Summary
Prussia Cove sits between Perranuthnoe and Praa Sands on Cornwall’s south coast, a string of small, picturesque coves and rocky headlands with mixed rough ground and kelp gullies. It’s a classic rock-fishing venue for wrasse, pollack and bass in the right conditions, with sheltered pockets that reward careful tactics and stealth.
Location and Access
This is a rural, cliff-backed mark reached via narrow lanes and coastal paths; plan extra time and travel light. The coves include Piskies, King’s and Bessy’s, with Cudden Point just to the east offering deeper water but more exposure to swell.
- Parking: Small pay car park near the end of the access lane; spaces are limited and can fill in summer. Nearest postcode for sat nav: TR20 9BA (use as a guide only).
- Alternative approach: Park at Perranuthnoe or Praa Sands and walk the South West Coast Path (20–35 minutes depending on start point).
- Walk-in: Steep, uneven paths and steps down to the coves; expect a short but demanding descent with some loose ground and slippery rock at the bottom.
- Terrain: Rock platforms, boulders and kelp-filled gullies with small sandy patches at low water. Footing is awkward in places and changes with the tide.
- Access notes: Parts of the estate are private; stick to waymarked paths and do not block the slip or working areas at Bessy’s Cove.
Seasons
Seasonality matters here, with summer and early autumn the most productive from the rocks. Expect rough-ground residents with pelagic visitors on calmer evenings.
- Spring (Mar–May): Pollack, ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse; early bass in settled spells; occasional garfish late spring.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Ballan wrasse (abundant), corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad; thick‑lipped and golden‑grey mullet in the coves; evening bass; occasional black bream and triggerfish in warm, clear spells.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass at dawn/dusk, pollack, wrasse (tailing off late), mackerel/scad into October in calm weather; increasing dogfish; chance of small-eyed ray from sandy pockets on very calm nights.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and dogfish after dark in calmer seas; conger from deeper, rougher ledges on quiet nights; occasional pout. True cod are rare in this area.
- Year-round possibilities: Conger eel (mainly at night), bull huss from the rough ground, blennies/gobies for species hunts in settled water.
Methods
Rough ground tactics dominate; scale your approach to the conditions. Lure work and float fishing shine in clear, calm seas; ledgers score after dark or with some colour.
- Lure fishing: Weedless soft plastics (10–20 g, 4/0–5/0 hooks) for bass/pollack in and around kelp edges; metals (20–40 g) for mackerel/scad at range; surface/awake lures on warm, calm dawns for bass.
- Float fishing: Ragworm or crab close to weed beds for wrasse; small strips of mackerel for garfish/scad; set depth so the bait just clears the weed tops.
- Bottom fishing: Strong rods and abrasion-resistant leaders, 4–6 oz leads; pulley or pulley‑dropper with a weak/rotten‑bottom link essential. Big fish baits (mackerel/squid) after dark for huss/conger; crab or squid/rag cocktail for bass.
- Mullet tactics: Bread flake or crust under a clear waggler in the coves; loosefeed sparingly and fish light (6–8 lb fluorocarbon).
- LRF/species hunting: 1–7 g rods with isome or tiny paddle tails for blennies, gobies and small wrasse in gin-clear water.
- Tackle notes: 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro/mono leader for lure work around kelp; 40–60 lb rubbing leader for ledgering over rock; strong, short-shank hooks (size 1–2 for wrasse, 3/0–5/0 for huss/bass).
Tides and Conditions
Tide and swell dictate where you can stand and what will feed. The flood brings fish tight to the rocks; too much swell makes many ledges unfishable.
- Tide state: Mid-flood to high water is prime for wrasse and bass along the reefs; first of the ebb can be good for pollack as they drop back.
- Low water: Useful to recon the ground and access lower ledges on small tides, but beware of cut-off points as the flood pushes in quickly.
- Swell/wind: Light northerly or easterly winds give cleaner, safer water for lures and floats. A short, moderate onshore push can switch on bass; long-period or heavy swell is dangerous and kills presentation.
- Water clarity: Clear = lures/float; a slight green tinge = baits excel; heavy colour = try big smelly baits after dark for huss/conger.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk are standout for bass and pollack; summer evenings bring mackerel/garfish within range; nights suit huss, conger and winter whiting.
- Seasonality: May–October is the headline window; winter sessions are more hit-and-miss and weather dependent.
Safety
This is a committing rock mark with steep approaches and slippery, kelpy ledges. It is unsuitable for those with limited mobility and demands conservative decision-making.
- Footing: Wear studded boots or rock cleats; weeded rock is extremely slippery even when it looks dry.
- Swell: Avoid long-period swell; rogue waves wrap around the headlands. Keep well back from edges and never fish during overtopping.
- Cut‑off risk: Some platforms flood quickly on the flood—plan an escape route and set a hard time limit.
- Night fishing: Bring spare headlamps, a whistle and a fully charged phone; navigation is tricky and paths are uneven.
- Lifejacket: A modern auto‑inflating PFD is strongly recommended on all ledges.
- Solo fishing: Better with a partner; tell someone your plan and return time.
- Working areas: Give the slipway/boats at Bessy’s Cove a wide berth; do not block access or leave gear on the slip.
- Access rights: Keep to public footpaths and respect private cottages/boathouses; observe any on-site signage.
Facilities
Facilities are limited and spread between nearby villages. Plan to be self-sufficient for long sessions.
- Toilets: None at the coves. Public toilets typically available at Perranuthnoe and Praa Sands (seasonal opening hours).
- Food/drink: Cafés and pubs in Perranuthnoe and Praa Sands; wider choice in Penzance and Helston.
- Tackle/bait: Several tackle shops in Penzance and Helston; check opening hours and pre-order fresh bait in summer.
- Parking: Small pay car park near the lane end; carry change or use app if available. Do not obstruct gateways or the slip.
- Mobile signal: Patchy in the coves; better on higher ground/headlands.
- Water: No taps on site—bring plenty, especially in warm weather.
Tips
Stealth and positioning beat brute force here. Read the water, fish tight to structure, and don’t be afraid to move.
- Recon at low tide to map kelp lines, sand tongues and safe perches; return on the flood to fish the edges.
- Use a weak-link/rotten-bottom on every ledger; it saves rigs and fish.
- Crab is king for quality wrasse and opportunist bass; fish it hard against the rough stuff with a locked-up drag.
- For bass, target the ‘white-water tongues’ where swell spills off the reefs, especially on the first push of flood at dawn.
- If seals are working the bay, switch to mobile lure tactics or consider a different cove; bites often die when they’re close.
- Mullet patrol tight under ledges—polarised glasses help; trickle bread, not handfuls.
- In summer neaps with clear water, try tiny weedless soft plastics for a fun multi-species LRF session.
- Cudden Point can fish superbly in settled seas but is more exposed—only attempt in benign conditions and with experience.
Regulations
There is no general ban on angling here, but normal UK sea angling rules apply. Always check for any temporary or on-site notices before you fish.
- Bass rules: Recreational bass retention is subject to seasonal restrictions and a 42 cm minimum size. The details are reviewed annually—check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice for current dates and daily bag limits.
- Minimum sizes: Cornwall IFCA publishes local minimum conservation reference sizes for common species (e.g., mackerel, pollack, rays). Measure fish and return undersized specimens.
- Protected species: If you catch anything unusual (e.g., shad, seahorses, some ray species), return it immediately—many are legally protected.
- Wrasse: No statutory size/season for rod-and-line in Cornwall, but releasing larger ballan wrasse (big females) is strongly encouraged to protect local stocks.
- Access/estate: Respect private property, keep to public paths, and follow any signage at the car park or slip. No camping or fires on the foreshore.
- Litter and lead: Take all waste home, cut free rather than yank when snagged, and avoid leaving terminal tackle in accessible bathing coves.
- Safety compliance: Local emergency access is limited—carry a phone, and in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
