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Cornwall

Portscatho

7.3 · Harbour · Cornwall

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.

Should you fish Portscatho?

64 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel.

NW 3 mph Rain 6% High tide 10:47

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Portscatho — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Portscatho is a compact but versatile harbour-and-ledge mark that fishes best when you match the ground: harbour wall and rock edges for summer mackerel, garfish, pollack and wrasse; the inside harbour for mullet in calm clear water; and cleaner sand patches for bait tactics. The strongest all-round window is a flooding tide into dusk or at first light, especially in clear, settled seas. Avoid exposed wall and ledge fishing when easterly weather, swell wrap or southerly surge makes the harbour edge unsafe or weedy.

  • Know when to choose the outer wall over the inner harbour.
  • Target Portscatho’s kelp lines instead of casting blind.
  • Use the flood properly for wrasse, pollack, bass and garfish.
  • Avoid the easterly conditions that turn this mark weedy and unsafe.
  • Have a nearby beach backup ready when the harbour is too busy.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Portscatho 0.2 mi St Mawes 2.1 mi Feock 3.8 mi Harcourt 3.9 mi Flushing 4.4 mi

Explore nearby towns: Portscatho · St Mawes · Feock · Harcourt · Flushing

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

7.3 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

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

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.

Local knowledge

Portscatho fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

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.

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.

  • From Truro, follow the A390 then A3078 towards St Mawes; turn for Portscatho at Trewithian and follow signs into the village
  • Postcode for sat nav: TR2 5HF (central village/harbour area)
  • Parking: pay-and-display village car park signposted on approach; very limited on-street spaces near the harbour; fills quickly in summer
  • Terrain: harbour slip, small beach and a short outer wall; mixed ground and easy boulders immediately adjacent; rougher, kelpy ledges further along the headlands
  • Walk-in: 2–10 minutes to most easy spots; expect short but steep lanes; rock marks require careful scrambling
  • Access notes: do not block the slipway or working areas; some sections may be signed against fishing or casting during busy periods

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.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Plaice, dab and the odd sole across the sand patches
    • Pollack and wrasse waking up on the rocks; early garfish from late spring
    • Bass on small sandeel shoals and around surfy edges at Porthcurnick
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Mackerel and scad at dusk, garfish on floats by day
    • Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack on rough ground
    • Gurnards (grey, tub), small turbot/plaice possible over clean sand
    • Thornback ray and occasional small-eyed ray after dark on the beaches
    • Occasional triggerfish in warm spells
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Peak mixed fishing: mackerel/scad into the dark, garfish, pollack
    • Bass on lures and natural baits in lively seas; sole over night tides
    • Whiting begin to show; squid and cuttle possible on calm, clear nights
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting, pouting, poor cod; dogfish on most bottom baits
    • Conger from rough ground and harbour edges after dark
    • Bass feasible on stormy, coloured seas (catch-and-release only in Dec/Jan/Feb under current rules)

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.

  • Lure fishing:
    • Metals/feathers for mackerel and scad at dawn/dusk; switch to single small metals when fish are finicky
    • Soft plastics (weedless paddletails, stickbaits) for wrasse and pollack along kelp lines
    • Surface/sub-surface lures for bass on a flooding tide and during onshore ruffles
  • Float fishing:
    • Clear floats with small hooks and mackerel strip for garfish over sand
    • Ragworm/crab baits near kelp fringes for wrasse; keep rigs simple and robust
  • Bottom fishing:
    • Two/three-hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks for plaice, dab, gurnard and whiting
    • Pulley or running ledgers with 3/0–4/0 hooks for bass and rays (sandeel, squid, peeler crab)
    • Long, flowing snoods (3–5 ft) help over clean sand; short snoods and strong gear over rough ground
  • Baits:
    • Ragworm and lugworm for flats and general bites; peeler crab for wrasse/bass
    • Sandeel (fresh or frozen) and squid for rays and bass; mackerel strip for garfish and gurnard
    • Carry beads/spoons for plaice; add pop-up foam to lift baits above weed if needed
  • Timing:
    • Dusk into dark is prime for bass, rays, whiting, conger and scad; daylight for wrasse/garfish
    • Summer mackerel/garfish show best at first and last light; lures on a flooding tide

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.

  • Best tide states:
    • Mid-tide flooding to high for the harbour wall and immediate rock marks
    • Two hours either side of low on nearby beaches for bass working gutters
    • Neap tides for wrasse (less surge), springs for spreading scent across the bay
  • Sea state and wind:
    • Light onshore or cross-onshore (E/SE) can switch on bass; avoid full-on easterly storms that dump weed and swell
    • Calm, clear water favours wrasse, pollack, garfish and sighty lure work
  • Water clarity:
    • Clear to slight colour is ideal for floats/lures; churned and coloured benefits bass and night bait sessions
  • Seasonality:
    • Peak mixed fishing Jun–Oct; winter focuses on whiting, dogfish and conger after dark
  • Time of day:
    • Dawn/dusk transitions are consistently productive; night tides for rays, bass and conger

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.

  • Slips, trips and surges:
    • Weed-slick rock, kelp and boulders are very slippery; use boots with good grip and move deliberately
    • Beware of swell wrap and boat wash around the wall and ledges
  • Tides and cut-off:
    • Check your retreat route on ledges; avoid being cut off by the flood
  • Working harbour:
    • Do not fish or cast where boats are operating or where people are swimming; expect seasonal signage restricting fishing on/inside the harbour during busy daytime hours
    • Keep the slipway clear at all times
  • Personal safety:
    • Wear a lifejacket on walls and rocks; fish with a partner after dark
    • Headtorch, spare light, first-aid kit and a throw line are sensible carries
  • Accessibility:
    • Harbour slip/beach offer the easiest access for less mobile anglers; rock marks are not suitable for limited mobility
    • Mobile phone signal is generally fair but can be patchy under headlands

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.

  • Toilets: public conveniences near the harbour (seasonal opening hours possible)
  • Food and drink: cafés and a village pub; the popular Hidden Hut is at nearby Porthcurnick Beach (seasonal/queuing common)
  • Shops: village stores for snacks; limited or no dedicated tackle retail in the village
  • Tackle and bait: head to Truro, Falmouth or St Austell for tackle shops and fresh bait; pre-order rag/lug in summer
  • Parking: pay-and-display village car park; arrive early in peak season
  • Water and bins: bring water; take litter and line home (bins limited and fill quickly in summer)
  • Cash/card: most places take cards but signal can dip—carry a backup payment method

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

  • Work the edges:
    • On a gently rising tide, walk-and-cast soft plastics along kelp tongues for wrasse; switch to a metal when baitfish scatter
  • Garfish game:
    • Use a tiny sliver of mackerel or sandeel on size 6–8 hooks under a clear float; add a starlite at dusk for extra draws
  • Flatfish finesse:
    • Two-up one-down with size 2 hooks, beads and a touch of scent finds plaice on the cleaner patches off the beach
  • Rays at night:
    • Fish sandeel/squid wraps on a pulley with 60–80 lb leaders; keep baits just off the weed with a small pop-up if needed
  • Conger care:
    • Short 100 lb traces and strong hooks; keep fish in the water while unhooking if possible and release promptly
  • Summer crowds:
    • Dawn starts beat the beachgoers; after 8 pm the harbour area calms and fishing improves
  • Keep it quiet:
    • Scad, mackerel and squid can be spooky—drop a size in metals and avoid clattering on the wall
  • Conservation-minded:
    • Big ballan wrasse are slow-growing; consider quick photos and release, especially of larger females

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.

  • Bass (rod and line):
    • Minimum size 42 cm
    • Typical recent measure: up to 2 fish per angler per day may be retained from 1 March–30 November; catch-and-release only in December, January and February (confirm current year’s notice)
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS):
    • Apply to many species (e.g., bass 42 cm; pollack 30 cm; plaice 27 cm; mackerel 30 cm as a commonly used guideline though not a legal MCRS for recreational retention). Check current lists before retaining fish
  • Crustaceans and shellfish:
    • Do not take berried (egg-bearing) lobsters or crabs; respect local size limits for edible/brown crab and lobster
    • Using pots/nets has specific byelaws and marking requirements; rod-and-line anglers should avoid retaining undersized shore crabs/velvet crabs for bait
  • Protected species and areas:
    • Rod-and-line angling is generally permitted along this coast, but nearby marine protected areas and nursery zones exist in the wider Fal/Helford system—check Cornwall IFCA maps for seasonal/netting restrictions
  • Harbours and bathing areas:
    • Local signage may prohibit fishing from parts of the harbour or during peak bathing/boat operations; these rules are enforceable—observe them
  • General:
    • No littering; remove all line and hooks
    • Lights at night: avoid dazzling boat operators and residents
    • If in doubt, release fish alive; measure rather than guess