Porthtowan Beach Fishing

Summary

Porthtowan Beach sits on Cornwall’s exposed north coast between St Agnes and Portreath, a broad sandy bay framed by rugged cliffs and rock ledges. It’s a classic Atlantic surf venue that rewards mobile, water-reading anglers with bass, the odd ray, gurnards and flatfish. Fish it for the shifting gutters and stream outflow in summer, then return in autumn nights when the bass and whiting switch on.

Location and Access

Set in the village of Porthtowan, the beach is easy to reach and has parking right behind the sand. Access to the main mark is simple, while the rocky ends are reached along the beach at lower states of tide.

• Drive from the A30 via Chiverton Cross, following signs for Porthtowan; the beachfront pay-and-display car park sits at the end of Beach Road.
• Flat, short walk to the sand; firm when damp but can be soft and steeply shelved near the swash line.
• Rock ledges at both the northern and southern ends are accessible around mid-to-low tide via the beach; beware of tidal cut-off.
• Public transport: regular bus services connect the village with Redruth and Truro; stops are a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
• Terrain: clean sand with shifting bars and gutters; rougher, kelpy fringes and platforms at either end.

Seasons

This is a surf-dominated beach with mixed potential through the year. Expect bass as the headline species with seasonal visitors and winter bits making up numbers.

• Spring (Apr–Jun):
  • Bass (schoolies early, better fish after blows)
  • Small-eyed ray on settled nights
  • Turbot and the odd plaice/brill on sandeel
  • Wrasse and pollack from the rocks
• Summer (Jul–Aug):
  • Bass (surface-feeding at dawn/dusk in light surf)
  • Mackerel and garfish from rock ends; scad after dark
  • Gurnards, dragonets; occasional turbot/brill
  • Dogfish; occasional smoothhound on peeler crab
  • Thick-lipped mullet around the stream mouth
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass period (including larger fish into darkness)
  • Small-eyed ray in settled seas
  • Whiting arrive on cooler nights; pouting
  • Late mackerel/scad runs, pollack from rocks
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting and dogfish mainstays
  • Occasional codling after big north-westerlies
  • Pouting; pollack from rock ends in calmer spells
  • Flounder possible near the stream in very settled conditions

Methods

Mobile surf tactics and reading the water are key. Fish the forming gutters and seams, and switch between bait and lures depending on clarity and swell.

• Surf bait tactics:
  • Bass/ray: pulley or pulley-pennel with 3/0–4/0 hooks; 4–6 oz gripper leads to hold in the pull.
  • General scratching: 2-hook clipped or flapper rigs, size 1–2 hooks for gurnard, whiting, dab.
  • Flatfish/turbot: long snood clipped rigs with smallish Aberdeen patterns and sandeel or strips.
• Lures:
  • Bass: shallow divers, surface walkers and 4–6 inch soft plastics on 10–30 g heads when water is clear and surf is manageable.
  • Metals and slim jigs from the rock ends for mackerel/scad; weedless soft plastics for pollack in kelp.
• Recommended baits:
  • Fresh peeler crab (spring/early summer), lugworm and ragworm, sandeel (whole or section), mackerel/squid cocktail for ray, razor clam after a blow.
  • Bread flake and small hooks for mullet at the stream mouth on calm evenings.
• Timing:
  • Dawn and dusk changes are prime for lure fishing and bass on baits.
  • Darkness improves catches of bass, ray, whiting and dogfish; keep baits fresh and well-presented.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and surf shape this mark. Aim to fish moving water across the gutters with a safe, fishable swell.

• Tide states:
  • Flooding tide is often best; last two hours of the flood into high water can be excellent.
  • First hour or two of the ebb also fishes well as water drains off the bars.
• Sea conditions:
  • Bass: a forming or easing 2–4 ft westerly/north-westerly swell with some colour.
  • Rays/flatfish: quieter, settled seas (particularly neaps) and night tides.
  • Lure fishing: smaller surf, decent clarity and a light onshore or cross breeze.
• Seasonality:
  • Late spring through autumn is the prime window for bass and variety.
  • After a storm as the sea drops and clears is a classic bass trigger.
• Time of day:
  • Dawn/dusk and after dark markedly improve results on pressured summer days.

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic surf beach with powerful rips and fast-changing features. Treat the rock ends and cliff bases with caution and always plan around the tide.

• Strong surf and rip currents; avoid wading, especially on a building swell or steep shore dump.
• Rock ends are cut off by the tide; only access with a clear exit plan and retreat well before the flood.
• Unstable cliffs and mining remnants in the area—keep clear of cliff bases and do not climb.
• Weever fish in summer; wear footwear when paddling or launching baits.
• RNLI lifeguards operate seasonally; do not fish within the red/yellow flagged bathing zone when patrols are on.
• Night sessions: carry a headtorch, spare light, and fish with a buddy where possible; a modern lifejacket is strongly recommended on any rock work.
• Mobility: the main beach approach is short and level from the car park, but soft sand and shore dump can make access challenging for some.

Facilities

Porthtowan has good amenities right behind the beach, making long sessions straightforward. Tackle supplies are a short drive away.

• Parking: large pay-and-display car park by the sand; additional village parking in peak season.
• Toilets: public toilets adjacent to the beachfront.
• Food and drink: cafés, a beach bar, and seasonal kiosks on or near the promenade.
• Lifeguards: RNLI patrols during the main holiday season (check local boards for dates/times).
• Tackle/bait: angling shops in Redruth/Camborne (10–20 minutes by car) for fresh worm, sandeel and hardware.
• Phone signal: generally good on major networks, but can dip close to the cliffs.

Tips

Reading the beach is everything here. Arrive early, study the bars and gutters at lower water, and position yourself to intersect moving fish.

• Target the stream outflow where coloured freshwater meets clearer surf—bass often patrol these seams.
• Use just enough lead to hold bottom; if the lead is trundling, step up grip wires or adjust your angle.
• After a blow, try big, fresh crab or fish baits on the first settled evening as the sea drops.
• If weed is heavy on the main beach, hop to a rock end and switch to lures or fish baits in the lee.
• Keep mobile: make a cast or two into each likely gutter, then move; don’t sit it out in featureless water.
• In clear, small surf, scale down for turbot with long snoods and sandeel strips worked across the banks.
• Summer evenings can see mullet sipping at the stream—carry a light float rod and bread for a bonus fish.
• Winter whiting respond to small, luminous attractors and neat worm/mackerel cocktails on size 2 hooks.

Regulations

Rules are a mix of national, IFCA and local beach management; always check onsite signage and official sources before you fish.

• Bathing zones: when RNLI red/yellow flags are up, do not fish within the flagged swimming/surfing areas; local beach management may restrict angling during peak daylight hours—follow posted notices.
• Bass (recreational): subject to seasonal bag limits and a 42 cm minimum size; check current MMO/DEFRA guidance before retaining fish.
• Cornwall IFCA: minimum sizes and byelaws apply to many species and to bait collection; take only what you need and avoid removing undersized shellfish.
• Marine Conservation Zone: the coastline falls within the Godrevy to St Agnes MCZ; shore angling is permitted, but do not damage sensitive habitats or disturb intertidal life when collecting bait.
• Litter and fish waste: use bins provided; do not dispose of line or lead on the beach.
• Night fishing is generally allowed; be respectful of residents and other beach users, and keep noise/light to a minimum.