Summary
Portloe is a tiny, dramatic cove on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, backed by steep cliffs and a working crab-and-lobster harbour. It’s a rough-ground, kelpy venue that rewards careful anglers with wrasse, pollack, bass, and summer surface action. Expect clear water in settled weather, bitey ledges, and proper West Country character.
Location and Access
Set in Veryan Bay, Portloe is reached by narrow Cornish lanes and rewards early arrivals with a peaceful, postcard-perfect setting. Access to fishing is from rocky headlands flanking the harbour and short goat-tracks above the cove.
- Drive via Veryan from the A390/B3287; allow time for single-track sections with passing places.
- Use the small village car park signed above the harbour (postcodes around TR2 5RD/TR2 5RA get you close). Spaces are limited in summer; arrive early or late.
- The harbour itself is tiny and actively used—do not block slipways or working areas; some spots may be signed no fishing when boats are operating.
- West and east of the cove offer rough-ground rock marks reached by short, steep paths. Footing is uneven with weeded slabs and boulders.
- Not wheelchair-friendly; steep gradients and steps make it challenging for those with limited mobility.
Seasons
Portloe is classic south-coast rough ground. Expect wrasse and pollack in the kelp, summer pelagics on calm evenings, and nocturnal eel action.
- Spring: Pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early bass on a building sea, occasional garfish late spring; thick-lipped mullet nosing around the harbour.
- Summer: Ballan/corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, bass in low light; mullet in the cove; occasional black bream and triggerfish in warm spells.
- Autumn: Bass often peak, mackerel and scad shoals, garfish to the first chills, squid occasionally on still, clear nights; conger eels from the rougher ledges.
- Winter: Strap conger, pollack in calm clear spells, pout/poor cod; whiting possible on colder nights. Expect generally slower sport.
Methods
Rough ground means tackle losses—fish smart and accept some gear attrition. LRF/HRF and float tactics shine in clear water; baits score for bigger wrasse and conger.
- LRF/HRF: 5–12 g jig heads and weedless Texas rigs with 2–4 inch soft plastics for wrasse/pollack. Work lures tight to kelp edges and drop-offs.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, lug, prawn, or peeler crab for wrasse; mackerel strip/sandeel for gar/mackerel. Set floats to run just above weed.
- Spinning: Slim metals and small surface/sub-surface stickbaits for mackerel/scad/gar; 20–30 g paddletails or leadheads for pollack in low light.
- Bottom fishing: 2-hook flapper or short pulley/pulley dropper with a weak-link/rotten-bottom for snags. Big mackerel/squid cocktails for conger/huss after dark.
- Mullet: Bread flake or small crust baits on size 8–12 hooks, light fluorocarbon and stealth around the slip and weedbeds in calm water.
- Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rods for mobile work; 12–13 ft beach/rock rods with 20–25 lb mainline (or 0.30–0.35 mm + leader) and abrasion-resistant leaders for bottom work.
Tides and Conditions
This south-coast nook likes settled seas and movement on the flood. Water clarity often dictates the approach.
- Best tide: Mid-flood to high and into the first of the ebb, especially around dusk. Neaps are kinder for LRF; springs provide movement for bass/pollack.
- Conditions: Light onshore breeze or a gentle swell for bass; otherwise calm/clear for wrasse, pollack, and sighty float fishing. Big easterly swell can make it unfishable.
- Time of day: Dusk and dawn are prime for bass/pollack and summer pelagics; full dark for conger and scad.
- Seasonality: Peak general sport June–October; winter sessions are shorter and more target-specific (pollack/eel).
Safety
Cliff-backed ground and surgy ledges demand respect. Treat Portloe as a serious rock mark, not a promenade.
- Wear a PFD, carry a headtorch with spare batteries, and fish with a partner where possible.
- Weed-slimed rocks and kelp ledges are extremely slippery—use studded boots/cleats and avoid jumping gaps.
- Watch swell sets; the cove can surge unpredictably on a long-period swell, especially with easterly component.
- Use rotten-bottom links over rough ground and keep lines high to avoid snags and pot warps.
- Harbour etiquette: Keep clear of the slip, winch, and working areas; heed any local signage or requests from fishermen.
- Limited mobile signal in the cove; better reception higher up the village.
- Not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs; steep approaches and uneven terrain throughout.
Facilities
Portloe is small and traditional—plan self-sufficiently. You’ll find food and loos nearby, but no tackle shop on the doorstep.
- Food and drink: The Lugger Hotel and The Ship Inn in the village (seasonal hours—check ahead).
- Toilets: Public conveniences typically available near the car park (seasonal opening may apply).
- Tackle and bait: Head to Truro or St Austell for shops and fresh bait; none in Portloe itself.
- Parking: Small village car park above the harbour; on-street is tight—do not obstruct access for residents or boats.
- Signal: Patchy down in the cove; improves up the hill.
Tips
Subtlety and mobility catch more fish here. Treat every ledge as a new swim and adapt to the water clarity.
- Use fluorocarbon leaders (10–12 lb LRF, 20–30 lb HRF) in clear water to improve takes, especially for mullet and wrasse.
- Peeled prawn or hardback crab is deadly for better wrasse; strike positively and bully fish clear of kelp immediately.
- Work lures tight to the rock line on a flooding tide for pollack; count them down and keep contact—most hits come on the drop.
- Gars and scad stack at dusk in summer; scale down hooks (size 6–8) and keep baits slim. A small float or micro-metal jigging under the rod tip can be electric.
- Expect snags: carry spare leads and use weak-link systems. Short snoods help keep hooks above kelp.
- Respect pot lines and marker buoys—don’t cast across them and give working boats plenty of room.
- For mullet, fish ultra-quietly with bread mash sparingly—commotion in the tiny cove kills the swim.
Regulations
Angling is generally permitted at Portloe, but it’s an active working harbour—follow local signage and keep slips/gear clear. Check national and local rules before your trip.
- Bass: England’s recreational bass rules apply (seasonal retention limits and a minimum size). Check current MMO guidance before retaining any bass.
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: Minimum conservation reference sizes for finfish and shellfish, protection for berried lobsters/crabs, and other local measures apply. Verify the latest sizes and restrictions on the Cornwall IFCA website.
- No removal from pots: It is illegal to tamper with or remove catch from commercial pots.
- Marine protected areas: The wider Roseland coast includes designated sites; recreational angling is typically allowed, but some methods may be restricted—check site-specific guidance.
- General: Only keep what you need, measure fish accurately, and dispose of line/weights responsibly. If in doubt, release.
