Mexico Towans Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Mexico Towans Fishing Map

Long, dune-backed surf beach between Hayle and Gwithian on St Ives Bay. Clean sand with shifting bars and gutters; fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Summer brings bass, small-eyed ray and turbot; winter sees whiting and flatfish. Expect surf, rips and a walk through the Towans dunes from nearby car parks. Use worm, crab and sandeel baits; lures can work for bass in lively surf.

Ratings

⭐ 6.3/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Mexico Towans

🐟 Bass 9/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach; fish a flooding tide into dusk. Shallow divers, metals or fresh sandeel/peeler; work gutters and rips. Best May–Oct; autumn blows can be superb.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights. Clip-down rigs with size 2–1 hooks; worm or mackerel strips. Long casts beyond the outer bar after dark on mid–high tides.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: After dark year-round on clean sand; two-hook flappers with mackerel or sandeel. Short to medium casts on mid–high tides.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Settled seas May–Sep; long cast sandeel at dusk into the outer gutter. Target last 2 hours of the flood into first of the ebb.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm summer evenings; tiny rag or squid slivers on size 8–10 hooks in the surf wash. Short casts along the shoreward gutter on a flooding tide.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Bright, calm spring–early summer days. Long trace with beads/spoons; rag/lug tipped with squid. Cast to clean sand at range over high water.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Near the Hayle estuary mouth on a making tide; small rag/lug on a running ledger, short cast. Best late autumn–spring.
🐟 Dab 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter daylight or dusk; small worm baits on size 2–4 hooks. Short casts to the inner gutter on a flooding tide.
🐟 Dover Sole 4/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, calm nights May–Sep; short casts with rag/lug on size 4–6 hooks and light leads. Fish the inner gutter on the flood.
🐟 Turbot 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer on calm surf; fresh sandeel on a long trace at range over clean sand, best around the last of the flood.
🐟 Mackerel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional summer shoals tight to the beach at dawn/dusk; spin metals or cast small feathers into visible work-ups on a flooding tide.

Mexico Towans Fishing

Summary

Mexico Towans is a long surf beach on the Hayle side of St Ives Bay in Cornwall, backed by high sand dunes and open to the Atlantic. It’s a classic north-coast mark for surf bass, winter whiting, and the odd ray or turbot when the banks are right. Expect plenty of room to roam, shifting sandbars, and conditions that reward reading the water.

Location and Access

Access is straightforward via the B3301 between Hayle and Gwithian, with several signed "Towans" car parks set behind the dunes. Paths cross the dunes onto a wide, gently shelving beach; choose your access to suit the swell and wind on the day.

Seasons

This is a seasonal, mobile surf venue where the fish follow bait and shifting features. Bass are the headline act, with winter bringing packs of whiting and dogfish.

Methods

Traditional surf tactics dominate here; match your approach to the surf height, colour, and how far the outer bars are breaking. Travel light and be ready to move to fresh water.

Tides and Conditions

It’s a shallow, surf-led beach that fishes best when the banks make gutters and the water has life. Time your session to the state of the tide that lights up the structure in front of you.

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic surf beach with shifting sandbars, rips, and a big tidal range. Treat the dunes and water with respect and choose your spot with an exit plan.

Facilities

Facilities are spread along the Towans and more abundant at the larger car parks. In summer, lifeguards operate designated bathing/surfing zones.

Tips

Mexico Towans rewards anglers who read the sand—move to where the water looks right rather than where the path ends. Small adjustments in position often out-fish big changes in gear.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted on Mexico Towans, but observe seasonal lifeguard zones and any on-site signage. The Hayle estuary and surrounding dunes have environmental protections—stick to marked access routes and avoid disturbing wildlife.