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Cornwall

Predannack Head

6.7 · Rocks · Cornwall

A rugged serpentine headland on the Lizard with deep, clear water, kelp beds and sheer ledges. Best on the flood to high water with a light-to-moderate W–SW swell for bass and pollack; calm summer days favour wrasse and mackerel. Access is via the South West Coast Path from Mullion Cove or Predannack (20–40 min walk) with steep, uneven sections; ground is very snaggy, so use abrasion-resistant leaders and rotten-bottom rigs and avoid big seas.

Should you fish Predannack Head?

62 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Fair conditions. Best around 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 4 mph Rain 16% High tide 10:42

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Predannack Head — 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.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Predannack Head is a serious, exposed Lizard rock mark that rewards well-timed sessions rather than casual casting. The best plan is usually to fish the flooding tide into high water, targeting deep kelp gullies, tide seams and white-water points with strong, abrasion-resistant tackle. Pollack, wrasse, bass and summer mackerel are the main practical targets, with huss and conger possible after dark when conditions are safe enough.

  • Know when the flood-to-high window is worth the walk.
  • Pick the kelp gullies that suit pollack, wrasse or bass.
  • Avoid wasting gear by fishing rough ground the right way.
  • Know when swell makes Predannack a no-go.
  • Have a nearby backup before committing to the hike.

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Mullion Cove 1.6 mi Mullion 2.2 mi Lizard 3.7 mi Ruan Minor 3.8 mi Rose-in-the-bush 5.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Mullion Cove · Mullion · Lizard · Ruan Minor · Rose-in-the-bush

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

Overall rating

6.7 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 4/10

Pollack 9/10
Tip: Deep kelp gullies; fish dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Cast metals or weedless soft plastics tight to the rocks. Strong gear and a drop net recommended from high ledges.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Rough kelp/rock ground; best on the flood in daylight. Float-fish or freelined crab/rag into gullies. 30–40 lb leader to bully fish; avoid big swell.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Work sandeels or paddle tails in the white water around points on a rising tide at dawn/dusk or after a blow. Surface/shallows plugs when swell allows.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals run close; spin small metals or feathers into deep water near HW. Dusk best; mind strong cross-tide.
Bull Huss 6/10
Tip: Dusk into dark on the flood. Big fish/crab baits to rough ground; 60–80 lb trace with rotten-bottom. Neaps help reduce tide pull.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: Night over HW into kelp gullies. Whole squid or mackerel on 80 lb trace; lock up and lift steadily. Use a drop net for landing.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn. Float a small mackerel strip mid-water over deep edges on the flood; set 6–12 ft. Clear days or first light.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: After dark over rough ground. Small fish strips on 1/0–2/0 two-hook rigs near HW, neaps preferred.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Late summer evenings into dark. Small metals or sabikis under a float in back eddies on the last of the flood.
Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Fish small rag or prawn, or tiny softs into shallow kelp pockets on the flood. Size 2–4 hooks; quick strike to beat snags.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 4/10
Tip: Night on clean patches between kelp; last of flood to slack. Small fish baits with grip leads to hold in tide.
Black Bream 4/10
Tip: Summer over mixed ground. Float or light ledger with squid/fish strip; small sharp hooks. Keep baits moving to avoid wrasse.

Local knowledge

Predannack Head fishing guide

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

Predannack Head sits on the wild Atlantic side of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, between Mullion Cove and Kynance. It’s a rugged rock-fishing venue with deep, kelpy gullies, fast tide run and real potential for quality pollack, wrasse, bass and nighttime conger. The scenery is spectacular and the walk keeps the crowds down, rewarding prepared anglers with proper West Cornwall sport.

Reaching Predannack Head means a coastal-path walk to exposed rock ledges; it’s National Trust land bordering the Predannack airfield training area. Plan your approach in daylight and expect uneven ground and some short scrambles to reach the best platforms.

  • Approaches: from Mullion Cove (north) or from the National Trust access near Predannack Wollas; alternatively from Kynance side (south) for a longer hike.
  • Parking: Mullion Cove car park (near TR12 7EP) or National Trust car parks in the area; pay-and-display in season. Arrive early in summer.
  • Walk-in: 20–45 minutes depending on route and pace; undulating coast path with exposed sections, narrow trods and occasional muddy or greasy rock.
  • Terrain: steep grass slopes, heather and gorse, then rough granite ledges with weed/kelp. Some marks require hands-on climbs down short steps or gullies.
  • Access notes: The inland airfield is used for military training; the South West Coast Path generally remains open but occasional diversions may be signposted—follow on-site notices.

Predannack produces classic Lizard rock species with a chance of a better fish if you put the time in. Seasonality matters, as does water clarity and swell.

  • Spring: pollack (school to mid doubles in March–May at dawn/dusk), ballan wrasse, garfish in settled spells, early mackerel shoals on the flood, pout and rockling.
  • Summer: mackerel, scad (horse mackerel) at dusk, garfish, pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, bass in surfy pockets, conger and bull huss after dark; occasional triggerfish in late summer during warm, calm spells.
  • Autumn: peak pollack, bass in rougher water with colour, scad into October nights, wrasse until the first cold snaps, conger/huss reliable.
  • Winter: conger, pout, rockling; odd pollack in clear settled windows; whiting possible but not a mainstay on these rough ledges.
  • Bycatch/occasional: launce (greater sandeel), small ling from deeper holes, mullet nosing around calmer coves.

Rough-ground rock fishing rules apply: keep it simple, fish strong, and adapt to the swell. Lure, float and bottom tactics all have their day.

  • Lure fishing (pollack/bass):
    • 20–30 g weedless soft plastics (paddle tails, eels) on Texas/Cheb rigs; 20–25 lb fluorocarbon leaders.
    • Metals 20–40 g and long-bill minnows when water is clear and there’s pace around the head.
    • Fish dawn/dusk along tide seams; count lures down the kelp line and work them up and over snags.
  • Float fishing (wrasse/gar/mackerel):
    • Sliding float with size 2–1/0 hooks; depth 8–20 ft depending on platform.
    • Baits: ragworm, hard/peeler crab for wrasse; mackerel strip or sandeel for gars/macks.
    • Use 20–25 lb abrasion-resistant mainline/leader; wrasse will dive hard into kelp.
  • Bottom fishing (conger/huss/bass):
    • Strong gear: 20–30 lb mono or 30–50 lb braid with 60–80 lb rubbing leader.
    • Rigs: short pulley pennel or running ledger with rotten-bottom link; 4/0–6/0 patterns for big baits.
    • Baits: whole/half mackerel, squid/mackerel wraps, large sandeel, peeler crab in season, big lug-and-squid for bass in colour.
  • LRF/HRF:
    • 1–7 g heads with small creature baits for corkwing, pollack schoolies and odd scad in calm water; use snag-resistant presentations and upsized leader.
  • Night sessions: focus on conger/huss with big static baits; keep one rod only to manage snags and safety.

Tide run accelerates around the headland and dictates where bait and predators hold. Time your session for manageable swell and productive light levels.

  • Tide: a flooding tide into high water often fishes best for pollack and wrasse; last two hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb are prime.
  • Springs vs neaps: springs push bait tight to the head but increase snags; neaps are kinder for wrasse and float work.
  • Swell and wind: the mark is exposed to W–SW Atlantic swell; choose small to moderate swell or seek slight north/east winds for clearer water. Avoid big groundswell.
  • Light levels: dawn/dusk for pollack and bass; wrasse bite well from mid-flood to high in daylight; scad and conger switch on after dark.
  • Water clarity: clear to lightly tinged water suits lures and float; a bit of colour and lively chop can spark the bass.
  • Seasonal patterns: late spring to autumn is the main window; winter requires calmer spells and heavier bottom tactics.

This is a serious rock mark with high cliffs, slippery ledges and ocean swell exposure. If in doubt, don’t go down—and never fish it alone in rough conditions.

  • Steep, uneven access with short scrambles; unsuitable for wheelchairs and most pushchairs. Good ankle support and studded rock boots/cleats are strongly advised.
  • Always wear a PFD (inflatable lifejacket), carry a headtorch and spare, and keep hands free (use a rucksack).
  • Weed-covered granite is extremely slick; test every step and avoid green weed at the waterline.
  • Rogue waves: observe for at least 15 minutes before committing; do not fish in heavy groundswell or when waves are washing platforms.
  • Use rotten-bottom links and keep gear streamlined to reduce time near the edge. One rod only on rough ledges.
  • Some gullies can be cut off on big tides—plan an exit route and mark your path in daylight.
  • Phone signal can be patchy; tell someone your plan and ETA.
  • Respect any temporary path diversions or closures linked to the nearby MOD airfield or seasonal cliff-nesting birds.

Predannack is wild and undeveloped—come self-sufficient for food, water and first aid.

  • No facilities on the headland: no toilets, lighting, shelter or freshwater.
  • Seasonal toilets and café at nearby National Trust car parks (e.g., Kynance in season) and facilities at Mullion Cove/hotel area.
  • Tackle/bait: head to Helston for shops and fresh/frozen bait; check opening hours before you travel.
  • Mobile signal: variable; generally better on high ground, poor down on ledges.

Treat it like a mini-expedition: travel light but strong, and match tactics to water state.

  • Weedless soft plastics save a fortune in kelp; a 20–25 lb fluorocarbon leader dramatically cuts losses.
  • Pre-tie rotten-bottom droppers (5–10 lb weaker than main rig) for ledgering over boulders.
  • A small drop-net or long-handled gaff alternative is handy for conger/huss, but most fish can be hand-landed carefully—never lie down on the lip in swell.
  • Chum lightly with mashed bread/oil to keep gars and mackerel in the float line on calm, sunny days.
  • Watch for seals working bait shoals; when they push in, try moving 50–100 m along the head to find undisturbed fish.
  • Summer heath holds adders—stick to paths, wear long trousers and check for ticks after pushing through gorse.
  • First visit: go in daylight on a modest swell and recce several ledges; note your safe exits before trying a night conger session.

This coastline sits within protected landscapes (SSSI/SAC/NT holdings), but recreational sea angling from the shore is generally permitted. Know and follow current fishery rules and local notices.

  • Bass: rules are reviewed annually. As of 2024 in ICES area 7, recreational anglers could retain up to 2 bass per day at a 42 cm minimum during the open season, with catch-and-release outside it. Check the latest Defra/MMO notice for current dates and limits before your trip.
  • Minimum sizes/byelaws: Cornwall IFCA sets local MLS and gear byelaws—measure your catch and release undersize fish.
  • Tope and spurdog: protected in practice for shore anglers—tope retention by rod-and-line is prohibited; spurdog are commonly released. Handle both with care and release promptly.
  • Wrasse: no national MLS; many Cornish marks operate a strong catch-and-release ethic for larger ballans—consider releasing all.
  • Protected sites/wildlife: do not disturb nesting seabirds (spring/summer) and keep to marked paths; avoid vegetation damage when accessing ledges. Obey any temporary cliff or path closures.
  • Bait collection: follow local byelaws and access rules; avoid digging/turning boulders in sensitive shore habitats on this protected coastline.
  • Litter and fish waste: pack out all line/hooks; dispose of fish frames well below the high-tide line or take them home to avoid attracting gulls/vermIn near paths.