Summary
Porthcothan Bay is a broad, sandy Atlantic beach flanked by kelpy headlands on Cornwall’s north coast between Newquay and Padstow. It offers classic surf-beach bassing, summer mackerel and garfish, and wrasse/pollack from the rocks in settled seas. The mix of sand, gullies and rock gives year-round options if you time the tides and watch the swell.
Location and Access
Set on the B3276 coast road, Porthcothan is well signposted from both Padstow and Newquay and has easy access to the beach with a short walk to either headland. Terrain ranges from firm sand to rocky ledges and weed-covered boulders, so plan footwear accordingly.
- Signed turns from the B3276; small council car park directly behind the dunes near the beach bridge and seasonal stores/café
- Pay-and-display charges in season; spaces fill quickly on hot, surfable days—arrive early or target evenings
- Easy beach access via a short ramp/steps; 5–10 minutes’ walk across sand or obvious paths to north and south headlands
- Regular seasonal bus service between Newquay and Padstow stops near the beach; useful if parking is tight
- Paths over the dunes and onto the headlands can be uneven and slippery in wet weather—stick to established paths to protect the dune system
Seasons
A varied, seasonal mix patrols the surf and rocks here. Expect summer surface life and autumn predators, with winter scratching on the sand.
- Spring (Mar–May): schoolie and better bass, turbot, occasional plaice, small-eyed ray, pollack on calmer evenings
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (surf and lure), mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, thick-lipped mullet near the stream, ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack; dogfish common
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bassing, turbot, gurnard, small-eyed ray, scad and mackerel late into the evenings, bull huss from rougher ground
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, dogfish, the odd codling in heavy seas, flounder around the stream mouth after blows
- Year-round by-catch: pout, poor cod, small gobies/blennies for LRF anglers
Methods
Both light lure work and classic surfcasting shine here. Match your approach to where you stand—sand for bass and rays; rocks for wrasse and pollack.
- Surf bassing: 9–11 ft lure rod with 20–30 lb braid; soft plastics (paddle tails, weedless slug-go types), surface walkers at first/last light in light surf
- Bait fishing on sand: pulley or pulley pennel with 4–5 oz grip leads; baits—fresh peeler crab, sandeel (whole or sections), squid/mackerel cocktail for rays, lug/rag for turbot/plaice
- Rock wrasse: float fish or short-link ledger into kelp gullies; baits—hardback crab, prawn, ragworm; use strong tackle and steady pressure
- Pollack and mackerel: metals (20–40 g) and slim soft plastics worked over rough ground at dusk; switch to small floats/strips for garfish on calm evenings
- Night sessions: fishy baits (sandeel, mackerel head/fillet) for bass, ray and huss just beyond the first breaker; keep casts modest—fish often feed close
- LRF/micro: isome, small sabikis and tiny metals around boulders and pools on neaps for blennies, gobies and small wrasse
Tides and Conditions
Timing the sea state is key. The bay fishes very differently in a clean, glassy swell compared with a coloured, post-blow surf.
- Best tide windows: last 3 hours of the flood into the first of the ebb for surf bass on the beach; mid-to-high for pollack/wrasse on the rocks
- Sea state: a gentle to moderate, building or dropping swell with slight colour is ideal for bass; clear, settled seas favour wrasse and pollack
- Wind: light onshore or alongshore winds stir food into the surf line for bass; strong onshores can make it unfishable—step to the headlands only if safe
- Seasonality: May–November is prime for lure and float work; winter is a bait game with whiting/dogs and occasional bonus fish in rough spells
- Time of day: dawn and dusk are standout for bass, pollack and surface-feeding species; night tides produce rays, huss and larger bass on the sand
Safety
This is an exposed Atlantic beach with powerful swell, shifting rips and slippery rocks—treat it with respect. If in doubt, don’t go out.
- Atlantic swells and rogue waves: never turn your back; avoid low platforms and gully edges in any swell
- Cut-off risk: both headlands and adjacent coves flood quickly—check tide times and plan an escape route before you start
- Rips: common near the stream mouth and along sandbars; do not wade when fishing, especially at night
- Slippery/unstable terrain: kelp, weed and loose blocks on the rocks; wear grippy boots, consider a personal flotation device on rock marks
- Cliffs and dune edges are unstable—no fishing from overhangs; use established paths only
- Lifeguards (seasonal): respect flagged bathing areas and RNLI advice; avoid casting where people are swimming or surfing
- Accessibility: beach access is short but over sand; headland routes are uneven—limited suitability for reduced mobility
Facilities
Facilities are decent in season and limited in winter. Plan bait and tackle ahead if you’re visiting off-peak.
- Seasonal public toilets by the beach/car park; usually open daytime in main season
- Small beach shop/café (seasonal) near the bridge; hot drinks, snacks, basic beach goods
- RNLI lifeguard patrols typically operate in summer months on the main beach
- Nearest full tackle/bait options in Padstow, Wadebridge and Newquay; call ahead for fresh bait availability
- Mobile signal is variable in the valley—generally better atop the headlands
- No lighting on the beach or headlands—carry a quality headtorch for any dawn/dusk/night session
Tips
Local patterns reward mobility and observation—hunt the edges, read the bars, and don’t cast over the fish.
- Bass often sit in the first and second gutters; start at 20–40 m and only go long if needed
- After a blow, fish the clearing seas with peeler or sandeel as the colour drops out—classic ‘bass green’ water is money
- Work lures cross-current along the faces of sandbars and the stream outflow; surface plugs at grey light, then sub-surface
- For wrasse, feed small handfuls of chopped prawn/crab and keep floats set just off the weed tops to reduce snags
- A short wire bite trace can help at night if huss are about, but keep it light enough not to kill the bass presentation
- Summer evenings can see scad under the cliffs—drop small metals or sabikis and slow-roll mid-water
- Fun fact: Porthcothan has featured as a film location (including BBC’s Poldark), which explains busy summer evenings—fish early or late for space
Regulations
There is no general ban on angling here, but you must follow national and local fisheries rules and respect seasonal beach management. Always check the latest official guidance before your trip.
- Bass rules change periodically (bag limits, open seasons, 42 cm minimum size) under UK/EU management—check the latest from the UK Government/MMO before retaining any bass
- Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes apply to many species; measure fish accurately and release undersized specimens
- Marine Protected Areas: this coastline sits within designated conservation areas; recreational angling is permitted, but do not damage seagrass or reef features and avoid bait digging in protected dunes
- Lifeguarded bathing zones: in summer, do not fish inside flagged swimming/surfing areas; lifeguards may move anglers for public safety
- No camping or fires on the dunes; keep to paths—dune systems are protected habitats and easily damaged
- Dispose of line, hooks and litter responsibly; local beach cleans operate and anglers are expected to pack out all waste
- If unsure on sizes, seasons or byelaws, consult Cornwall IFCA and the MMO for authoritative, up-to-date information
