Looe Banjo Pier Fishing

Summary

Looe Banjo Pier sits on the East Looe seafront, guarding the harbour entrance in one of Cornwall’s most charming fishing towns. This easy-access mark can produce excellent summer sport with mackerel, garfish and scad, plus year‑round opportunities for mixed species scratching. It’s a friendly, busy spot, so plan around crowds and harbour traffic for the best results.

Location and Access

Reaching the mark is straightforward from East Looe’s seafront; the Banjo Pier is the curved concrete breakwater at the end of the beach promenade. It’s a short, level walk from town amenities, making it popular with families and visiting anglers.

• Drive into East Looe and follow signs for the beach and seafront; the pier is obvious at the eastern end of the sands.
• Parking: seafront car parks in East Looe fill quickly in summer; the large long‑stay Millpool car park (PL13 2AF) is a reliable alternative, with a 10–15 minute walk via the bridge and Fore Street.
• The approach is flat and paved; the pier itself is concrete with low walls. The circular Banjo head has steps and can be wet and slippery.
• Terrain is urban and easy underfoot, but space is limited on busy days; arrive early or fish evenings to avoid crowds.

Seasons

This is a classic mixed mark with seasonal visitors and resident mini‑species. Expect surface hunters in summer and scratching targets in colder months.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • School bass along the channel and beach side
  • Pollack and wrasse tight to the wall and boulder toe
  • Thick‑lipped mullet in the harbour on calmer days
  • Dab and the odd flounder over the sand
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Mackerel and garfish by day; scad (horse mackerel) after dark
  • Pollack and ballan wrasse around structure
  • Bass at dawn/dusk on the flood
  • Mini species (blennies, gobies, scorpion fish) for LRF
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Late mackerel runs if water stays warm
  • Scad in numbers after sunset, plus squid on some evenings
  • Pouting and poor cod close to the wall
  • Whiting starting to show
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, pouting and 3‑bearded rockling
  • Occasional conger after dark from the outer side
  • Flounder and dab on calmer days
• Occasional/bonus:
  • Gurnard over sand on settled seas
  • Thick mullet to specimen sizes inside the harbour (mostly sight fishing and stealthy tactics)

Methods

Simple, tidy approaches work best here because space is shared with walkers and holidaymakers. Scale tackle to water clarity and keep terminal gear compact.

• Spinning and lures:
  • 20–40 g metals, slim jigs and small diving plugs for mackerel, gar and pollack
  • Soft‑plastics on jig heads (7–14 g) fished along the wall and eddies for pollack and bass
• Float fishing:
  • Clear bubble or waggler with small strips of mackerel/sandeel for garfish and mackerel
  • Ragworm or prawn under a float close to the wall for wrasse and pollack
• Bottom fishing/scratching:
  • 2‑hook flapper with size 4–1 hooks and short snoods for pouting, dab, whiting and mini species
  • Small baits: cocktail of squid tip with slivers of mackerel; rag or lug for flats and whiting; peeler crab for wrasse/bass in season
• Night tactics:
  • Sabiki or size 6–8 feathers tipped very lightly for scad under any ambient light
  • Whole or half mackerel baits for conger (use strong gear and fish responsibly)
• Handling and landing:
  • A drop‑net or long‑handled landing net is strongly advised when there’s a swell or for larger fish
  • Use single‑lure setups rather than full feather strings at peak times to avoid tangles and crowding

Tides and Conditions

The pier sits in the influence of the harbour mouth, with strong lateral flow on springs and more manageable movement on neaps. Reading the water around the Banjo curve makes a big difference.

• Tide state:
  • Best bites often during the last 2 hours of the flood through high water and into the first of the ebb
  • Neap tides are kinder for float/lure work; springs can rip at the head—tuck inside the elbow or fish the beach side in heavy run
• Time of day:
  • Dawn and dusk are prime for bass, mackerel and garfish
  • After dark brings scad, pouting and whiting; squid are possible on calm, clear autumn nights
• Sea and wind:
  • Light W–SW winds create a helpful push and some colour for bass and flats on the beach side
  • Easterlies/NE give clear water; scale down tackle for wary fish
  • After a blow, wait for the sea to drop but fish the first settled window for bass and pollack
• Water clarity:
  • Clear, sunny middays can be slow—use fluorocarbon leaders, smaller hooks and natural baits or fish deeper in the shade of the wall

Safety

This is a public promenade and harbour structure with mixed users—anglers share space with walkers, crab‑liners and families. Conditions at the Banjo head can change quickly with swell, boat wash and tide.

• General hazards:
  • Strong tidal pull at the head, especially on springs; surges from passing boats can swamp the edge
  • Wet weed and algae make the concrete slippery; wear grippy footwear
  • Do not climb down onto boulders or the outer face; rogue waves can overtop the wall
• Crowds and casting:
  • Expect heavy footfall in summer; keep rods short and casts controlled, and avoid long back‑casts
  • Give absolute priority to harbour traffic and lifeboat operations; pause casting when vessels approach
• Accessibility:
  • Step‑free access along the promenade and much of the pier, suitable for trolleys and many wheelchairs
  • The circular head is reached by steps and is not wheelchair‑friendly; rail height varies and space can be tight
  • A compact setup and a drop‑net aid safe landing without leaning out
• Equipment:
  • A well‑fitted inflatable lifejacket is strongly recommended, especially when fishing the head or after dark
  • Headlamp and spare batteries if staying into the evening—lighting is limited
• Possible restrictions:
  • Seasonal or time‑of‑day limitations on angling are sometimes signposted during peak holiday periods for safety; always check and comply with on‑site notices

Facilities

Looe is exceptionally well served for visiting anglers, with everything you need within a short stroll of the pier. Expect it to be busy in peak season.

• Public toilets by East Looe beach and around the seafront (seasonal opening hours)
• Multiple cafés, bakeries, pubs and takeaways along the beachfront and Fore Street
• Tackle and bait shops in town within 5–10 minutes’ walk; frozen bait widely available, fresh rag/lug often mornings—call ahead in summer
• RNLI lifeguarded bathing area on the beach in season—observe red/yellow flags and do not cast into flagged zones
• Bins on the promenade, but take litter and line home if full; discarded line is a major hazard to seabirds and seals
• Good mobile phone coverage on major networks

Tips

A little local know‑how helps you beat the crowds and the current. Keep your footprint small, fish smarter and you’ll enjoy steady action even on busy days.

• First light often brings a short, frantic window for mackerel—be set up before sunrise
• For garfish, fish a shallow float (1–3 ft) with a tiny strip of mackerel on a size 6–8 fine‑wire hook and let it drift along the seam
• When crabs are stripping baits in summer, switch to tougher offerings (squid strip, crab wraps) and use bait elastic
• Scad love movement and light—work small sabikis or micro‑jigs in the top third of the water after dark
• Watch the eddies on the inside of the Banjo curve; bass and pollack patrol the slack edges on the flood
• If a shoal of mackerel arrives, fish a single lure to reduce tangles and only keep what you’ll eat the same day
• For mullet inside the harbour, loose‑feed bread sparingly and scale right down; consider catch‑and‑release to protect local stocks
• Bring a drop‑net; even modest swells can make hand‑lining fish risky against the wall

Regulations

Rules are a mix of national fisheries legislation and local harbour safety bylaws. They can change—always check on‑site signage and official sources before you fish.

• Harbour and site rules:
  • Looe Harbour Commissioners may restrict or prohibit fishing from parts of the Banjo Pier during busy periods, events or when vessels are manoeuvring; follow posted notices and any directions from harbour staff or lifeguards
  • Do not cast into lifeguarded bathing zones on East Looe Beach when flags are flying
  • Never impede the fairway; give absolute priority to commercial, leisure and RNLI traffic
• Minimum sizes and protected species:
  • Observe UK minimum conservation reference sizes for finfish and invertebrates; return any berried or v‑notched lobsters and berried crabs
  • Some species (e.g., shad, allis/twaite; certain rays in specific areas) are protected—identify your catch carefully and release prohibited species immediately
• Bass fishery (recreational):
  • Bag limits, open seasons and the 42 cm minimum size are subject to annual revision by the MMO/DEFRA; check the current year’s rules before retaining any bass
• Local byelaws (Cornwall IFCA):
  • Check Cornwall IFCA for any estuary/harbour‑specific restrictions, netting bylaws and seasonal protections that may affect methods or retention
• Good practice:
  • Use barbless or crushed‑barb hooks where practical; release larger wrasse and mullet to conserve local populations
  • Take all litter, line and unused bait home; dispose of line responsibly to protect wildlife