Summary
Porthluney Cove (Caerhays Beach) is a sheltered south-coast Cornish cove set beneath Caerhays Castle in Veryan Bay. It offers easy beach access, mixed ground at either end, and varied fishing from bass in the surf to wrasse and pollack around the rocks. The setting is idyllic, but it still fishes best on the right tides and in settled to moderate seas.
Location and Access
This mark sits between Gorran Haven and Portholland, signed locally for Caerhays and Caerhays Castle. Access is straightforward down narrow Cornish lanes, with parking right behind the beach on the Caerhays Estate.
- Parking: Large pay-and-display estate car park directly behind the sand; arrive early in summer. Postcode guidance: PL26 6LY
- Approach: From St Austell or Tregony, follow signs for Gorran/Veryan then Caerhays; final miles are single-track lanes with passing places
- Walk-in: 1–3 minutes flat from the car to the beach; rock marks on both flanks require short scrambles over uneven, slippery ground
- Terrain: Clean sand in the middle with a stream cutting across the beach; rocky ledges and kelp beds on both the western and eastern headlands
- Night access: Usually fine on foot, but check any seasonal estate gate times posted in the car park before committing to late sessions
Seasons
A broad mix is possible thanks to the clean sand and rougher ground on the sides. Expect bass and rays from the sand, and classic south-coast rock dwellers from the ledges.
- Spring: Schoolie to mid-size bass, dogfish, occasional small-eyed ray from late spring, early wrasse on calmer days, garfish from late spring
- Summer: Bass, mackerel and garfish, thick- and thin-lipped grey mullet in the stream area, ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack from rocky points, small-eyed ray, gurnard, occasional smoothhound, odd gilt-head bream in very warm spells
- Autumn: Peak bass months, consistent rays, pollack and wrasse until the first big blows, mullet lingering early autumn, increasing pout and the odd conger from rock holes after dark
- Winter: Whiting, dogfish, pout, occasional flounder around the stream mouth, rare codling in heavy southerlies, conger from the rocks on settled nights
Methods
Both the clean beach and the rocky fringes fish well with tailored tactics. Keep it light and mobile in calm seas; step up gear for rough ground and rays.
- Beach ledgering: 2-hook flappers for fish baits and worms; pulley or pulley-dropper with 4–5 oz grip leads for bass and rays over the sand and mixed patches
- Distance work: Clipped-down 1-up-1-down or single long snood to reach outer gutters on bigger tides
- Baits: Peeler crab, ragworm, lugworm, sandeel (fresh or good quality frozen), squid and mackerel strip; for rays try sandeel, squid-sandeel cocktails or bluey
- Lure fishing: Shallow diving minnows, metal spoons, and sandeel-style soft plastics for bass and garfish along the seams; weedless soft plastics around kelp lines for bass and pollack
- Float fishing: Ragworm or prawn for wrasse and pollack off the ledges; fine-wire hooks and fluorocarbon help with mullet in the stream outflow
- After dark: Bigger fish baits on robust gear for bass, conger from the rocks, and rays on a flooding tide
Tides and Conditions
This is a tide- and condition-sensitive venue. Plan around flood tides, dusk and dawn, and the balance between clarity and movement.
- Tide states: Flood into high water is most productive for bass and rays; last two hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb are prime
- Range: Medium springs give useful movement without excessive sweep; neaps are good for wrasse and lure work near the rocks
- Wind and swell: Light to moderate south or southwest puts a useful push on the beach; strong easterlies flatten the sea and can make it clear but lifeless
- Water clarity: Slight colour lifts bass and ray confidence; wrasse and pollack prefer clearer water around the rocks
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk consistently out-fish midday, especially in summer when the beach is busy; winter nights bring whiting and the odd better bass
- Seasonality: Late spring to autumn for diversity; winter is simpler but can still produce on onshore blows
Safety
It looks benign, but the usual south-coast hazards apply. Treat the rocky flanks with respect and be mindful of bathers in season.
- Beach: Shallow-to-moderate shelving with a shore dump in swell; occasional rips near the stream mouth
- Rocks: Slippery weeded ledges and uneven footing; avoid in swell and watch for being cut off on a fast flood
- Swimmers: When lifeguards operate, expect flagged bathing zones; do not fish into or across swimmers and watercraft
- Tackle safety: Use a headlamp, spare light, and a PFD if venturing onto ledges; cleated footwear recommended
- Mobility: The central beach is very accessible from the car park; the rock fishing is not suitable for limited mobility
- Estate notices: Check posted car park opening times and any temporary restrictions or event closures before late sessions
Facilities
Facilities are good for a rural beach, especially in the main season. Outside peak months, expect a quieter, darker venue at night.
- Toilets: Seasonal public toilets by the beach car park
- Food and drink: Seasonal beach cafe and Caerhays Estate offerings when the gardens are open; otherwise nearest options in Gorran Haven and Mevagissey
- Tackle and bait: Tackle shops in Mevagissey and St Austell; limited seasonal bait from local village stores at times
- Mobile signal: Patchy on some networks behind the cliffs; better on the beach itself
- Parking: Pay-and-display next to the sand; charges vary by season; check closing times and machines for card acceptance
- Lighting and bins: Little to no lighting after dark; carry waste out if bins are not available or are closed overnight
Tips
Small venue quirks make a difference here. Read the beach and use the headlands intelligently.
- Find the gutters: On the flood, look for darker seams running diagonally across the sand; drop a crab or sandeel bait just uptide of these lanes for bass
- West vs east: The western side often holds a slightly deeper scoured channel after blows; the eastern rocks are reliable for wrasse on float rigs in clear water
- Crab country: In summer, crabs are relentless; tough baits, bait elastic, and shorter soak times help
- Lure windows: A gentle 1–2 ft rolling surf at first light is prime for hard minnows and 12–20 g sandeel-pattern metals
- Night rays: A sandeel-squid cocktail cast to the edge of the surf line two hours up to high produces small-eyed rays on settled warm nights
- Mullet patrols: Fish bread flake or small rag baits into the stream’s mixing line on light gear and be patient
- Busy season etiquette: Avoid daytime summer sessions on the central beach; fish dawn, dusk, or the rock flanks outside flagged areas
Regulations
Recreational sea angling is generally permitted here, with normal national and regional rules applying. Some details change, so check before you go.
- Bass rules: Bag limits, closed months, and a minimum size for European seabass are updated periodically; check the current MMO or government guidance before retaining any bass
- Minimum sizes: Observe UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes for species you intend to keep; when in doubt, release
- Cornwall IFCA: Local byelaws and permit byelaws may affect netting, potting, and certain methods; while rod-and-line is typically unaffected, always review Cornwall IFCA notices for Veryan Bay
- Protected sites: Parts of the south Cornwall coast fall within designated conservation areas; avoid disturbing features and be cautious with bait collection
- Beach management: In lifeguarded season, do not fish within any flagged bathing zones; obey any estate signage regarding fires, BBQs, and overnight parking
- Catch care: Practice selective harvest and release wrasse from the rocks, which are slow-growing and valuable to local reef ecology
