Summary
Porthbeor Beach (Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall) is a secluded, east-facing sand and mixed-ground cove a short walk from St Anthony Head. Sheltered from dominant westerlies yet lively in an easterly push, it offers versatile shore fishing for bass, wrasse, and summer pelagics with the chance of rays after dark. Its remoteness keeps pressure light, rewarding tidy tactics and good tide timing.
Location and Access
Tucked between Towan Beach and St Anthony Head, Porthbeor is reached via the South West Coast Path and a steep flight of steps. Plan to travel light; this is a walk-in mark with no roadside casting.
- Nearest area: Roseland Peninsula, south of Portscatho and near St Anthony Head
- Parking: National Trust car parks around St Anthony Head/Towan; closest SATNAV reference TR2 5HA (charges/seasonal). Arrive early in summer
- Approach: 10–20 minutes on the Coast Path, then a long, steep staircase to the sand; not suitable for barrows or heavy kit
- Access points: Usually two stair/paths down; storm damage can close one—check and obey any onsite notices
- Terrain: Broad sand at low water with rock and kelp fringes both ends; patches of boulders and gullies mid-beach on bigger ebbs
- Night access: Reccy in daylight and mark the return path; take a spare headtorch and keep hands free
Seasons
This is a mixed beach/rock venue with seasonal variety. Expect surf species over the sand and wrasse/pollack from the ends.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Bass (schoolies, with better fish after blows)
- Garfish on brighter days from late spring
- Wrasse from the rocky ends as the water warms
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass (lure and bait), often close in at dawn/dusk or in a modest surf
- Mackerel and scad (horse mackerel) on calm evenings
- Garfish and pollack from the rocks
- Ballan and corkwing wrasse (catch-and-release recommended)
- Spotted ray and occasional small-eyed ray after dark over clean sand
- Gilthead bream possible in settled spells (occasional)
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bass peak period, especially on a coloured sea
- Scad/mackerel linger into October; pouting and poor cod at night
- Rays on the flood after dark
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting, pouting, dogfish on small baits
- Dab on the cleaner patches
- Conger (small to mid) from the rough ground after dark (rock ends)
Methods
Fish it like two venues in one: a surf beach through the middle and rocky headlands at either end. Mobility and timing beat brute casting power here.
- Beach ledgering (sand):
- Pulley or pulley‑dropper with a weak-link (rotten-bottom) if casting near rough patches
- Two-hook clipped or flapper with size 2–1/0 hooks for whiting/pouting/dab
- Baits: sandeel (whole/half), squid, mackerel strip; peeler crab for bass/gilthead
- 3–5 oz leads cover most days; use grip leads if there’s a push on
- Bass on lures:
- Dawn/dusk and a modest easterly swell: shallow hard minnows, surface walkers, or 10–20 g weedless paddletails
- Calm/clear: long-casting subsurface lures; scale down leaders for wary fish
- Rock ends (wrasse/pollack/gar):
- Float fish prawn, crab, or rag over kelp edges for wrasse
- Soft plastics or metals for pollack and mackerel/scad at dusk
- Keep tackle strong (30 lb leader) and use abrasion-resistant knots
- Rays and bigger targets at night:
- Large sandeel, squid or bluey/squid cocktails on a pulley pennel (3/0)
- Fish the low to first half of the flood when you still have beach to work with
- Scratch sessions:
- Small strips of mackerel/squid/rag on size 4–2 hooks pick off bites when it’s gin-clear
Tides and Conditions
Tide height determines how much beach you have; plan sessions around space and safety. Clarity and wind direction dictate whether you lure or bait fish.
- Tide states:
- Best from low water into the first half of the flood; springs expose more gullies but the top of a big tide can crowd you under the cliff
- Over low at night is excellent for rays and bass mooching the gutters
- Wind/sea:
- Light–moderate westerlies = calmer water: good for wrasse, pollack and scratching
- Gentle to moderate easterly/SE = lift and colour: prime for bass; heavy easterlies bring weed and dumpers
- Water clarity/time:
- Clear water: lures and finer end-tackle at dawn/dusk
- Coloured water after a blow: fish bigger, scent-rich baits
- Seasonality:
- Summer evenings and mild, overcast days are consistent for bass and pelagics
- Winter nights favour whiting/pouting on small baits
Safety
This is a beautiful but committing beach with steep access and no lifeguard cover. Treat the ends as rock marks with the usual Atlantic caveats.
- Steep, long steps: not suitable for those with limited mobility; carry a light kit and keep hands free
- Tide cut-off: both ends can isolate you—fish the central sands on rising water and track the tide line
- Cliffs/rockfall: avoid sitting under crumbly faces; keep gear well back
- Slippery weeded rocks and hidden boulders: stout footwear; test your footing before committing
- Rips in a surf: do not wade deep; avoid chest waders in swell
- Night fishing: two headtorches, spare batteries, and a pre-walked exit route
- Communications: mobile signal can be patchy; tell someone your plan and ETA
- Lifejacket strongly recommended if you step onto the rocks; never turn your back on the sea
- Access may change after storms—respect any temporary closures or National Trust signage
Facilities
There are no facilities on the beach itself—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby provisions are a drive away on the Roseland.
- Toilets: seasonal facilities at/near St Anthony Head car park; additional public toilets in Portscatho and St Mawes
- Parking: National Trust car parks (charges/seasonal); no parking at the beach
- Food/drink: cafés, pubs and shops in Portscatho and St Mawes; bring water for the walk-in
- Tackle/bait: limited on the peninsula; full-service shops in Truro and Falmouth; some local stores may carry frozen bait
- Bins: pack out all litter and waste line—no beach bins
- Phone signal: variable; some networks drop in the combe
Tips
Subtle adjustments make a big difference at this lightly pressured mark. Travel light and be ready to switch between beach and rock tactics.
- Watch the birds: gannets or terns working off the headland often precede mackerel/scad moving tight to the beach at dusk
- Weed strategy: after easterlies, expect kelp—carry weedless soft plastics and a bait rod to keep options open
- Bass windows: muggy, overcast evenings with a 1–3 ft easterly push are golden; fish the first foam lines and gutter mouths
- Rays: find the firmer, ripple-marked sand in the middle third; fish big sandeel baits an hour either side of low into the first of the flood
- Wrasse etiquette: barbless or crushed barbs and quick release over the rocks protect a slow-growing resource
- Tackle losses: a short rotten-bottom saves leads when you flirt with the edges; keep hooks just off the deck in kelp
- Bioluminescence: late-summer nights sometimes glow—spectacular, but it can make lure hooks visible; switch to bait if follows don’t convert
- Peak times: school holidays see beachgoers—early/late sessions secure space and calmer water
- Leave early on big springs: the top of the tide can push right to the cliff, reducing safe casting room
Regulations
Shore angling is generally permitted at Porthbeor Beach; there are no site-specific bans for line fishing. Always follow national and Cornwall IFCA byelaws and any onsite National Trust guidance.
- European sea bass (recreational): as of 2025, a daily bag limit of two fish per angler at a 42 cm minimum size; retention typically permitted 1 March–30 November, with catch-and-release only outside those dates. Check the latest MMO/IFCA notice before you go
- Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS): Cornwall IFCA sizes apply for finfish and shellfish (e.g., plaice, gilt-head bream, crabs, lobsters). Do not retain undersized fish
- Shellfish protection: never take egg-bearing (berried) or v‑notched lobsters; observe local shellfish byelaws if foraging
- Protected areas: the wider Fal/Roseland coastline includes designated conservation sites; shore angling is allowed, but stay to established paths, avoid disturbing nesting birds, and do not damage or remove features
- Tackle care: recover lost line/terminal gear where safe; disposing of waste line responsibly is a legal and environmental duty
- Always confirm up-to-date rules via Cornwall IFCA and the UK Government/MMO before your session