Porthoustock Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Porthoustock Fishing Map

Steep shingle cove on the east side of the Lizard with rocky headlands and quick access to deep, mixed ground overlooking the Manacles reef. Most anglers fish from the rock platforms either side of the beach for pollack and wrasse; the beach itself sees mackerel and garfish in summer and scad after dark. Best results are typically on a flooding tide through dusk into night, especially in clear water. Expect a snaggy bottom and kelp—use strong leaders and rotten‑bottom links. It’s a working cove with quarry/dive boat traffic, and swell and tidal pull can be significant on springs, so pick settled conditions and keep well back in a sea. Short walk from roadside parking makes access easy, but footing on the boulders can be awkward.

Ratings

⭐ 7.1/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Porthoustock

🐟 Pollack 9/10
🎯 Tip: Work metal jigs or soft plastics at dawn/dusk along the kelp-lined rocks and quarry wall on a flooding tide. Deep water close in; keep lures mid-depth to avoid kelp.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm dropped into kelp gullies from the rock edges; best mid-flood to high on a gentle sea. Use strong gear and a rotten-bottom.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Surface or soft lures in white water around the points on the flood; after an onshore blow fish peeler or sandeel from the shingle at dusk into mixed ground.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; feather or cast small metals from the beach or slip on an evening flood in clear water. Float a strip for fewer tangles and better sport.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Mixed rough ground straight off; small mackerel or squid strips on 2-hook flappers at night on the flood. Keep baits just off the kelp.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer/autumn nights; tiny metals or sabikis under a float by the wall on the flood. A head torch or pier light draws them in.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark from the wall or rock ledges; big fish baits on strong traces into rough ground from dusk through the flood. Keep the rod high and bully fish clear.
🐟 Bull Huss 5/10
🎯 Tip: Large fish or squid baits dropped into rough patches at night from rock ledges; target neap tides, last of ebb into first of flood.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with rag or prawn under a float tight to kelp and boulders; best mid-flood to high in calm, clear seas.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish sandeel or fish strips over clean tongues beside rough ground on a bright, flooding tide. Use long traces and small hooks.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 4/10
🎯 Tip: Micro hooks with worm or prawn lowered into crevices at low water around the rocks. Short drops and tiny baits.
🐟 Long-spined Sea Scorpion 4/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny strips on size 12–16 hooks, fished static in kelp pockets and rockpools at low to mid tide. Move and cover ground.

Porthoustock Fishing

Summary

Porthoustock is a small, east-facing cove on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula, looking out towards Falmouth Bay and the notorious Manacles reef. It’s a mixed-ground mark with shingle, rock and kelp, offering year-round options from easy beach fishing to more adventurous rock work. Sheltered from many south-westerlies, it rewards thoughtful tactics with bass, wrasse, pollack, rays and winter whiting.

Location and Access

Set on the east side of the Lizard near St Keverne, Porthoustock is straightforward to reach and has near-to-rod parking. The terrain is mostly firm shingle with rocky margins at either end of the cove.

Seasons

This is genuine mixed ground, so tailor targets to the season and where you set up in the cove. Expect rough-ground species tight to the rocks and occasional clean-ground visitors over the shingle and patches of sand.

Methods

Match your approach to the patchy ground: robust end tackle for the rocks, and cleaner-ground rigs for the shingle. Fish often feed surprisingly close at dusk and after dark.

Tides and Conditions

Porthoustock fishes well around the flood to high and into the first of the ebb, with options in both calm and lightly stirred seas. Water clarity and wind direction are key.

Safety

This is a working cove with boats and divers using the slip, and the nearby Manacles are infamous for swell and tidal movement. Treat the rocks and shingle with respect and fish within your limits.

Facilities

Porthoustock is quiet and functional rather than built-up; plan to be self-sufficient. Most amenities are in nearby St Keverne or further afield.

Tips

Think in lanes: cleaner water and shingle straight out, rougher kelp edges to the sides. Move a few yards to find a snag-light pocket that makes all the difference.

Regulations

Porthoustock lies close to The Manacles Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Shore angling is generally permitted, but you must respect protected habitats and any local signage or private property.