Summary
Perranuthnoe Beach sits on the eastern side of Mount’s Bay, a short hop from Marazion and Penzance, and offers a classic mix of clean sand with reefy fringes at either end. It fishes well for surf bass on a push and turns up rays and hounds after dark over the sand, with wrasse and pollack from the rocky margins. Sheltered compared with Atlantic-facing beaches, it’s a reliable all-rounder when the west coast is blown out.
Location and Access
Set in the village of Perranuthnoe, access is straightforward via minor lanes off the A394. The beach is immediately below the small car park, with minimal walking and simple routes onto either the sand or the rockier flanks at lower water. It’s a popular family beach in fair weather, so plan sessions around quieter periods.
Seasons
This is a mixed ground venue: clean sand in the centre, reef and boulders towards both ends. Expect a surf-beach portfolio in season with added rock species on the fringes.
- Spring (Mar–May): School and early bass, plaice/flounder on calmer days, thick-lipped and thin-lipped mullet in settled water, wrasse from the rocks, the first smoothhounds on crab, occasional garfish.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass in the surf lines, small-eyed and spotted rays after dark, dogfish, smoothhounds, mackerel and scad shoals, pollack from the rock ends at dusk, wrasse, golden-grey mullet on small baits in the surf.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass time (especially after a blow), rays at night, whiting starting to appear, pollack at dusk, wrasse tapering off late-autumn, chance of turbot/brill is occasional rather than regular.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and dogfish after dark, dabs and flounder in calmer spells, the odd codling in cold snaps is possible but uncommon; bassing becomes hit-and-miss with windows in mild, coloured seas.
Methods
Fish it either as a surf beach over the sand, or work lures and floats around the rocky ribs at either end when the sea is small. Keep casts modest; many fish patrol within 20–60 yards along gutters and the first bar.
- Bottom fishing (sand): 2-hook flappers (size 1–2) for flats/whiting; pulley pennel or up-and-over (2/0–4/0) for bass/rays. Use 4–5 oz grip leads; clipped-down rigs if you need distance.
- Baits: Fresh or good frozen sandeel is king for bass/rays; peeler or soft crab for bass/smoothhounds; lug/rag for flats and general bits; mackerel/squid for rays and dogs; small fish strips for gar/mackerel/scad.
- Lure fishing: Surf lures (weedless soft plastics, shallow divers, metal spoons) along the gutters on a flooding tide. Around the rocks, soft plastics on 10–20 g heads and small metals for pollack; keep it weedless in kelp.
- Float fishing (rocky ends): Rag/lug or prawn for wrasse; mackerel strip for garfish in summer; adjust depth to run just above kelp.
- Night sessions: Focus on rays, hounds, whiting and bass. Fish the first two hours of flood and top of the tide with sandeel, squid or crab baits.
- Stealth and mobility: Walk the beach at low water to mark gutters and patches; return on the flood to fish them as they fill.
Tides and Conditions
Perranuthnoe benefits from Mount’s Bay shelter, so it’s often fishable when the north and west coasts aren’t. The best sport follows shifting sand bars and gutters—recon at low water pays off.
- Tide states: Mid-flood to the first of the ebb is prime for bass in the surf; top-of-the-tide into early ebb for rays after dark. Spring tides expose more reef and define gullies; neaps suit finesse and flatfish.
- Swell and wind: A modest S–SW swell creates a lovely bass surf; too big and rips get fierce. Easterlies flatten it and improve water clarity for lures and mullet.
- Water colour: A slight tea-stain tinge is great for baited bassing; crystal clear favours lures and wrasse but can quieten rays.
- Time of day: Dawn/dusk for bass and pollack; after dark for rays, smoothhounds and whiting.
- Seasonality: Late summer to late autumn is consistent for bass and rays; winter can be patchy but worth a try on mild, coloured seas.
Safety
This is an exposed shoreline with shifting sand bars, fast-forming rips and slippery reef—treat it with respect. It’s also a busy bathing/surfing beach in summer; give water users a wide berth.
- Rips and undertow: Strong on bigger swells and spring tides—avoid wading deep, especially near gutters and the rock ends.
- Rock hazards: Weed-covered ledges at either end are very slippery; wear studded boots and avoid in swell. Be aware of cut-off potential on the lowest tides as the flood wraps around.
- Casting safety: Do not fish near swimmers or surfers. Evening and night sessions are best outside peak beach hours.
- Tides: Mark your exit routes if exploring reefs at low water and turn back early on the flood.
- Lighting and comms: Limited lighting at night—bring a headtorch and spare. Mobile signal is generally good but can dip by the cliffs.
- Personal kit: A waist or chest-belted PFD is sensible on surf/rock marks; carry a knife for weed-snarled lines and a first-aid kit.
- Accessibility: Short, sloped access from the car park to the beach; sand and shingle make wheelchair access challenging without assistance.
Facilities
Facilities are close at hand, with basic amenities in the village. In peak season it’s well served; in winter expect reduced hours.
- Parking: Small pay-and-display beach car park (Perranuthnoe, TR20 9NE) with seasonal overflow options; spaces fill quickly in good weather.
- Toilets: Public toilets by/near the car park, typically daytime opening.
- Food and drink: Beach café (seasonal) and the Victoria Inn in the village for meals and a warm-up after a session.
- Tackle and bait: Stock up in Penzance or Hayle—several shops carry fresh/frozen bait and terminal tackle.
- Phone signal: Generally decent across the beach and village; check your network in the lower coves.
Tips
Think short and targeted: fish patrol tight to the first bar and along the seams where sand meets small rock. Recon at low water is the biggest edge you can give yourself here.
- Bass lanes: The inside gutter along the mid-beach section often holds bass—no need to launch casts; 30–50 yards is plenty.
- Rays: Find the cleaner, slightly deeper sand tongues at half to full tide and fish whole sandeel or squid/sandeel cocktails after dark.
- Wrasse window: Calm, clear evenings with a small swell fish best on the rocky ends; keep baits tight to kelp edges.
- Weed watch: After onshore blows, rafts of kelp and string weed can make distance sets unfishable—switch to lures in the clearer pockets or move along the beach.
- Quiet hours: Dawn, dusk and post-sunset avoid swimmers and produce the better stamp of fish.
- Bioluminescence: Late summer nights sometimes glow in Mount’s Bay—spectacular, but it can spook fish and highlight lines; use darker leaders and keep light off the water.
Regulations
Angling is permitted from the beach and rocky margins at Perranuthnoe; there are no local byelaws that ban rod-and-line fishing here. Regulations do apply, and they change—always verify before your trip.
- Sea bass: Rules are updated annually at UK level. As of the last published guidance within the assistant’s knowledge (2024), a closed season applies outside Mar–Nov with a 42 cm minimum and a limited daily retention allowance during the open period. Check current-year MMO/DEFRA notices before retaining any bass.
- Minimum sizes and bag limits: Observe UK national/Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes for common species (e.g., wrasse, rays, flatfish). When in doubt, release.
- Protected areas: Mount’s Bay includes designated conservation features offshore. Shore angling is allowed, but avoid disturbing intertidal habitats (seagrass, reef life) and do not collect undersized shellfish or bait from restricted areas.
- Berried/undersized crustaceans: It is illegal to take berried or undersized lobster/crab; this also applies if encountered while angling.
- Beach use: Follow any seasonal lifeguard or council signage (e.g., bathing zones) and keep clear of flagged swimming/surf areas when present.
- Night fishing and lighting: No specific bans, but be considerate of residents and wildlife; use headlamps sparingly and pack out all litter.
- Parking/land access: Observe local parking rules and respect private land and field margins on any detours to the rock ends.
