Pentewan Sands Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Pentewan Sands Fishing Map

A long, gently shelving sandy bay on Cornwall’s south coast near Mevagissey. Clean sand with small patches of broken ground toward the rocky ends and a river/outflow at the western side. Summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish in clear, calm water; bass and flats are possible year‑round, with whiting more common in winter and the odd ray in the right conditions. Best results at dawn/dusk and into darkness. Easy access and amenities via the holiday park, but avoid lifeguarded swim zones and peak daytime crowds.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Pentewan Sands

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf and gutters on a flooding tide; dawn/dusk. Peeler crab, lug or sandeel on simple rigs, or shallow divers when clear.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals on calm evenings. Long-cast metals or feathers from mid-tide up; stay mobile to find fish.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Short casts to gutters and near the stream outflow. Small rag/maddies; steady tide flow fishes best.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark over clean sand. Two-hook flappers with squid/mackerel; 20–50 m lob. Best last 2 hrs of flood into first ebb.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Around the harbour/river mouth on a rising tide in summer. Bread flake under a float; keep quiet and feed mash sparingly.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Patrols surf edges in summer. Tiny rag/Isome or small fish strips on size 8–10; mobile approach at dusk over the flood.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights. Long-cast 2–3 hook rigs with small squid/mackerel strips; bites around low to mid tide into dark.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring into early summer. Long casts to sandbanks; lug or lug/sandeel cocktails on attractor beads; best on the flood.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, calm nights May–Sept. Small rag or crab on long snoods; 20–40 m lob over clean sand. Neaps often better.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer/autumn evenings. Float-fished strips or small metals retrieved slowly under the surface; dusk into full dark on the flood.

Pentewan Sands Fishing

Summary

Pentewan Sands is a broad, gently shelving beach on the south Cornish coast between St Austell and Mevagissey. It’s a straightforward, comfortable sand mark that rewards thoughtful timing with bass in the surf, summer rays and evening shoals of mackerel and scad. Best fished outside peak bathing hours, it’s a great option for relaxed sessions and family-friendly tides.

Location and Access

Set in St Austell Bay, Pentewan Sands sits beside the village of Pentewan and the Pentewan Sands Holiday Park. Access is simple, but parking and beach use can be affected by the privately managed estate in peak season.

Seasons

A clean sandy bay with light mixed ground at the margins, Pentewan produces classic south-coast beach species with a few surprises.

Methods

Straightforward beach tactics work well, with range and presentation adjusted to the surf and weed on the day.

Tides and Conditions

Tide choice and wind direction make a big difference here, as the bay faces roughly south-east and responds quickly to onshore easterlies.

Safety

This is an open sandy beach with relatively few hazards, but do account for swimmers, watercraft and the river mouth. Normal beach common-sense applies—plus a bit of extra night awareness.

Facilities

Facilities are good by beach standards, particularly in season, thanks to the adjacent holiday park and the village of Pentewan.

Tips

Local patterns are consistent: read the sand, keep mobile and time your visit around swimmers and surf.

Regulations

Sea angling from the beach is generally permitted, but observe both national fisheries rules and any on-beach restrictions posted by the estate/wardens.