Plaidy Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Plaidy Beach Fishing Map

A small, sheltered south-coast cove just east of Looe with mixed ground: clean sand in the middle and rocky ledges/kelp beds at both ends. Good for summer float and lure fishing in clear water, with options to ledger baits onto the sandy tongue for flatfish and dogfish after dusk. Best on a flooding to high tide when depth improves; the beach largely covers at higher springs, but the rocky margins remain fishable. Access is via steep steps from Plaidy Road; limited roadside parking. Watch for swell rebound on the rocks, slippery weeded ledges, and lesser weever on the sand in warm months.

Ratings

⭐ 6.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Plaidy Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf and gully edges on a flooding tide, best at dawn/dusk. Shallow divers or soft plastics; crab/peeler baits after a SW swell.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night fishing over clean sand. Small fish or squid strips, cast just beyond the first bar from mid-flood to high.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm tight to the rocky ends and kelp gullies on the flood. Float or freelined gear; fish into pockets at low to mid tide.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small metals or soft lures along the rocky points at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Keep lures high over kelp.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights over sand at medium range. Small fish or worm cocktails, best from dusk into the first of the ebb.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals at dusk. Feathers or small metals from the rocky points on a flood; watch for birds working.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny rag or fish slivers in the surf line on calm, clear evenings. 6 lb fluoro, size 8–10 hooks; best on a flooding tide.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, calm nights over clean sand. Short lob with rag/lug on long snoods; top of the flood into early ebb.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small crab or rag under a float tight to kelp at the beach's rocky ends on the flood; keep gear light.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring to autumn. Float-fish small sandeel or strip set shallow from the rocks on a flooding tide.

Plaidy Beach Fishing

Summary

Plaidy Beach sits on the eastern side of Looe Bay between East Looe and Millendreath, Cornwall. This compact, south-facing cove of mixed sand and reef can fish very well for bass, wrasse and summer pelagics when tide and colour line up.

Location and Access

Set on the edge of residential Looe, Plaidy is reached via steep steps from Plaidy Lane or by walking from Millendreath at suitable tides. Access is straightforward but space on the beach and ledges is limited.

Seasons

This is classic mixed-ground fishing with resident wrasse and seasonal visitors. Expect variety through the year with peaks in late spring to autumn.

Methods

Tackle light, fish tight to the features and match your method to the ground in front of you. Keep mobile and let the tide tell you where to set up.

Tides and Conditions

Movement and water clarity drive this mark. Aim for a building sea without excessive weed and avoid being pinned by the flood on the rock ends.

Safety

It’s a small, steep cove with slippery rock ledges and a tide that rises quickly. Plan exits, wear the right footwear, and don’t fish the ends in heavy swell.

Facilities

On-beach facilities are minimal, so prep ahead in town or at Millendreath. Looe has full amenities a short drive away.

Tips

Small tweaks make a big difference on this mixed ground. Think stealth, scale and angles rather than brute force and range.

Regulations

You do not need a licence to fish from the shore in England, but national and local rules still apply. Always check the latest official guidance before your trip.