Marsland Mouth Fishing

Summary

Marsland Mouth sits on the wild North Cornwall–Devon border, where a steep, wooded valley meets a rocky Atlantic cove. It’s remote, dramatic, and largely untouched—perfect for anglers who enjoy exploring rough ground, gullies and kelp-fringed ledges. Expect fewer people, hard walking, and rewarding fishing when conditions line up.

Location and Access

Reaching Marsland Mouth takes effort. The cove is accessed via the South West Coast Path and steep valley paths; the final approach is a scramble over boulders with no built steps. Allow extra time and go light.

• Parking options commonly used as starting points:
  • Welcombe Mouth (Devon side, narrow lanes; postcode approx. EX39 6HL), then a strenuous coast‑path walk south (20–40 minutes depending on pace and conditions).
  • Morwenstow area (Cornwall side; The Bush Inn/Parish Church area, approx. EX23 9SR) with footpaths linking to the coast path, then head north (30–60 minutes with steep undulations).
  • Very limited roadside spots around the Marsland valley nature reserve/Gooseham side; be considerate and do not block gateways. Expect a long, muddy walk if approaching via the valley.
• Terrain: cliff path with sharp ups and downs, uneven steps, and exposed sections; final descent is over slippery boulders and weeded rock.
• No lighting, no handrails; plan to arrive and leave in daylight if you haven’t fished it before.

Seasons

This is classic rough-ground, North Coast fishing: kelp beds, broken rock, and tide-run. Species vary with season and water clarity.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass nosing into the surf lines and gullies on milky water after a blow
  • Pollack around deeper points on clearer days
  • Early ballan wrasse on the rough ground
  • Occasional mackerel late spring if water clears
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse in numbers over kelp and boulders
  • Bass at dawn/dusk around white water and on the flood
  • Pollack from deeper ledges; garfish and mackerel in clear, calm spells
  • Bull huss after dark; conger from holes and undercuts
  • Scad on summer evenings
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass period with surf and coloured water windows
  • Solid pollack fishing on clearer tides; wrasse until the first big autumn storms
  • Huss and conger at night; late mackerel/scad runs
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Huss and conger in settled spells
  • Rockling; the odd whiting from any nearby cleaner patches
  • Codling are possible but very uncommon on this stretch

Methods

Rough-ground tactics with tackle protection are essential. Travel light, fish mobile, and match your approach to the water colour and swell.

• Lure fishing (bass/pollack):
  • Weedless soft plastics (10–20 g) on offset hooks to work over kelp and through gullies
  • 20–40 g metals or darting jigs for pollack on deeper points; count-down and sweep retrieve
  • Surface/sub-surface lures at first and last light when bait is tight to the rocks
  • Fluorocarbon leaders (20–30 lb) and robust braid (20–30 lb) to cope with abrasion
• Float fishing (wrasse/gar/pollack):
  • Sliding float with 12–15 g capacity; set 1.5–3 m deep over kelp edges
  • Ragworm, hardback/peeler crab, prawn or mussel; size 1–1/0 strong hooks
  • Use 20–25 lb mono hooklengths for wrasse to turn fish from snags
• Bottom fishing (huss/conger/bass):
  • Pulley or up-and-over rigs with a rotten-bottom/weak link for leads
  • 4–5 oz grip leads (adjust for tide); 40–60 lb mono snoods; 3/0–5/0 strong patterns
  • Baits: peeler crab, squid/mackerel cocktails, whole squid, bluey or launce
  • Night tides produce huss and conger; fish tight to structure but manage snag risk
• Mullet (occasional in the stream mouth/pools):
  • Stealthy float or freelined bread; small hooks (size 8–12) and light gear when conditions are calm and clear
• General kit:
  • Long-handled landing net, lure clip spares, rotten-bottom clips, and plenty of spare leads
  • Cleated footwear or studs; compact headtorch with a red mode for night sessions

Tides and Conditions

Tide height and swell dictate both safety and success here. Observe for 10–15 minutes before committing.

• Tide state:
  • Productive from mid-flood through high and into the first hour of the ebb
  • Over low water, map the gullies and clean patches for the next flood
  • Big springs shift weed and can be awkward; neaps make lure control easier
• Sea state and wind:
  • Bass: a small to moderate swell and some colour in the water after westerlies/NW winds
  • Pollack/wrasse: clearer water, moderate tide run; fish drop-offs and kelp edges
  • Easterlies flatten the sea but can over-clear the water—switch to subtle lures/longer leaders
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn/dusk for bass and pollack; bright days still fine for wrasse under the cliffs
  • Summer nights for huss and conger; autumn for consistent bass sport
• Avoid:
  • Long-period swell or big groundswell on spring highs—rebound and surges are severe around the cliffs
  • Any mark that risks being cut off by a flooding tide

Safety

This is a serious, remote rock mark with no immediate help on hand. Only confident, sure-footed anglers should attempt it, and never alone if the sea is lively.

• Remoteness: no lifeguards, long rescue times, and patchy phone reception in the valley—tell someone your plan and carry a fully charged phone/PLB
• Slips and trips: weeded boulders, loose rocks, and undercut ledges; wear cleated/studded boots and consider a buoyancy aid/lifejacket
• Swell management: rogue surges rebound off the cliffs—keep well back, clip into a short net leash, and never fish low ledges in swell
• Tide awareness: identify escape routes on both sides; set an absolute pack-up time before you can be cut off
• Night fishing: only after a daylight recce; headtorch, spare light, and minimal kit to stay mobile
• Path hazards: steep, muddy after rain; trekking poles help. Expect livestock, brambles, and occasional electric-fenced field edges on approaches
• Rockfall: do not stand under vertical faces; avoid casting from directly beneath crumbly cliffs
• Wildlife: adders in warm months; check for ticks after bracken/heathland walks

Facilities

There are no facilities at Marsland Mouth itself—plan for full self-sufficiency. Nearby options are limited and often seasonal.

• Parking: small coastal car parks at Welcombe Mouth (Devon) and at Duckpool/Sandymouth (Cornwall) if approaching from that direction; narrow lanes and limited spaces
• Toilets: seasonal at Duckpool and Sandymouth (Cornwall); none at Marsland Mouth
• Food/refreshments: The Bush Inn and Rectory Tea Rooms around Morwenstow (check seasonal hours); pubs in Welcombe/nearby hamlets
• Tackle/bait: available in Bude and towns to the north (check opening times and bait availability in advance)
• Mobile signal: patchy to none in the valley and under the cliffs—download charts/forecast before you go

Tips

Local knowledge pays at this cove—small adjustments make big differences in rough ground.

• Use rotten-bottoms for any bottom rig; expect to lose leads, not whole rigs
• Fish the colour change: a faint green tinge with fizzing white water often screams bass here
• At slack-ish water, work soft plastics slowly along kelp fringes; as tide builds, switch to metals/jigs to maintain contact
• Wrasse bite best when you keep baits just off the bottom—short hooklengths under a float help avoid snags
• Travel light: a compact lure roll, a few leads, and one spare spool is plenty—heavy bags are dangerous on the descent
• Mark features at low water (gullies, sand tongues, weed edges) and return on the next flood
• Keep noise and disturbance down—this is a sensitive nature reserve valley with nesting seabirds and choughs
• After rain, the stream can push a tea-stain plume—work its edge for bass on the flood

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted here; the cove straddles the Cornwall–Devon county line, so different Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) apply on each side of the stream (Cornwall IFCA to the south; Devon & Severn IFCA to the north). Always check the latest rules before retaining fish.

• Marine Conservation Zone: The broader Hartland Point to Tintagel area includes protected reef features. MCZ status does not generally ban rod-and-line angling, but avoid damaging habitats and follow any posted local guidance
• Bass (recreational): As of 2024, a common measure is a 42 cm minimum size and a two‑fish daily bag limit during an open season (typically Mar–Nov), with catch-and-release outside that. Check current national rules before retaining bass
• Tope and spurdog: Recreational anglers must release tope and spurdog; do not retain or sell these species
• Shad, eel and other protected species: Allis/twaite shad and European eel are protected—do not intentionally target or retain
• Shellfish: If taking crab/lobster by rod/hand, you must comply with the relevant IFCA minimum sizes and rules; all berried or V‑notched lobsters must be released
• General: No rod licence is required for sea angling in England, but local bylaws (closed areas, netting restrictions, bait collection rules) may apply—consult Cornwall IFCA and Devon & Severn IFCA websites
• Access and conservation: Parts of the valley are nature reserve/SSSI; stick to paths, respect signage, and leave no trace