Summary
Mevagissey Harbour’s outer wall is a classic, deep-water Cornish mark on the south coast, giving quick access to clean, tide-washed water with rough ground off the seaward side. It’s popular for summer mackerel, pollack and wrasse, with night sessions producing conger and dogfish and autumn bringing scad and the chance of squid.
The spot fishes well throughout the flood and into dusk, and it’s a sensible, reasonably accessible option when Atlantic swells make more exposed rock marks unfishable.
Location and Access
Set in the fishing village of Mevagissey near St Austell, the outer wall runs out to the small lighthouse and is reached on foot through the harbour. It’s a working harbour, so always follow signage and any directions from harbour staff.
Parking is pay-and-display in village car parks; spaces are limited in peak season, so arrive early or late in the day.
Seasons
A mix of resident rough-ground species and seasonal pelagics use the water off the wall. Expect summer variety, autumn baitfish pushes, and quieter but worthwhile winter nights.
- Spring (Apr–Jun): pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, garfish; early mackerel runs in settled spells; mullet mooching inside the harbour (often no-fishing zones).
- Summer (Jul–Aug): mackerel, scad (horse mackerel), garfish, pollack, wrasse; occasional bass at dawn/dusk; pout and poor cod under the wall; triggerfish are rare but possible late summer in warm years.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): mackerel shoals thinning but still possible, scad at dusk into dark, pollack at last light, wrasse tailing off; squid possible under calm, clear nights; herring some years.
- Winter (Dec–Mar): whiting on small baits at night, dogfish, conger; odd pollack on lures in clear weather; the odd herring or joey mackerel around harbour lights.
- Occasional/bonus: bass (lures or big baits at night), gurnard, john dory (rare), thick‑lipped mullet in the inner basins (often protected from angling).
Methods
The mark suits a wide range of methods. Choose tactics around water clarity, time of day and whether you’re fishing into rough kelp/rock or cleaner patches.
- Float fishing: mackerel strip or sandeel for garfish and mackerel; set 8–15 ft over depth, drifted along the wall. Float-fished rag/crab for wrasse close to kelp edges.
- Spinning/lures: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; slim soft plastics and 20–30 g jigheads or weedless paddletails for pollack at last light; small surface/sub-surface lures for bass at dawn/dusk in calm seas.
- Bottom fishing: simple running ledger or 2‑hook flapper with size 2–1/0 for pout/whiting/dabs; stronger pulley rig with 4/0–6/0 and whole mackerel/squid for conger or huss after dark. Use rotten‑bottom links if dropping into rough ground.
- Sabikis/feathers: small Hokkai/sabiki for mackerel and scad; keep casts short and only on the seaward side. Avoid heavy multi-hook gear when crowded.
- Squid: standard egi jigs size 2.5–3.0 in autumn evenings around any harbour lighting or clear-water nights.
- Baits: ragworm, lugworm, peeler/crab, mackerel strip, sandeel, squid. For conger, use half/whole mackerel or big squid wraps; for wrasse, crab or rag is king.
Tides and Conditions
Depth alongside the outer wall means it’ll produce through most states, but movement is key. Light south-westerlies give comfortable conditions; easterlies can push swell straight in.
- Best tide: mid-flood through high and the first of the ebb; mackerel/scad often spike on the flood and at dusk.
- Time of day: dawn/dusk for pollack, bass and mackerel; full dark for conger, dogfish and whiting; clear evenings for squid in autumn.
- Water clarity: clear = lures/float tactics excel; coloured = bait on the bottom or big scent trails for eels/huss.
- Sea state: avoid fishing in strong onshore swell or when waves are overtopping the wall; wrasse like a bit of lift but not dangerous surge.
- Seasonality: May–Oct is prime for variety; winter is slower but night bait fishing can still be productive.
Safety
This is a working harbour wall with uneven surfaces and drops to deep water. Conditions change quickly with wind direction and boat movements.
- Obey all harbour signage and instructions; areas may be temporarily closed, and inner quays/steps are often no-fishing zones.
- Wear a lifejacket, especially at night or in swell; use non-slip footwear. The lower ledges and ladders are slippery with weed/fish scales.
- Avoid fishing when waves are overtopping; easterly swells funnel straight into the wall.
- Keep casting strictly seaward; never cast across entrances or near moving boats and pot lines.
- Use a drop net for landing decent fish; lifting by line risks break-offs and accidents.
- Space is limited in summer—fish tidily and keep gear compact to maintain safe walkways.
- Mobility: access is level but includes long, occasionally uneven concrete with some gradients; no guaranteed handrails along the full length.
Facilities
Mevagissey is a busy village with good amenities close to the harbour. Expect crowds in summer and limited parking.
- Public toilets near the harbour (seasonal opening hours) and additional facilities in village car parks.
- Cafés, pubs, fish and chip shops and convenience stores within a short walk.
- Tackle/bait: limited seasonal availability in the village; most anglers stock up in St Austell. Fresh mackerel often provides on-the-spot bait.
- Phone signal is generally good on major networks, though can dip behind buildings and along the wall.
- Lighting: some harbour lighting near the inner areas; head torches required for the outer sections at night.
Tips
Crowd management and presentation count here—especially in summer. Think finesse by day and bigger baits after dark.
- Arrive for first light or the last two hours before dusk to beat crowds and catch bite windows.
- Short, accurate casts catch more: fish run the seam close to the wall; blasting to the horizon just finds snags.
- For pollack, work soft plastics tight to the wall on a count-down and slow retrieve; the last 30 minutes of light can be electric.
- Wrasse hug kelp: present crab or rag hard down the edge, lift and drop to avoid snags, and use a fluorocarbon leader.
- Bring a drop net and spare rigs; you’re fishing over rough ground. Rotten-bottoms save leads.
- If mackerel disappear, switch to size 6–8 sabikis and fish mid-water for scad at dusk.
- Keep only what you need. Harbour seals and gulls are opportunists—dispatch and bag fish promptly to avoid feeding them.
Regulations
This is an active, regulated working harbour. Local rules are posted on-site and can change; always check the boards and with the harbour office if unsure. Wider sea angling rules also apply.
- Harbour rules: fishing is typically permitted on the seaward side of the outer wall only; inner quays, steps and ladder landings are commonly no-fishing. No casting near vessel movements; do not obstruct operations. Seasonal/time restrictions may apply during peak tourist periods.
- Cornwall IFCA bylaws and national measures apply: respect minimum sizes and any seasonal species measures. As of 2024, recreational bass limits in ICES area 7 allow retention only within the published season and size; outside that period it’s catch-and-release—check current DEFRA/IFCA guidance before your trip.
- No littering, no fish cleaning on the wall; dispose of line/hooks responsibly.
- Protected species (e.g., shad, seahorses) must be released immediately if encountered.
- Consider voluntary catch-and-release for large wrasse; they are slow-growing and valuable to the local inshore ecology.
- If in doubt, ask the harbourmaster or consult Cornwall IFCA for up-to-date rules before fishing.
