Portreath Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Portreath Beach Fishing Map

An exposed north-coast surf beach backed by a small harbour and cliffs. Best fished on the flood into dusk and after dark when the surf eases, working the gutters and channels—especially toward the harbour side and around the stream outflow. Produces surf bass in lively water, dogfish and rays on calmer nights, and winter whiting; summer can see mackerel and garfish within casting range. Strong rips and heavy swell are common—pick settled windows and avoid flagged bathing areas in season.

Ratings

⭐ 6.6/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Portreath Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach. Use sandeel, peeler or shallow lures at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work gutters and along the harbour wall after a blow.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals. Feather or cast small metals from the harbour wall or points; best on the flood in clear water, evenings.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Evenings into dark around harbour wall/rocky points; 20-40g metals or soft plastics; fish tight to kelp on a flooding tide.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night on clean sand; small fish or squid baits on 2-hook flappers; cast just beyond the first breaker on neaps.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer-autumn after dark off the harbour; small sabikis or float with mackerel strip, steady retrieve in tide.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Daytime from rocks at either end; fish crab or ragworm close in; rising tide, light swell; use strong gear to keep them out of kelp.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings from the beach; 2-3 hook flappers with lug or squid slivers; fish the first of the flood in darkness.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer nights on settled seas; sandeel on pulley rigs cast to sandbanks and gutters; best 2-3 hours up to high.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring to autumn in clear, calm seas; float a sliver of mackerel or cast small spoons from the pier on the flood.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Harbour/inner beach on calm, clear days; bread or small rag under a float; prebait with mashed bread; best around high water.

Portreath Beach Fishing

Summary

Portreath Beach is a classic north Cornwall surf strand tucked beside a small harbour between St Agnes and Hayle. It’s a versatile shore mark that can produce bass, small‑eyed rays and summer baitfish in the right surf, with comfortable access and plenty of amenities on the promenade. Fish it at dawn, dusk or after dark to avoid daytime swimmers and surfers in season.

Location and Access

Set on Cornwall’s exposed north coast, Portreath is straightforward to reach from the A30 via Redruth on the B3300. Access is easy, with parking right behind the beach and flat walks to the sand. In peak season the front gets busy, so plan your sessions for quiet hours.

Seasons

This is an all‑round surf mark with seasonal highlights. Expect bass through the warmer months, rays in settled summer surfs, and winter whiting after dark. Oddities like turbot turn up for anglers who keep baits in the gutters.

Methods

Standard surf tactics shine here, with clipped rigs to reach outer bars when needed and lighter approaches for bass in the white water. Lures score when the water clears and the swell drops.

Tides and Conditions

Portreath responds to a building or settled swell with movement over the bars. Aim to fish flooding water into high, or the first of the ebb, aligning with low‑light periods.

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic beach with shifting sandbars, rips and a powerful shore dump at high water. In season, it’s RNLI‑lifeguarded for swimmers and surfers—fish well clear of flagged areas.

Facilities

Portreath is well‑served for a small seaside village, with everything you need within a short walk of the beach.

Tips

Small adjustments make big differences here—fish the features you can see. Watch the surf for gutters, bars and rips, then place your bait on the edges.

Regulations

There are no blanket bans on angling from Portreath Beach, but you must comply with seasonal lifeguard zones and national/IFCA rules. Always check the latest notices at the beach and official sources before you fish.