Summary
Pentire Steps is a wild, steep-sided cove on Cornwall’s north coast between Mawgan Porth and Porthcothan, adjacent to the famous Carnewas/Bedruthan Steps headlands. It’s a proper surf-and-rock mark: bass in the white water, wrasse and pollack around the kelp-fringed ledges, and the odd flatfish on the clean sand. Remote feel, tricky access, and rewarding fishing when the Atlantic serves the right mix of swell and clarity.
Location and Access
Reaching Pentire Steps involves coastal-path walking and a steep descent, so travel light and plan your tide times. Most anglers approach from National Trust car parks on the B3276 between Mawgan Porth and Porthcothan.
- Parking: National Trust car parks at Carnewas (Bedruthan Steps) or Park Head; both are signed off the B3276. Charges apply; seasonal opening/closing times can change—check before a night session.
- Approach: Join the South West Coast Path and head for the Pentire Steps/Carnewas cliffs. Access to the beach is via an eroded, steep path/scramble; sections may be loose, muddy, or temporarily closed after landslips.
- Terrain: Mixture of steep earthen steps, rocky gullies, and boulders at the bottom; not suitable for trolleys. Carry minimal gear and wear grippy footwear.
- Alternative stances: If the beach is swamped, anglers sometimes pick safer higher rock platforms set back from the wash; always assess swell first.
Seasons
This coast fishes very seasonally, with surf species peaking late spring to autumn. Rock species favour clear water and kelp; winter brings small whiting and the odd bonus fish.
- Spring (Apr–Jun): Bass, pollack, ballan wrasse; turbot possible on the clean patches; occasional garfish in calm spells.
- Summer (Jul–Sep): Bass (dawn/dusk and on a lively surf), mackerel and garfish on settled evenings, wrasse (ballan/corkwing) around rough ground, pollack; small-eyed ray occasionally on neap, settled nights; dogfish common.
- Autumn (Oct–Nov): Bass often at their best in building seas; pollack and wrasse until the water cools; rays still possible in settled windows; increasing whiting after dark.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and dogfish on night tides; the odd codling or huss is possible after big blows, but not reliable here.
- Year-round by-catch: Conger from rough ground after dark; spider crabs in late spring can be a nuisance on baits.
Methods
Pentire Steps suits two approaches: surf fishing on the sand, and lure/float work from the rocks. Travel light for the descent and keep rigs simple to beat weed and swell.
- Surf/bottom fishing (beach): 12–13 ft surf rod, 4–5 oz grip leads. Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/rays; 2-hook clipped rigs for flats/whiting. Baits: fresh peeler crab, sandeel (whole or launce), squid, lug/rag cocktails.
- Lure fishing (rocks/edges): 9–10 ft lure rod, 20–30 g rating. Shallow-diving minnows and surface lures for bass over the bars and gulley lips; 12–25 g weedless soft plastics for bass/wrasse; 20–40 g metals or paddletails for pollack at dusk.
- Float fishing (kelp lines): Ragworm, prawn, or crab for wrasse; set depth to just clear the weed tops and drift along the edges.
- Tactics: Fish the rip seams and the edges of the white water for bass; drop lures into darker, kelpy holes on a rising tide for wrasse/pollack; long snood with sandeel after dark for a chance of small-eyed ray.
- Terminal tips: Use rotten-bottom links when casting near rocks; step up leaders (30–40 lb) for abrasion around kelp; keep hook patterns strong (e.g., Chinu/Aberdeen for flats, strong J/pennel for bass).
Tides and Conditions
Tide height dictates both fishing and safety here. The beach all but disappears on big highs, and certain corners can cut off quickly.
- Tide state: Flood into high often best for bass in the surf; first half of the ebb can fish if surf is steady. For wrasse/pollack, mid-to-flood with some movement.
- Swell: A modest W–NW groundswell (2–4 ft) with some colour is prime for bass; too much swell or wind-blown chop quickly makes it unfishable. Clear, settled days suit wrasse and pollack.
- Wind: Light SE–S winds are offshore and clean up the surf; strong W–NW winds make access and presentation difficult.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk are standout for bass and pollack; after dark brings dogfish/whiting, and the chance of a ray on settled, neap nights.
- Seasonality: Late spring through early autumn is the most consistent window; winter sessions are opportunistic around calmer spells after storms.
Safety
This is a serious, committing mark with steep access, loose paths, and Atlantic swell exposure. Only suitable for fit, experienced anglers—avoid in big seas or poor visibility.
- Steep descent: The unofficial paths can be muddy, loose, and change after landslips. Gloves and grippy boots recommended; carry minimal kit.
- Cut-off risk: Sections of the cove and ledges become isolated as the tide floods; always keep an escape line and fish a falling or neap tide until you know the venue.
- Swell and wash: Rogue sets travel far up the boulders—never turn your back on the sea. Avoid low rock ledges in any swell; keep a safe height.
- Falling rocks/cliff edges: Do not sit under overhangs; keep back from crumbly cliff tops. Helmets and auto-inflating lifejackets are strongly advised on rocky stances.
- Closures/signage: The National Trust periodically closes or reroutes access after cliff failures. Obey all signage; if a staircase/path is closed, do not bypass fences.
- Night fishing: Headtorch + spare, charged phone, and partner strongly recommended. Mobile signal can be patchy; pre-arrange check-ins.
- Not accessible: Unsuitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, or anyone with limited mobility.
Facilities
Facilities are limited once you leave the car parks, and there are none on the beach. Plan to be self-sufficient.
- Parking: National Trust car parks at Carnewas and Park Head; charges and seasonal opening hours apply.
- Toilets/café: Seasonal toilets and café at Carnewas (opening varies by time of year); no facilities at Park Head.
- Tackle/bait: Nearest tackle shops are typically in Newquay or Padstow; limited convenience stores in Mawgan Porth and Porthcothan for basics.
- Lifeguards: No lifeguard at Pentire Steps; neighbouring larger beaches may be patrolled seasonally—do not rely on this.
- Phone signal: Variable and often weak near the cliffs—download tide/weather info before you go.
Tips
This mark rewards water-reading and mobility. Think ‘edges’: bar edges, rip edges, and kelp edges.
- Watch the rips: Bass hunt along the sides of the rips—cast across the seam and let lures/baits swing naturally.
- Colour call: A tea-stained green with 1–2 ft visibility is ideal for bass. If it’s crystal clear, switch to finesse lures or target wrasse/pollack.
- Keep it light: A compact lure bag or a single rod and a few rigs beats hauling surf trolleys down the descent.
- Weed windows: After blows, floating weed can be brutal; try the first light window before it lifts off the bottom.
- Ray chances: On calm, neap nights, fish whole sandeel on a long, lightly wired grip lead to hold beyond the inner bar.
- Etiquette: It’s a quiet, wild spot—pack out all litter, keep noise down, and give space to birdlife and any seals in the cove.
Regulations
There’s no general ban on angling at Pentire Steps, but you must follow national and local rules. Regulations can change—always check current notices and official sources before your trip.
- Access: Land is largely managed by the National Trust. Follow on-site signage, respect any temporary path/stair closures, and avoid fence hopping or cliff-edge short-cuts.
- Bass rules: Recreational bass regulations in Cornwall (ICES Area 7) are updated annually. Minimum size is 42 cm; recent years have included a limited daily bag season with catch-and-release outside it. Check the latest from the MMO/DEFRA before retaining any bass.
- Protected species: Do not target or retain shad, eels, or any protected species. If accidentally caught, release immediately.
- Local byelaws: Cornwall IFCA enforces regional byelaws (e.g., netting restrictions, shellfish measures). Anglers should review current CIFCA byelaws and minimum conservation sizes before gathering bait or retaining fish.
- General conduct: No fires or camping on the cliffs or beach, keep dogs under control (ground-nesting birds), and take all litter home.
- Crowded beaches: In summer, avoid casting near bathers and water users; lifeguard red/yellow flags mark bathing zones on nearby beaches where fishing should be avoided.
