Summary
Portnadler Bay is a beautiful, tucked‑away cove just west of Looe on Cornwall’s south coast, offering a blend of clean sand and kelpy rock arms. It’s a classic mixed‑ground mark that rewards thoughtful tide timing with bass in the surf, wrasse off the rocks, and the chance of rays after dark. The setting is quiet, the walk keeps crowds down, and the fishing can be superb when the sea has the right shape.
Location and Access
Reaching Portnadler Bay involves a scenic stretch of the South West Coast Path and a steep descent to the beach. Plan footwear, pack light, and allow extra time in the dark or wet conditions.
- Park at Hannafore, West Looe (PL13 area) along Marine Drive; then follow the coast path west for roughly 25–35 minutes to the signed descent into the bay.
- Alternatively, use the National Trust Hendersick car park (near Keveral) and walk east on the coast path about 15–25 minutes; look for the waymarked path down.
- Final access is via steep earth steps/paths that can be muddy and slippery after rain; not suitable for trolleys or limited mobility.
- Terrain is a crescent of clean to slightly shingly sand with rocky/kelpy points at both ends; rock ledges at either arm give access to mixed/rough ground.
Seasons
This is mixed ground: think surf species over sand and reef dwellers on the points. Seasonality matters, with summer diversity and winter staples.
- Spring (Mar–May): bass, pollack (from the rocks), wrasse (from late spring), garfish (late spring), occasional plaice/dab, schoolie bass on small tides.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (surf and lures), ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel (dawn/dusk), scad at night, gurnard, small-eye ray possible after dark, dogfish.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bassing (lures and surf), wrasse to first frosts, pollack, scad, mackerel tailing off, increased chance of rays on settled evenings, huss from rough ground at night.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting on bigger tides at night, dogfish, pouting, the odd codling (rare), conger from the rock arms after dark; bass generally catch-and-release only per regulations.
Methods
Match your approach to the ground in front of you: surf tactics on the sand, wrasse and pollack work on the rocks, and lures shine at low light.
- Surf/bottom over sand: 12–13 ft beachcaster or 9–11 ft bass rod; running ledger or pulley rigs with 3/0–4/0 hooks. Baits: fresh peeler crab (prime), sandeel, squid strips, lug/razor for flatties/gurnard. Fish the flooding tide into dusk.
- Rays/huss after dark: pulley pennel with 50–60 lb snoods; sandeel or bluey/squid cocktails for small-eye ray; big oily baits for huss. Keep leads streamlined to combat cross-drift.
- Lure fishing: shallow divers, topwaters, and weedless soft plastics (Texas/weightless paddletails) for bass over the gutters and reef edges; small metals and slim softies for mackerel/scad/pollack at dawn/dusk.
- Float fishing from the rock arms: ragworm, prawn, or hardback crab tight to kelp for wrasse; adjust depth frequently; use abrasion-resistant leaders.
- Scratch tactics: two-hook clip-down or flappers with size 2–1 hooks and worm/bait slivers to locate fish when it’s quiet.
Tides and Conditions
This bay fishes to a shape. Think flooding water, a modest rolling sea for bass, and clarity that’s green rather than gin-clear.
- Tide states: mid-flood to high water is prime over the beach; first of the ebb can hold fish. Wrasse and pollack prefer the flood along the rock edges.
- Sea state: a 1–3 ft SW/SW‑S surf is ideal for bass; too big and it becomes unsafe and weed-choked. Neaps help with presentation around the kelp for wrasse/lures.
- Time of day: dawn and dusk lift all methods; summer nights are best for scad, rays, huss, and better bass on baits.
- Wind/clarity: onshore SW pushes surf and colour; gentle easterlies give clear water for wrasse/pollack but can make bass spooky—scale down and go natural.
- Seasonality: late spring to late autumn is the quality window; winter can still give whiting, dogfish, and occasional surprises on night tides.
Safety
This is a serious walk-in beach with steep access and rock ledges that demand caution. Treat swell, weeded rocks, and the rising tide with respect.
- Steep, sometimes muddy descent; use grippy footwear and keep hands free. A headtorch and spare light are essential after dark.
- Rock points are wave-washed and weed-slick—wear a PFD if venturing onto ledges and never turn your back on the sea.
- Risk of cut-off: at higher tides the beach narrows and access around the points can be blocked; know your exit and the tide times.
- Swell wraps into the bay on strong SW; give the rock arms a wide berth in heavy seas. Avoid lone fishing in poor conditions.
- Mobile signal is variable in the cove; better on higher path sections. No lighting, no lifeguards, and limited shelter.
- If unsure, fish the top of the beach from firm sand rather than committing to exposed ledges.
Facilities
Portnadler is a natural cove with no on-site amenities—plan as if you’re hiking.
- No toilets, taps, bins, or lighting at the mark; pack out all waste.
- Nearest facilities, cafés, and pubs are at Hannafore/West Looe; full services and supermarkets in Looe town.
- Several tackle shops operate in Looe; stock up before the walk.
- Parking at Hannafore (PL13 area) or NT Hendersick; both are popular in summer—arrive early.
- Phone signal: usually fair on the path, patchy down on the sand and around the rock arms.
Tips
Little changes make a big difference here—read the beach and work with the water’s shape.
- Bass lanes: look for parallel gutters and seams where the flood scours through the sand; cast diagonally across the flow and retrieve slowly.
- Weedless is king: kelp fringes eat tackle—use weedless soft plastics and abrasion-resistant leaders when probing the edges.
- Crab rules: in spring/early summer, fresh peelers outfished everything for bass and wrasse; carry elastic and keep baits compact.
- Night notes: clip your leader knot above the tip ring to avoid weed jams on retrieve; luminous tip tape beats bulky tip lights in crosswind.
- Mackerel/scad: tiny metals or size 6–8 Sabikis worked gently will outfish heavy jigs on calm dusk tides.
- After a blow: give it 24–48 hours for the sea to drop to a nice, green push—prime time for surf bassing.
- Respect the walk: travel light with a rucksack, headtorch, compact tripod, and water; it’s a long way back for forgotten kit.
Regulations
Rules change—always check current notices and official sources before you go. Portnadler Bay sits within the Looe & Whitsand Bay Marine Conservation Zone, where recreational rod angling is permitted but good environmental practice is expected.
- European seabass (England, 2024 guidance): minimum size 42 cm; recreational retention typically limited to two fish per angler per day during the open retention period, with catch‑and‑release only outside that window. Check the latest MMO/UK Gov update for the current year before retaining bass.
- Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS): common inshore species (e.g., cod, pollack, rays) have size limits—consult the Cornwall IFCA size chart and release undersized fish alive.
- No set bag limits for most species locally, but keep only what you need and handle wrasse carefully—they’re slow-growing and vital to reef health.
- Bait collection: follow local byelaws and access rules; avoid damaging seagrass or rockpool communities within the MCZ.
- Protected species: if you accidentally catch a shad, tope (if prohibited to retain), or any protected species, release immediately.
- Access and land ownership: the beach and coast path are public right-of-way, but respect signage, private land boundaries, and any temporary cliff/path closures.
- Always verify up-to-date regulations via Cornwall IFCA and the Marine Management Organisation before your session.
