Par Beach Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Par Beach Fishing Map

Par Beach (Par Sands) is a long, shallow-gradient sandy beach on St Austell Bay, backed by dunes and a lagoon. It offers easy, level access from the main car park and mostly clean ground with occasional fine shingle. The Par River creates gutters and channels that draw bass and flatfish, especially on a flooding tide. Best results are typically from two hours up to high and into dusk or after dark. Calm to moderate surf with a south or east push fishes well; westerly winds often flatten it. Standard surf tactics apply: 2–3 hook flappers with rag/lug or small cocktails for flats and whiting, pulley rigs with sandeel/squid for rays, and peeler crab for bass and the odd smoothhound. Short to medium casts pick up sole and flounder in the channels; longer casts reach plaice and occasional rays off the outer bar. Summer brings school bass and dogfish with the chance of smoothhound; winter sees whiting and dabs. Weed can be troublesome after onshore blows. Hazards: lesser weevers in warm months (wear footwear), soft sand near the river channel and occasional rips on big tides; give space to bathers and water users in peak season.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Par Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf line on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk or after a blow; shallow plugs or sandeel/peeler on long traces.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights over clean sand; 2-3 hook flapper with lug or squid strips; cast 40-80 m; best on first of the flood.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Target the river outflow and inner beach with small rag/lug tipped with mackerel; slow retrieve; autumn-winter on the flood.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months; tiny rag or artificial worm on size 8-10 rigs in surf gutters, especially near the outflow; dusk on a flooding tide.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring-summer; long snoods with beads, lug/rag or prawn; cast beyond first bar; flood or slack water.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, calm nights; light running ledger with rag or peeler kept static in the gutter; last of the ebb into first flood.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: June-Sept evenings when shoals push in; small metals or feathers; watch for birds; high water on neaps.
🐟 Gilthead Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer around the Par River channel; peeler or hard crab on 1/0 circles; fish the flood; set light drag for hard runs.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 4/10
🎯 Tip: Summer over clean sand; small worm baits on size 6 hooks; short lobs into shallow surf on bright, calm days; handle carefully due to spines.
🐟 Turbot 3/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional in summer; sandeel on long traces; search scours and bars; first two hours of the flood.
🐟 Garfish 3/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring-autumn; float-fish slivers of mackerel on long-shank size 6; first light over the flood.

Par Beach Fishing

Summary

Par Beach (Par Sands) sits in the curve of St Austell Bay between Carlyon Bay and Polkerris. It’s a broad, shallow-shelving sand beach that fishes well for bass in a bit of surf and offers reliable winter flounder and whiting sport. Easy access, plenty of space, and shifting gutters make it a great venue for both newcomers and seasoned surf casters.

Location and Access

Par Beach lies just south of the village of Par and St Blazey, with flat, straightforward access from the main car park behind the dunes. It’s one of the easiest true surf marks in mid-Cornwall to reach, ideal when you don’t fancy a long clamber.

Seasons

This is a classic sandy surf venue with estuarine influence from the river, so expect bass and flatties, plus winter visitors. Occasional summer surprises turn up in settled spells.

Methods

Standard surf tactics score here; long range can help on neaps, but many fish patrol the first and second gulley at higher water. Mobile fishing, reading the sandbars, and timing around dusk make a big difference.

Tides and Conditions

The beach is shallow, so water movement and a bit of surf transforms the mark. Aim to fish moving water and key light changes.

Safety

This is a generally safe, broad sandy beach, but shifting channels and surf deserve respect. Keep an eye on the river outflow and don’t wade beyond your comfort.

Facilities

Par Beach is well set up for a family day or a quick evening session, with amenities close at hand. Expect seasonal variations in opening times.

Tips

Reading the beach is everything here—bars and gutters shift after each blow. Give yourself time on arrival to pick the right line of attack.

Regulations

Know and follow national and local rules. Regulations change—always check current notices before your trip.