5/0 for huss/conger; abrasion-resistant leaders are vital
• Presentation and timing:
  • Work lures at dawn/dusk or in overcast conditions; wrasse feed confidently mid-tide in daylight
  • Keep rigs compact to reduce snagging; cast slightly uptide to maintain line control around the headland’s flow

Tides and Conditions

Movement and clarity dictate results at Logan Rock. Aim for manageable swell, moving water, and low-light windows.

• Tides: Flood to high water often fishes best for wrasse and bass; pollack show on both ends with a dusk surge
• Springs vs neaps: Neaps are kinder for bottom gear in kelp; springs can switch on bass/pollack but raise safety stakes
• Swell/wind: Light northerlies give calm, clear water ideal for lures; strong S–SW swell wraps dangerously and is unfishable
• Water clarity: Clear = lures/float; coloured and lumpy = big baits for huss/conger and bass in the foam lines
• Time of day: First and last light for predators; after dark for huss/conger and scad; bright days suit wrasse in tight ground
• Seasonality: Peak sport June–October; winter sessions demand settled spells and extra caution

Safety

This is an exposed, high-consequence rock mark with uneven approaches. Treat it as a mountaineering day out as much as a fishing trip.

• Steep drops, sloping granite and slick weed: wear grippy boots and a modern auto-inflating lifejacket
• Swell wraps around the headland; rogue sets can surge several metres up slabs—observe for 15–20 minutes before committing
• Some lower ledges can be cut off; know the tide, carry a headtorch, and set a hard turnaround time
• Phone signal is patchy; fish with a partner and tell someone your plan
• Access is unsuitable for those with limited mobility; hands-free scrambling required in places
• Stick to waymarked paths on National Trust land; avoid disturbing nesting seabirds in season and keep well back from unstable cliff edges
• Night fishing only if you know the ledges from daylight; avoid storm swells entirely

Facilities

The headland is wild; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages offer basics before and after a session.

• Parking in Treen village and seasonal facilities at Porthcurno; both can be full in summer—arrive early
• Public toilets typically at Porthcurno (seasonal opening) and at popular car parks; none on the headland
• Pubs/cafés in Treen and Porthcurno operate seasonally; bring water and food
• Tackle and bait available in Penzance/Newlyn (20–30 minutes by car); limited options in small local stores
• Mobile signal is intermittent; download charts/forecast data beforehand
• No lighting, shelter, or bins on-site—carry out all litter and line

Tips

Local anglers treat Logan Rock as a precision mark—tidy gear and good timing beat brute force. A little stealth goes a long way in clear water.

• Travel light: one rod, compact lure roll or a small bait wallet, and a minimal rig wallet with rotten-bottom links
• Weedless soft plastics save gear in kelp; count lures down and work the depth band where bites start
• For wrasse, fish crab or prawn right against the structure; strike firmly and turn fish immediately
• If birds are working tight to the headland, be ready with metals or a diving plug—mackerel/scad and bass follow
• On bright, calm days, drop to fluorocarbon leaders and natural baits under a float; on lumpy days, step up leaders and hook sizes
• Dusk into full dark can switch on scad and huss; a headtorch with red light preserves night vision and draws fewer insects
• Summer parking and path traffic are heavy—start pre-dawn to secure a ledge and avoid heat/swell glare
• Expect tackle losses; pre-tie spare leaders/rotten bottoms to maximise fishing time

Regulations

Public shore angling is generally permitted at Logan Rock. Always check for the latest national and local rules before you go.

• No rod licence is required for sea fishing in England from the shore
• Bass regulations change periodically: recent rules have included a closed period and limited daily retention with a 42 cm minimum—check current MMO guidance before retaining any bass
• Observe minimum sizes and byelaws enforced by Cornwall IFCA if retaining species such as crabs/lobsters; many reef fish (e.g., wrasse) have no legal size but are best released for conservation
• National Trust land: keep to paths, take all litter home, no fires or camping on the headland
• Some nearby beaches have seasonal dog restrictions; check local signage if accessing via sand
• Respect protected wildlife: do not disturb nesting seabirds or seals; maintain distance to avoid offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
• If in doubt, practice catch-and-release and measure fish; do not gaff fish from height—use safe release methods