Pendower Beach Fishing

Last updated: 5 days ago

Pendower Beach Fishing Map

A long, south-facing sandy beach in Gerrans Bay on the Roseland Peninsula, merging with Carne Beach at low tide. Clean sand with shifting bars and gullies, plus rocky fringes at either end. A reliable surf mark for bass and flatfish; dogfish and rays over the cleaner ground; summer mackerel, garfish and scad in calm clear conditions. Best on a flooding tide into dusk or after a south-westerly blow as the sea settles. Easy access via National Trust car parks; long walks across sand at low tide. Watch for fast-flooding tides around the rock ends, soft patches, and lesser weever fish in summer—wear footwear. Wading into gutters helps present baits; keep mobile to locate features.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Pendower Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf plugs or sandeel baits worked along the gutters on a flooding tide; best at dawn/dusk or after a blow. Keep mobile to find feeding fish.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish crab or rag tight to the rocky ends from mid-flood to high. Use strong gear to bully fish from kelp.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small rag/lug baits on size 2–4 hooks, short casts onto clean sand after dark; best June–Oct on a gentle flood.
🐟 Painted Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Sandeel or squid on pulley rigs to sand patches beside the reef at dusk into night; summer–autumn on a flooding tide.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Feathers or small metals into deeper gutters at first/last light on a flood in summer. Switch to single lure when fish are tight in.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish small strips of mackerel or sandeel over clean ground on the flood; best May–Sep in clear, calm seas.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Light rigs with small rag/isome in the surf line on calm summer evenings; rising tide over sandy gutters.
🐟 Pollack 5/10
🎯 Tip: Soft plastics or metals along the rocky points at dusk on the flood; long fluorocarbon leader and steady retrieve.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Lug or rag close in on the edge of the surf, slow-moving neap tides; best late autumn to winter.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Sandeel baits over clean surf tables at night in settled seas; neap tides help. Gentle retrieve to avoid drag.

Pendower Beach Fishing

Summary

Pendower Beach sits on the Roseland Peninsula in Veryan Bay, linking with Carne to form a sweeping, gently shelving strand of clean sand and pockets of broken ground. It’s a quietly productive surf beach for bass and flats, with occasional rays and hounds after dark, plus lure opportunities around the rocky fringes in settled weather.

Location and Access

Pendower is easy to reach via minor lanes signposted from Ruan High Lanes/Veryan off the A3078, with National Trust parking above the western end and additional parking by Carne at the eastern end. The beach is a short but sloping walk from the car parks and the ground is mainly firm sand with some rocky outcrops at either end.

Seasons

The bay holds a good mix of clean-ground and fringe-reef species; summer and autumn are the headline months, with winter whiting on dark nights.

Methods

Treat Pendower primarily as a surf beach, adjusting tactics to read the bars and gutters; the rocky ends offer supplemental lure and float fishing in calm seas.

Tides and Conditions

This is a gently shelving south-facing bay; movement is key. Fish the forming surf or the first settled tide after a blow for bass, and target darkness for rays and whiting.

Safety

Although this is a family beach, treat the surf and the rocky fringes with respect, and plan your route to avoid being hemmed in by the tide against the headlands.

Facilities

You’ll find simple beach facilities, with more comprehensive services in nearby villages and towns.

Tips

Reading the beach is everything here—walk it at low water to map the bars, gutters, and the stream delta before choosing a stand for the flood.

Regulations

Pendower is an open public beach and recreational sea angling is generally permitted; respect seasonal lifeguard areas and any local notices. Always check up‑to‑date rules via the Cornwall IFCA and UK government sites before your trip.