Summary
Portreath Harbour Breakwater sits on Cornwall’s exposed north coast and offers quick access to mixed ground, reef edges and the harbour mouth. It’s a classic summer mackerel and gar spot, with autumn bass and pollack, and night bites for pouting and conger. Fish it for the views and the convenience—but treat swell and overtopping with real respect.
Location and Access
This mark is in the village of Portreath, a few minutes’ walk from the beach car park and harbour frontage. Access is straightforward in calm weather, but the breakwater surface is uneven and can be closed after storms for repairs or during hazardous seas.
- Drive into Portreath on the B3301; beach/harbour car parks are signposted near the seafront (use village postcode around TR16 4NN for sat nav).
- It’s a short, level stroll to the harbour, then onto the breakwater via the main walkway; expect rough concrete, granite blocks, trip hazards and no railings.
- Parking is pay-and-display in season; arrive early in summer as spaces go fast with beachgoers.
- Access may be temporarily restricted by the parish/council in heavy weather or after storm damage—obey any closures and signage.
Seasons
A mixed-ground venue with seasonal variety. Summer brings shoals and surface action; shoulder seasons reward patient lure or bottom fishing.
- Spring (Apr–May): pollack, ballan wrasse, early bass, thick-lipped mullet in/near the harbour on calm days.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel) at dusk, bass, wrasse, pollack; pout and dogfish after dark; mullet inside/near the inner harbour.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass peak in lively seas as it settles, pollack, late mackerel and scad; conger after dark; the odd squid on clear, still nights.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): pollack, pouting, whiting on calmer spells, rockling and strap conger; the occasional flattie from sand pockets toward the beach side.
- Year-round visitors: seals may patrol the mouth and can shut the fishing down temporarily.
Methods
Both mobile lure work and static bottom tactics score here. Adjust to the conditions and the amount of weed and run across the harbour mouth.
- Lure fishing: 20–40 g metals, slim spoons and small jigs for mackerel/scad; 10–20 g soft plastics (weedless sand eel styles) and diving minnows for pollack/bass along the wall, reef edges and the back-eddy of the harbour mouth.
- Float fishing: set 8–12 ft to start; baits include mackerel strip, sandeel, prawn or ragworm for mackerel, gar, pollack and wrasse. Clear or cigar floats drift well across the mouth on the flood.
- Feathering: small sabikis (size 4–6) with a 2–3 oz lead; sink-and-draw near the surface when fish are showing. Avoid in crowds and keep lines high and safe.
- Bottom fishing: pulley or pulley-dropper with a weak-link/rotten-bottom to cope with snags; 4–5 oz grip leads. Baits: peeler crab (wrasse/bass), sandeel (bass/dogs), rag/lug (general), squid or mackerel chunk (pout/conger).
- Conger after dark: stepped-up gear, abrasion-resistant leader, 4/0–6/0 hooks with mackerel flapper or large squid. Use a drop-net for landing.
- Mullet (when and where permitted/safe): bread flake or crust under a light float near calm inner water; stealth and fine tackle are key.
Tides and Conditions
Tide run and swell dictate everything at Portreath. Aim for movement without mayhem, and time your sessions around the flood and low-light windows.
- Best tide: flooding tide, especially the last two hours into high water for bass, pollack and mackerel; neaps are easier to manage than big springs.
- Time of day: dawn and dusk excel; after-dark brings scad, pout and conger.
- Sea state: small swell or a gentle roll is ideal; avoid any sizable W/SW/NW groundswell—overtopping is common. After a blow, as colour drops out, bass activity often spikes.
- Wind: offshore or light easterly/NE calms the surface; strong onshore winds push weed and make it dangerous.
- Water clarity: clear water for mackerel/gar; a bit of colour benefits bass. Expect heavy kelp/weed around springs.
Safety
This is an exposed Atlantic-facing wall with no railings—treat it like a rock mark. If there’s any doubt about swell or overtopping, do not go out on the breakwater.
- Overtopping risk: rogue waves can and do wash the wall—stay well back from the edge, never turn your back on the sea.
- Footing: uneven concrete and algae-covered granite are very slippery; wear grippy boots/cleats. Trip hazards along the entire length.
- Lifejacket: a personal floatation device is strongly recommended, especially when fishing near the head or at night.
- Landing fish: use a drop-net; don’t handline heavy fish up the wall.
- Harbour operations: give absolute priority to boats, gig club activities and ladders; keep lines clear of the fairway and avoid casting across the entrance when craft are moving.
- Bathing zone: in season, do not fish into the flagged bathing area by the beach; follow lifeguard directions.
- Accessibility: short approach from the car park, but the surface and steps make it unsuitable for wheelchairs, buggies or those with limited mobility.
- Closures: the council may close the pier during storms or repairs—respect all barriers and signage.
Facilities
Everything you need is close by thanks to the beach village setting. Expect seasonal opening times and busy summer days.
- Parking: pay-and-display car parks by the beach/harbour; limited street parking elsewhere.
- Toilets: public conveniences by the beach car park (seasonal hours).
- Food and drink: cafés, takeaway and a pub on/near the seafront; ice cream and coffee kiosks in summer.
- Tackle/bait: limited in the village—bring bait. Full-service tackle shops are in Redruth/Camborne/Hayle.
- Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguarded beach in season; heed their flagged zones.
- Mobile signal: generally good across the main networks on the seafront.
Tips
A few small tweaks make a big difference at Portreath. Work with the flow, keep mobile, and be ready to change depth and presentation.
- Fish the back-eddy: cast uptide of the harbour mouth and let lures or floats swing through the seam—prime for bass and pollack.
- Depth matters: start floats at 10–12 ft and adjust; on bright days, drop deeper for pollack.
- Keep it moving: cover water with small metals when mackerel aren’t showing; switch to soft plastics tight to structure at dusk.
- Rotten-bottom: a short weak-link saves leads in the rough; pop-up beads can help lift baits above kelp.
- Night extras: a small headlamp can draw scad; try tiny sabikis or Isome-style worms under a float.
- Quiet times: early mornings beat the beach crowds and make feathering safer and more productive.
- Wildlife: seals often cruise the mouth—take a break and resume once they move off.
- Storm bounce: 24–48 hours after a strong W/SW blow, as the sea settles and keeps a tea-stain colour, is classic bass timing.
Regulations
Normal UK and Cornwall inshore rules apply, plus harbour byelaws and seasonal beach management. Always check the latest notices on site and official sources before fishing.
- Harbour byelaws: obey any signs restricting fishing from specific walls or near ladders/working areas; give way to all vessel movements and rescue operations.
- Bathing zones: do not fish into the RNLI-flagged bathing area during lifeguard hours.
- Minimum sizes and bag limits: adhere to current UK/Cornwall IFCA recreational limits (e.g., bass has seasonal restrictions and a minimum size; rules change—check before you go).
- Protected species: release spurdog and tope; handle wrasse and mullet with care—local anglers often practice catch-and-release for wrasse from rough ground marks.
- No litter or discarded line/hooks on the wall; take all waste home. Do not block steps, ladders or slipways.
- Night fishing etiquette: keep noise and lighting to a minimum near homes; use headlamps responsibly.
- If the council has closed the pier for safety or works, do not enter—breaching closures can incur penalties and void insurance.
