Summary
Lundy Bay is a beautiful National Trust cove on Cornwall’s rugged north coast between Polzeath and Port Quin. Backed by cliffs and fringed with kelp-covered rock platforms, it offers classic rock-fishing for bass, pollack and wrasse in clear Atlantic water. It’s a rewarding but committing mark best suited to anglers comfortable with rough ground and changing tides.
Location and Access
Reaching Lundy Bay involves a country-lane drive and a short coastal walk, repaid by a dramatic, uncrowded setting. The mark sits west of The Rumps and east of Port Quin on the Atlantic side of North Cornwall.
- Park at the signed National Trust Lundy Bay car park off the minor road between Polzeath and Port Quin; pay-and-display (NT members usually free). Arrive early in summer and on fine weekends as spaces are limited.
- From the car park, a 10–20 minute footpath descends through fields/woodland to the cove; expect steep sections and steps near the bottom.
- Terrain is rocky with kelp gullies and small areas of sand/gravel at low water. Most ledges are only exposed or comfortable to fish for a window around low to mid-tide.
- The final approach is uneven and can be muddy after rain; sturdy footwear is essential. Not suitable for pushchairs and challenging for those with limited mobility.
Seasons
This is mixed rough ground with kelp, so expect classic rock species with seasonal visitors.
- Spring (Apr–May): School and early-season bass; pollack returning to the inshore reefs; ballan and corkwing wrasse as water warms; occasional mackerel late May; garfish on calm, bright days.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (best at dawn/dusk and in a little swell), pollack, wrasse, mackerel, garfish; scad at dusk/night; dogfish; occasional bull huss after dark; rare triggerfish in warm spells.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak for better bass in onshore winds; pollack remain good; wrasse until the first big autumn storms; mackerel/scad into September; increasing chance of conger and bull huss at night.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Tough but possible in calmer windows—dogfish, rockling, conger after dark; the odd whiting in deeper holes; wrasse are very hit-and-miss in low temperatures.
Methods
Ledge fishing rewards mobility and finesse; tackle up for snags and surge.
- Lure fishing: 4–6 inch soft plastics (weedless Texas/weighted hooks) in sandeel/white; 10–20 g jig heads from higher ledges; slim diving plugs and metal jigs (20–40 g) for bass/pollack. Use 20–30 lb braid with a 20–25 lb fluoro leader.
- Float fishing: 10–15 g sliding float with ragworm, prawn, peeler or mackerel strip for wrasse/garfish; set depth so bait fishes just over the kelp (2–5 m down depending on ledge).
- Bottom fishing: Pulley or pulley-pennel (3/0–4/0) on 40–60 lb leader with a rotten-bottom/weak link for the lead. Baits: peeler/hard crab for wrasse/bass; sandeel or mackerel/squid cocktail for bass, pollack and huss. Cast to the mouths of gullies or any sand tongues between weed belts.
- Night tactics: Big fish baits (whole squid/fillet) for huss and conger; step up to abrasion-resistant leaders and keep gear high to reduce snags.
- General: Long rods (9–10 ft for lures; 12–13 ft for bottom fishing) help line control over boulders. Polarised glasses are invaluable for reading ground and spotting baitfish.
Tides and Conditions
Tide windows and swell dictate whether Lundy Bay fishes—and whether it’s safe.
- Best states: 2–3 hours either side of low to mid-flood when ledges are exposed and current funnels through gullies; last light on the flood is excellent for bass.
- Swell: Fishable in a small, long-period swell; avoid large W–NW swells which create dangerous surges and heavy weed. A gentle onshore ripple can fire up bass; glassy conditions suit wrasse and garfish.
- Wind: Offshore or light easterlies give clarity for lure/float work; moderate onshore winds with coloured water favour bait for bass.
- Tides: Springs expose more ground but flood fast—plan exits. Neaps offer longer, calmer windows but less movement.
- Time of day/season: Dawn and dusk are prime year-round; summer evenings for surface lures/garfish; autumn blows for larger bass as water colours up.
Safety
This is a committing rock mark with real hazards—treat it with respect.
- Steep path and steps; uneven, slippery rock platforms with kelp. Wear grippy/studded boots and consider a personal flotation device.
- Powerful surges and backwash even in modest swell; keep well back from the edge and never fish low ledges in a building sea.
- Tide cut-off risk on some platforms—reconnoitre exits at low water and carry a head torch if there’s any chance of finishing in dusk/dark.
- Falling rock potential under cliff faces; avoid tight undercuts. Don’t fish alone and tell someone your plan.
- Mobile signal can be patchy in the cove. Carry a whistle, first aid kit and a charged phone.
- Respect any temporary National Trust signage for path works or nesting seabirds; give seals wide berth if they haul out nearby.
Facilities
Facilities are minimal at the bay—plan self-sufficient.
- Parking: National Trust Lundy Bay car park (pay-and-display; limited spaces). No overnighting.
- Toilets: None at the bay or car park. Public toilets are available in Polzeath (seasonal hours) and Port Isaac.
- Food/shops: Cafés, pubs and convenience stores in Polzeath and Port Isaac. Carry water and snacks to the mark.
- Tackle/bait: Tackle shops and fresh bait are available in Wadebridge and Padstow; limited angling supplies in Polzeath.
- Bins: Pack out all litter and waste line—this is a National Trust and wildlife-sensitive site.
- Signal: Mobile coverage varies; better on higher ground, poorer down in the cove.
Tips
A little homework goes a long way at Lundy Bay—scout, travel light, and fish the features.
- Walk the cliff path first to pick out fishable ledges, sand tongues and baitfish activity; mark safe exits.
- Use weedless rigs and rotten-bottom links to save gear in kelp; lighter jig heads snag less when worked high and slow.
- After a big blow, give it 24–48 hours for the colour and weed to drop; wrasse often feed hard as it settles.
- Dawn topwater for bass can be superb on calm summer mornings; switch to subsurface if the sun gets high.
- If seals are working the bay, expect a lull—either move a short distance or wait them out.
- Midges can be fierce on the wooded path in humid weather; pack repellent. Headtorch essential if there’s any chance of fishing into dusk.
- For fresh crab baits, only take legal-sized shore crabs and follow local bait-collecting codes; never strip a pool.
Regulations
Shore angling is generally permitted here, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check for updates before you go.
- Bass (recreational): At the time of writing, a minimum size of 42 cm applies. A two-fish daily bag limit typically operates from 1 March to 30 November, with catch-and-release only outside those dates—confirm current measures with MMO/DEFRA before retaining any bass.
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: Observe local minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) and any seasonal or gear restrictions. Mechanical bait digging is restricted in many areas; hand gathering should follow the Seashore Code.
- Protected/return-only species: Handle and release any shad, eel, seahorse, and all sharks/rays subject to protection or advisories. Tope and spurdog are best released alive; check current retention rules if encountered.
- Marine conservation: Lundy Bay lies within wider designated coastal conservation areas (e.g., MCZ/SSSI nearby). Shore angling is allowed, but do not disturb nesting birds, seals, or remove features like kelp holdfasts.
- Camel Estuary note: If you fish inside the Camel Estuary (not Lundy Bay), be aware of bass nursery area restrictions that prohibit targeted bass fishing within defined boundaries—check maps and dates before moving marks.
- General: Use barbless or debarbed hooks where practical, never retain wrasse for pot bait, and take all litter and end tackle home. Regulations can change—consult Cornwall IFCA and the UK government’s latest notices.
