Summary
Portwrinkle sits on the eastern edge of Whitsand Bay on Cornwall’s south coast, offering a mix of rock ledges, a tiny harbour/slip and two sand-and-shingle coves. It’s a classic mixed-ground mark where you can lure-fish the rocks at dawn, surfcast the beach on the flood, and soak a big bait after dark for conger or huss. The variety of ground and conditions makes it a reliable, year-round venue for roaming predators and bottom feeders alike.
Location and Access
Access is straightforward via the B3247 through Crafthole, dropping steeply down into the village. Parking is limited in summer, so arrive early and be prepared for short but steep walks to the rocks or beaches.
- Follow signs to Portwrinkle from Crafthole; the lanes are narrow and steep with tight passing places.
- There are pay-and-display car parks by the harbour/slip and above Finnygook Beach; both involve steep descents/ascents on foot.
- The slipway and old harbour area give quick access to rock platforms; expect uneven, weeded rock and boulders.
- For beach fishing, Finnygook (to the west) offers cleaner ground with patches of rough; Hoodny/Portwrinkle beach (by the slip) is mixed.
- Public footpaths cross the golf course; keep to marked paths and be considerate of golfers when moving to western rock marks.
Seasons
Portwrinkle produces a healthy spread of species through the year thanks to mixed ground and tide flow. Expect more variety in settled, clear conditions and at low light.
- Spring (Mar–May): ballan and cuckoo wrasse, early bass, plaice/dab (occasional), pollack, dogfish; thornback and spotted rays across Whitsand Bay when the crabs peel.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass, mackerel, garfish, pollack, wrasse, scad, smoothhound (occasional), gilt-head bream (occasional on calm, clear days), thick- and thin-lipped mullet around the harbour; small to medium conger after dark.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass and lure fishing, mackerel and scad shoals at dusk, squid on calm nights, wrasse still strong, rays and huss from the mixed ground, increasing whiting late on.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pout, dogfish, conger, bull huss; dabs on the cleaner patches; very occasional codling in a hard northerly and cold, clear water.
Methods
Both lure and bait tactics work well here; choose methods to match the ground in front of you and the state of tide.
- Rocks and harbour area:
- Lure fishing: soft plastics (sandeel patterns 10–20 g) and slim metals for bass/pollack/mackerel; surface or sub-surface lures at first/last light.
- Float fishing: ragworm, prawn or crab baits for wrasse and garfish in 6–12 ft of water over kelp gullies.
- Bottom fishing (rough ground): pulley or pulley-dropper with a weak-link (rotten-bottom) lead for huss/conger/rays; baits include squid, mackerel fillet, peeler crab.
- Beaches (Finnygook/Portwrinkle):
- Surf bassing with fresh lugworm, razorfish, sandeel or peeler; simple running ledger or one-up/one-down clipped rigs.
- Rays and smoothhound on sandeel, squid/sandeel cocktails or peeler; 4–5 oz grip leads often suffice.
- Winter scratching with 2-hook flappers, size 2–1 hooks, small lug/rag/mackerel strips for whiting/dabs.
- Light rock fishing (LRF): tiny metals or size 8–12 Sabikis for mackerel/scad; isome-style worms for mini species around the weed fringes.
- Night fishing: bigger baits for huss/conger; keep rigs simple, use strong abrasion-resistant leaders, and a headlamp with spare batteries.
Tides and Conditions
Tide strength is moderate; the mark fishes best around the flood, with dusk and dawn often the red-letter times. Adjust tactics to water clarity and swell.
- Best tide windows: last two hours of the flood and the first of the ebb for most species; wrasse prefer mid-tide over flooding water across kelp.
- Surf conditions: a small to moderate onshore swell with some colour is ideal for bass on the beaches; too much swell quickly becomes dangerous on the rocks.
- Clear, calm spells suit lures for bass/pollack/garfish and float-fished wrasse; easterly or northerly winds often improve clarity here.
- After summer blow-ups, expect rafts of weed; switch to float/lure or move to cleaner patches.
- Nightfall brings scad, pout and conger into range; autumn nights can also see squid under calm, clear water with a gentle swell.
- Springs push bait and predators tight to the rock edges but increase snags; neaps give easier presentation and better clarity.
Safety
This is a wild, Atlantic-facing coastline in miniature—treat it with respect. The combination of steep access, slippery rock and swell can be unforgiving.
- Wear a modern, well-fitted fishing PFD and use studded boots or rock cleats; weeded rock is extremely slippery.
- Check swell forecasts; avoid the old harbour wall/outer platforms in big seas or strong onshore winds—rogue waves occur.
- Use a headtorch and carry a spare; the ledges are uneven with ankle traps and sudden drop-offs.
- Employ a rotten-bottom link over rough ground to reduce the temptation of dangerous retrieval angles.
- Be mindful of tide cut-offs on lower ledges and around gullies at Finnygook; have an exit plan.
- The slipway is active for small boats—do not fish across it, especially in daylight and on busy weekends.
- Expect loose rock and occasional cliff fall under the golf course cliffs; don’t sit beneath overhangs.
- Mobile signal can be patchy in coves; tell someone your plan and fishing window.
- Accessibility is limited: steep hills and steps make it challenging for those with reduced mobility.
Facilities
Portwrinkle is a small village with seasonal amenities; plan self-sufficiently outside peak months.
- Parking: pay-and-display near the harbour and at the top of Finnygook; spaces fill quickly in summer and on fine weekends.
- Toilets: usually available seasonally near the beach/harbour; hours vary—don’t rely on late-evening access.
- Food and drink: a seasonal beach/harbour café may operate; year-round options are more reliable in Crafthole (e.g., pub) or further afield in Looe.
- Tackle and bait: nearest full-range shops are in Looe and Plymouth; some local village stores occasionally carry basic bait—phone ahead.
- Lifeguards: the rocks are not lifeguarded; check RNLI listings for any seasonal cover on nearby Whitsand Bay beaches.
- Phone signal: fair on the tops, weaker down on the coves and ledges.
Tips
A few local habits go a long way at Portwrinkle. Small changes in approach often separate a blank from a banner session.
- Use a weak-link (lighter line) for your lead over the rough; you’ll save gear and time.
- In clear water, fish subtly: 10–20 g jigheads with natural sandeel-colour SPs, long fluorocarbon leaders and slower retrieves.
- Bass often patrol the first gutter at Finnygook on a pushing tide—keep a bait or a shallow-running plug within 10–30 m of the shore.
- For wrasse, present crab or rag tight to kelp edges under a float; strike positively and bully fish clear of snags early.
- Dusk into dark brings scad and mackerel tight—switch to small metals/Sabikis and keep a headlamp off the water where possible.
- After a blow, look for cleaner water lines and make short moves rather than long casts; find the fishy pocket rather than blasting distance.
- Respect pot lines and keep clear of working gear; local boats are active in settled weather.
- If walking the beach westward, note that the MoD range near Tregantle can restrict access when red flags are flying.
Regulations
Sea angling is permitted at Portwrinkle, but you must follow national and local rules. Always verify the latest byelaws and seasonal measures with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Cornwall IFCA before your trip.
- Bass (recreational) in ICES Area 7d–h: as of 2024, a minimum size of 42 cm applies; retention is typically limited to 2 fish per angler per day from 1 March–30 November, with catch-and-release only in December–February. Check for any yearly updates before fishing.
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: observe all minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for finfish and shellfish; do not retain berried or V-notched lobsters or crawfish; return undersized crabs and lobsters immediately.
- Marine Protected Areas: Portwrinkle falls within the wider Whitsand & Looe Bay Marine Conservation Zone. Recreational angling is allowed, but damaging activities to protected features (e.g., seagrass) are restricted—avoid anchoring or dragging gear through sensitive habitats.
- Beach and harbour access: obey any local signage around the slip/harbour and golf course paths; certain spots may have “no fishing/no access” notices for safety or operational reasons.
- Night fishing and lights: no specific prohibition, but be considerate of residents and boat traffic; use downward-shielded lights.
- Bait collection: hand-gathering is generally permitted where not otherwise restricted; never use mechanical means and avoid protected habitats. Collect responsibly and within legal size/quantity limits.
- General: never interfere with commercial gear; take all litter and line home; consider voluntary catch-and-release for large wrasse to sustain the local stock.
