Portscatho Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Portscatho Fishing Map

Small south-facing harbour on the Roseland Peninsula with a short breakwater and adjacent rock ledges looking over Gerrans Bay. Mixed rough ground with kelp and boulders close in and patches of sand further out. Productive in late spring through autumn for mackerel, scad, garfish and wrasse; pollack and bass around the rough ground at dusk; mullet often patrol inside the harbour. After dark, expect pouting/poor cod and the odd conger. Best on the flood into dusk or first light with clear, settled seas. Access is straightforward via village lanes and harbour steps, but the stones and weed can be very slippery and a southerly swell can surge across the wall.

Ratings

⭐ 7.3/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Portscatho

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work soft plastics or surface lures along headlands at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, or fish peeler crab/sandeel into surf when there’s a lively sea.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Float or light ledger crab/rag into kelp gullies from the rocks; best mid–late flood in summer. Use strong gear and lift steadily to avoid snags.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Cast metal jigs or 4–6 inch paddletails parallel to rock lines at first/last light; slow, deep retrieve on the flood.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings from harbour/points; metals or sabikis. Let jigs sink then fast retrieve through the shoals.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark late summer/autumn; small sabikis or Isome from the harbour, slow jig near bottom on the flood. A clip-on light helps.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float small fish strip or sandeel just under the surface over weed lines on the flood; bright, calm summer days are best.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Harbour in calm, clear water; trickle in bread mash, then present bread flake on size 8–10 hooks at high water with light line.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Short casts with ragworm or small crab under a float into rough, weedy ground; steady action over the flooding tide.
🐟 Black Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months; float prawn or squid over rough ground at range. Clear water and a gentle tide help; use small sharp hooks.
🐟 Conger Eel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Night sessions from the rocks; large mackerel/squid baits on heavy mono to rough ground. Try first of the flood or last of the ebb; expect snags.

Portscatho Fishing

Summary

Portscatho sits on the Roseland Peninsula overlooking sheltered Gerrans Bay, with a quaint working harbour, a small beach, and rocky headlands either side. It’s a versatile shore mark that offers clean sand for flatfish and rays, kelpy rock ledges for wrasse and pollack, and seasonal surface sport with mackerel, garfish and bass.

Location and Access

Portscatho is easy to reach on the Roseland via the A3078, with a short lane down into the village and harbour. Access options range from the harbour slip and beach to more rugged rock ledges north and south of the village.

Seasons

A sheltered, east-facing bay with mixed ground means a good spread of species through the year. Expect clean-ground fish over the sand and rough-ground specialists on the ledges.

Methods

You can tailor tactics to the ground: clean-sand tactics on the beach and bay, rough-ground gear for the ledges, and light float or lure fishing around the harbour.

Tides and Conditions

Portscatho faces generally east-southeast, giving shelter from prevailing south-westerlies but exposure to easterly blows. Tides influence reach over the sand and access to wrasse ground.

Safety

It’s a generally friendly venue, but harbour edges, weeded boulders and surges demand care. Treat it as a working harbour and give way to boats and swimmers.

Facilities

Portscatho has basic but handy amenities right by the water, with more options a short drive away. Expect village-scale convenience rather than full-on resort facilities.

Tips

Local patterns reward a mobile, light-touch approach. Think small adjustments in tide height and clarity rather than big moves.

Regulations

You are responsible for complying with national and local rules. Regulations change—always check the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Cornwall IFCA before you go.