Porth Chapel Cove Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Porth Chapel Cove Fishing Map

Steep-sided cove near St Levan with clean sand and rugged granite ledges. Anglers mostly fish the rock platforms at either end into clear, relatively deep water close in. Best on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk; summer–autumn brings wrasse, pollack and surface feeders, while after dark the gullies can produce conger, bull huss and scad. Access is via a steep, sometimes slippery path from St Levan Church—watch swell, avoid cut-offs on spring tides, and wear good footwear.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Porth Chapel Cove

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 9/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or rag baits on strong gear; fish tight to kelp-fringed rocks on the flood. Best late spring–autumn; hop between gullies as tide lifts.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work metals or soft plastics along the ledges at dusk on a flooding tide; retrieve parallel to the weed line. Summer–autumn.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Surface/shallow lures in the surf and wash at dawn/dusk on a rising tide, esp. after a blow. Big worm or crab baits into gutters also score.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings; feathers/sabikis or small metals from the outer rocks. Best on the flood and around dusk when shoals push tight in.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with ragworm or prawn dropped into kelp fringes; regular bites on the flood in summer.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tight to rock walls and boulder holes; tiny hooks with rag or squid slivers. Productive through the flood, even in swell.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm summer days; float-fish a thin mackerel strip at mid-water over sand/kelp edges on the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer–autumn at dusk/night; small sabikis or 5–10 g metals worked mid-water. Glow bead helps; steady retrieve near surface.
🐟 Cuckoo Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional from deeper ledges; rag or prawn baits lowered into 6–15 m water on the flood in summer.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark from the rocks; whole/half mackerel or fish baits lowered into kelpy holes. Strong gear and rotten-bottoms; best around high water.

Porth Chapel Cove Fishing

Summary

Porth Chapel Cove sits between Porthgwarra and Porthcurno on Cornwall’s far west coast, a secluded, south-facing pocket beach with rocky flanks and clean sand. It’s a classic mixed-ground mark where you can target wrasse and pollack off the rocks, or bass and rays over the sand in the right surf. The access is steep and the sea can be unforgiving, but on settled days it’s an outstanding, quietly productive venue.

Location and Access

Reaching Porth Chapel involves a beautiful but steep coastal walk and a scramble, so travel light and wear sensible footwear. It’s best suited to anglers comfortable with rough-terrain approaches.

Seasons

This is a mixed fishery with classic Cornish seasonality. Expect wrasse and pollack on the rough ground and bass and occasional rays across the sand.

Methods

Porth Chapel rewards adaptable tactics—carry a lure rod for roaming the rocks and a lighter beach setup for the sand.

Tides and Conditions

Tide state and swell dictate everything here. Plan around safe water and workable swell height.

Safety

This is a steep-access, rough-ground venue with serious sea conditions at times. If you’re new to the mark, recce in daylight and keep mobile.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the beach itself—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages cover basics.

Tips

Little details make a big difference at Porth Chapel. Travel light, keep moving, and read the water.

Regulations

Shore angling is generally permitted at Porth Chapel Cove, but you must follow national and local fisheries and site rules. Always check the latest guidance before your trip.