Porthmeor Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Porthmeor Beach Fishing Map

North-facing Atlantic surf beach in St Ives with clean sand and rocky headlands at both ends (The Island to the east, Clodgy/Man’s Head to the west). Bass patrol the surf gutters and rips; summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad close in, while the rocks at either end hold wrasse and pollack. Nights can produce dogfish and winter whiting; after swells settle, dab, plaice and the odd gurnard show over the clean ground. Access is easy from town and nearby car parks, but expect busy bathing/surf zones in summer—fish early/late or outside peak season. Hazards include powerful swell, shifting rips, slippery weeded rocks and lesser weever spines in the shallows.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Porthmeor Beach

🐟 Bass 9/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach; dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Lures (poppers/soft plastics) or sandeel/peeler in the breakers. Light swell and coloured water help; keep mobile, fish the rips and gutters.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night over clean sand; rag, squid or sandeel on 2-hook flappers. Best mid to high tide; use grip leads in surf. Very common in summer, year-round in settled seas.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: From rocky ends (The Island/Clodgy) on a flooding tide at dusk. Work weedless soft plastics or metals tight to kelp edges; keep lures deep.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; small mackerel or worm strips on size 2 flappers cast just beyond the first breakers. Best on the flood; expect lots of pins.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn nights in calm surf; sandeel on a pulley pennel. Target sandy gutters at mid to last of flood and first of ebb. Avoid heavy weed.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings; small metals or feather rigs from the rocky ends or into deeper gutters on a rising tide. Clear water helps.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Fish rocky ends into kelp with crab or rag on a running ledger. Daytime on the flood; rough ground—use strong gear and a rotten-bottom.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm summer surf; tiny hooks with rag/maddies or isome, light leads. Work side gutters at first light on the flood; stealth is key.
🐟 Dab 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter–spring in settled seas; lug or rag on small hooks 30–60 m over clean sand. Best last of the flood and first of the ebb.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float-fish small sandeel/strip or tiny spoons around rocky points on mid to high tide. Clear water and gentle swell best.

Porthmeor Beach Fishing

Summary

Porthmeor Beach is St Ives’ iconic north-facing surf strand, backed by the Tate and flanked by rocky headlands. It’s a classic Cornish beach mark that produces bass in the surf, summer turbot and occasional rays when the sea settles. Fish it at quiet times and you’ll find room to work the bars, rips and gutters that shift with each swell.

Location and Access

Set on the Atlantic side of St Ives, Porthmeor is easy to reach on foot from the town and has multiple access points with steps and ramps. Parking in St Ives is limited in peak season, so plan ahead or use park-and-ride options.

Seasons

This is a mixed summer surf and shoulder-season venue with classic north-coast species. Expect clean-ground fish on the open sand and wrasse/pollack around the flanking rocks.

Methods

Match your approach to the state of the surf: mobile lure work in fizzing white water for bass, static baits in the gutters for flatfish and rays, and float/spinning from the rocky ends in calm spells.

Tides and Conditions

Porthmeor changes character with banks and swell; success comes from reading the water and timing around pressure changes. Bass love fizz and movement; rays and turbot prefer a calmer, settled sea.

Safety

This is a lifeguarded surf beach in season, with strong rips, shifting bars and occasional heavy sets. Rock platforms at either end are slippery and can be wave-washed even on modest swells.

Facilities

Being in the heart of St Ives, facilities are excellent by beach-fishing standards. You can fish, grab a coffee, and be back on your mark within minutes.

Tips

Local anglers treat Porthmeor like three different marks: the open sand, the eastern rocks under The Island, and the western reefs towards Man’s Head—each fishes differently day to day.

Regulations

Rules can change, so always check current guidance from Cornwall IFCA and the UK Government/MMO before you go. Respect lifeguard directions and beach management rules for the safety of water users.