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Cornwall

Pencarrow Head

6.5 · Rocks · Cornwall

Pencarrow Head is a rugged, cliff-backed rock mark between Lantic and Lantivet bays on Cornwall’s south coast. It offers deep, clear water close in with strong tidal run off the headland, making it a prime spot for pollack and summer pelagics, plus wrasse and nocturnal conger from rough, kelpy ground. Access is via the South West Coast Path from the National Trust parking above Lantic Bay, followed by a steep descent and traverse—plan for a committed walk and limited comfortable perches. Best fished in calm seas with offshore or northerly winds; any swell from the south or southeast can make it unfishable. Productive periods are dawn and dusk on a flooding tide, with eddies forming around the points. Ground is very snaggy—use rotten-bottom links and abrasion-resistant leaders.

Should you fish Pencarrow Head?

66 Good

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Good conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:17

Worth fishing if you can hit the best window.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Pencarrow Head — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Pencarrow Head is a committed, cliff-backed rock mark that fishes best when tide, clarity and swell all line up. The strength here is deep, clear water close in, kelp-lined gullies and hard-running tide seams off the headland, making it strongest for pollack, wrasse, bass, mackerel and after-dark rough-ground species. It is not a casual venue: final approaches involve steep, uneven rock and the mark should be treated as a calm-weather option only, especially with any southerly or south-easterly swell forecast.

  • Know when the flood is worth the walk.
  • Pick the seams, kelp edges and gullies that hold fish.
  • Avoid wasting a session on unfishable southerly swell.
  • Match tactics to pollack, wrasse, bass and night conger.
  • Have a safer backup plan before committing to the headland.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Polruan 1.5 mi Fowey 2.1 mi Polperro 3.5 mi Polkerris 3.6 mi Carey Park 4.0 mi

Explore nearby towns: Polruan · Fowey · Polperro · Polkerris · Carey Park

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.5 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 3/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Lure or float fish sandeels along kelp-lined rock edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Keep gear tight to structure.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float or ledger crab/rag into kelpy gullies over the flood; daylight, spring–autumn. Strong gear and rotten-bottom recommended.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Work surface or soft lures in the tide run at first/last light on a rising sea; or fish big sandeel/peeler baits into gullies.
Pouting 7/10
Tip: Small strips of mackerel or worm on 2–3 hook paternoster into rough ground after dark; best on the flood.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Spin metals or float-fish strips to summer shoals; best evenings on a flooding tide with clear water.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: Big fish baits (mackerel or squid) on heavy pulley rigs after dark into deep rough ground; last of the flood into the ebb.
Bull Huss 6/10
Tip: Large squid or mackerel sections on strong traces into kelpy gullies after dark; last of flood best.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Small sabikis under a float or slow-jig metals at dusk/night in late summer–autumn on the flood.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small hooks with rag, lug or prawn under a float tight to weed beds; calm summer days on the flood.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Float small slivers of mackerel mid-water over clean patches; late spring–autumn, bright evenings on a flooding tide.

Local knowledge

Pencarrow Head fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Pencarrow Head is a dramatic National Trust headland between Fowey and Polperro on Cornwall’s south coast. Sheer rocky faces, deep gullies and hard‑running tide lines make it a classic rough‑ground mark for lure and rock anglers. On calm days it can produce superb pollack, wrasse and bass fishing with proper care and preparation.

Set between Lantic Bay and Polruan, the mark is reached via the South West Coast Path across open National Trust land. Access is straightforward for fit walkers, but final approaches to productive ledges involve exposed scrambles over steep, uneven rock.

  • Parking: National Trust Lantic Bay car park off the A387 (approx. postcode PL23 1NP); pay‑and‑display/NT members free
  • Alternative: Polruan village car park then follow the SW Coast Path west (approx. postcode PL23 1PA); allow extra time and hill climbs
  • Walk-in: 20–35 minutes from Lantic Bay car park to the headland daymark; narrow coastal path with some exposure
  • Terrain: High cliffs, sloping rock shelves, kelp‑filled gullies; access to lower ledges requires confident footwork and dry conditions
  • Footwear: Sturdy boots with good grip (studs/cleats strongly advised on the rock)

This is a classic rough-ground, lure-and-float venue with fast tidal flow and depth close in. Species vary by season but predators dominate.

  • Spring: Pollack, increasing numbers of ballan wrasse (from May), early garfish, school bass on lures, pouting
  • Summer: Pollack (dawn/dusk best), mackerel, garfish, ballan and corkwing wrasse, bass (including better fish in on a push), scad at night, conger after dark, bull huss on big baits
  • Autumn: Bass in lively seas, chunky pollack, late mackerel and scad, conger, pout; occasional rockling
  • Winter: Pollack on calm clear days, pouting/whiting, conger, rockling; bass possible on a building sea after a blow
  • By-catch: Launce, poor cod, small gurnards from feathering over clean patches off the head

Work with the tide lines and structure: lures and float tactics excel, with heavy ground gear for night baits and conger.

  • Lure fishing for pollack/bass: 9–10 ft spinning/LRF-to-MHR rod, 20–30 lb braid and 20–30 lb fluoro leader; 20–50 g metals, sandeel patterns, and 4–6 inch weedless soft plastics (texas-rigged) fished near kelp edges
  • Plugs for bass: Shallow divers and surface walkers at first/last light on the flood, especially where tide forms seams off the point
  • Float fishing: Large floats set 10–20 ft for pollack and 6–12 ft for wrasse/garfish; baits include sandeel, mackerel strip, prawn or peeled crab
  • Bottom fishing: Pulley/pulley‑dropper with rotten‑bottom links, 4–6 oz leads (more on springs), 40–60 lb abrasion‑resistant leaders; big mackerel/squid baits for conger/huss after dark
  • Feathers/Sabikis: Use single or short strings (2–3 hooks) to reduce tangles; consider a drop net to safely land fish from higher ledges
  • Terminal tips: Long snoods tangle in the run—keep snoods short for ledgering; use weedless hooks and count‑down retrieves to work lures above the weed

Tide strength and swell dictate both safety and success here. Fish the movement, and aim for low light when predators push tight to the rocks.

  • Tide: Productive through the flood into high water; first two hours of the ebb also good; neaps are more manageable, springs run hard
  • Conditions: Best in light offshore or northerly winds with a gentle roll; avoid big southerly/south‑easterly swells that slam the headland
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk are prime for pollack/bass; wrasse are reliable through daytime in clear to moderate water
  • Water clarity: Clear to green suits lures; slight colour helps bass on plugs/softs; heavy colour—switch to bait and bigger scent trails
  • Seasonality: May–October is peak for variety; winter windows open after storms once seas settle

This is an exposed cliff venue with real consequences. It is not suitable for inexperienced anglers, children, or anyone with limited mobility.

  • Steep cliff paths, loose edges, and slippery weeded rock—wear a lifejacket and studded footwear; carry a headtorch and spare
  • Assess swell from a safe height; rogue waves occur—do not fish low ledges with oncoming swell
  • Strong cross‑tides around the point—keep lines high and angled; use a long rod butt to steer fish clear of edges
  • Some ledges can be cut off on big tides and swell—identify exits in daylight; avoid night exploration on new ground
  • Mobile signal can be patchy; tell someone your plan and carry a whistle/charged phone
  • Wildlife and countryside: Expect ticks in summer bracken; adders sun on paths—keep dogs on leads; respect National Trust signage and stay on paths

There are no facilities on the headland itself—plan to be self‑sufficient.

  • Parking: National Trust Lantic Bay car park (pay‑and‑display); no toilets on the headland
  • Nearest toilets/food: Polruan (seasonal public loos, pubs/cafés) and Fowey across the estuary
  • Tackle/bait: West Looe tackle shops to the east; limited chandlery items in Fowey—source bait en route
  • Phone signal: Intermittent; some networks drop out near the cliffs
  • Water/no shade: Carry sufficient water and sun protection; no shelter on the headland

Think ‘edges and seams’: fish sit where the tide breaks around the head and over kelp tongues. Keep moving to find life.

  • Watch the daymark: the main tide splits here—work lures along the seam for pollack, then switch to a plug as light fades for bass
  • Count‑down metals and soft plastics: find the weed line, then run lures just above it; many takes come on the first turns of the handle
  • Wrasse love crab and prawn: present under a float with strong hook patterns; release big ballans carefully
  • Carry a drop net or long‑handled gaff alternative for safe fish handling from higher perches (where legal and appropriate)
  • After blows, drifting weed can be brutal—shorten leaders, up the lure weight, and angle casts across the run
  • Seals patrol the head—expect follows; play fish hard and release promptly to avoid predation
  • Leave no trace: pack out all line and litter; this is sensitive National Trust coastline used by walkers year‑round

Recreational sea angling is generally permitted from the shore at Pencarrow Head. Always check on‑site National Trust notices for any temporary restrictions (e.g., path closures or nesting birds).

  • Bass: As of 2024, recreational retention is limited to two fish per angler per day between 1 March and 30 November; 42 cm minimum size; outside those dates, catch‑and‑release only (check MMO for updates before you go)
  • Minimum sizes and byelaws: Observe UK national MLS/size limits and Cornwall IFCA byelaws for finfish and shellfish; some measures change seasonally
  • Marine protected areas: Various MPAs exist around south Cornwall—angling is typically allowed, but specific gear/collecting restrictions may apply; consult Cornwall IFCA/DEFRA resources
  • Wrasse: No statutory recreational bag limit locally, but many anglers operate voluntary catch‑and‑release for larger ballans to protect local stocks
  • Bluefin tuna: If encountered, they are strictly no‑take for recreational shore anglers; CHART tagging is boat‑permit only
  • Access: Keep to public paths, close gates, no camping or fires on National Trust land; dogs under close control/lead where signed