Where’s The Fish? Logo for Where's The Fish?
Cornwall

Porthtowan Beach

6.5 · Beach · Cornwall

A broad, exposed Atlantic surf beach with rocky headlands at both ends. Best known for surf‑bass in lively water and reliable after-dark fishing over sand. In summer the rocks produce wrasse and pollack; mackerel and scad show on calmer evenings. Winter brings whiting and the odd flatfish. Fish the flooding tide into dusk or the first of the ebb; moderate surf and a churned edge often outfish flat, clear conditions. Access is straightforward via the village car park, but be cautious of rips, heavy swell, and slippery rocks.

Should you fish Porthtowan Beach?

60 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Mackerel and Bass

Fair conditions. Best around 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Mackerel and Bass.

NW 3 mph Rain 24% High tide 10:54

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Porthtowan Beach — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

Now

Tide curve will appear once tide data is available.

All windows will appear once the forecast is loaded.

Premium forecast

Unlock exact best windows, tactics and backup options for this mark.

Trip planner

Find the best time to fish Porthtowan Beach

Choose when you're free and what you want to catch. We'll show the best tide, weather window and method for this mark.

Premium unlocks exact windows, tactics and alerts.

Premium Mark Insight

Locked

Porthtowan is a mobile surf-beach mark where the best results usually come from reading the gutters, seams and bar edges rather than sitting in one spot. The strongest plan is to fish the flooding tide into dusk or the first of the ebb, with bass in coloured moderate surf, rays and dogfish on calmer summer nights, and whiting through winter evenings over clean sand.

  • Know when to fish the surf gutters instead of the rock ends
  • Time the flood and first ebb for Porthtowan’s strongest windows
  • Match bass, ray, whiting and turbot tactics to the exact sea state
  • Use the stream outflow and bar edges instead of guessing
  • Know when swell, weed or tide cut-off make the mark a poor choice
  • Get a clear backup plan before abandoning the beach

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Porthtowan 0.6 mi Cambrose 1.5 mi Mount Hawke 1.5 mi St Agnes 2.4 mi Portreath 2.9 mi

Explore nearby towns: Porthtowan · Cambrose · Mount Hawke · St Agnes · Portreath

Zoom and pan to explore access points and nearby marks.

Jump to guide

Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.5 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 8/10

Bass 9/10
Tip: Surf bass on a flooding tide; fish the gutters at dawn/dusk with sandeel, lug or surface/sub-surface lures in a lively sea.
Whiting 7/10
Tip: Winter evenings over clean sand; long casts with lug or squid strips on 2–3 hook flappers into the surf.
Small-eyed Ray 7/10
Tip: Calm summer nights; sandeel or small fish baits on pulley rigs, cast to outer bars and gutters on the flood.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Common after dark on clean sand; fish baits (sandeel/mackerel) on simple paternoster. Keep lines tight in the surf.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn in clear, calm seas; spin metals or use feathers from the beach or rocky ends at dusk.
Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
Tip: Summer; tiny hooks with rag/maddies or fish slivers in surf gutters on light gear. Best on a small surf and flooding tide.
Pollack 5/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or metals from the rocky ends at dusk on the flood; keep lures high to avoid kelp.
Turbot 5/10
Tip: Spring–autumn; daylight surf with rolling sandeel or half-fillet on long traces. Target slacks and bar edges.
Plaice 4/10
Tip: Spring; long casts over clean sand with beads/spinners and ragworm or razor cocktails on gentle surf days.
Garfish 4/10
Tip: Late summer, clear water; float-fish thin mackerel strip or spin small metals near the headlands at midwater.

Local knowledge

Porthtowan Beach fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.