Summary
Readymoney Cove sits on the eastern edge of Fowey at the mouth of the estuary, a small, sheltered pocket beach hemmed by rocky flanks and overlooked by St Catherine’s Castle. It’s an attractive, easy-to-reach mark that fishes best around the rocks and points rather than the central sand, offering light-rock sport, summer surface activity, and autumn bass when the conditions line up.
Location and Access
This is one of the simplest Fowey marks to reach, with a short downhill walk and a well-defined beach. The productive ground is the rocky arms to either side of the cove, especially the St Catherine’s side.
- Drive towards Fowey and follow local signs for Readymoney Cove; there is a Pay & Display car park signed locally (search for "Readymoney Car Park, Fowey" in the PL23 area).
- It’s roughly a 5–10 minute walk down a paved lane/steps to the beach; it is steep on the way back.
- Terrain is mixed: clean sand in the middle, weeded rock platforms and boulders to both flanks; the left (castle) side gives slightly more depth and tide run.
- The beach itself is easy footing; the rocks are uneven and kelp-covered—good boots essential.
- Public transport: Fowey is served by local buses; from town it’s a pleasant coastal walk to the cove.
Seasons
This is a mixed, small-water mark: think summer surface species, light-rock staples, and estuary-edge predators at dusk. Expect variety rather than monsters.
- Spring (Apr–May):
- School bass nosing in on the flood, especially in a light chop.
- Wrasse starting on the rocks; small pollack in the gullies.
- Early garfish in late spring; the odd flounder on the sand.
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass in low light or milky water; garfish and mackerel when the bait shows.
- Thick-lipped mullet mooching inside the cove on calm, bright days.
- Wrasse (ballan/corkwing) tight to kelp; pollack; scad at dusk; gobies/blennies for LRF.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Peak bass time with a bit of colour or an easterly push; schoolies to decent fish.
- Garfish and the last of the mackerel into October if it stays mild.
- Whiting begin in late autumn; pouting/poor cod around rough ground; flounder on the sand.
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting and pouting on dark, settled nights; small pollack around the point.
- Occasional dogfish; flounder on gentle tides inside the cove.
Methods
Light, mobile tactics shine here, with finesse around the rocks and opportunist work at dawn/dusk. The sand is shallow, so focus effort where tide meets rough ground.
- LRF/HRF (light/medium rock):
- 1–10 g LRF rods with size 6–12 hooks, isome/gulp worms, small creature baits for wrasse, blennies, gobies, small pollack.
- Weedless 2–4 inch soft plastics on 3–7 g texas/cheb rigs for wrasse and better pollack tight to kelp.
- Float fishing:
- Slim pencil floats, 6–10 ft depth set, size 6–10 hooks.
- Baits: ragworm, prawn, strips of mackerel; trotting along the rock margins for wrasse, pollack, garfish.
- Spinning/metal jigs:
- 10–20 g metals or small surface/sub-surface lures; fast retrieves for garfish/scad, slower for bass at dawn/dusk.
- White/sandeel patterns are consistent; scale down if water is gin-clear.
- Ledgering/bottom:
- Simple running ledger or 1-hook flapper with 1–3 oz leads is ample; keep it light and be ready to lose gear in rough patches.
- Baits: rag/lug, crab (prime for bass/wrasse), sandeel or mackerel strip for whiting/pouting.
- Mullet tactics:
- Bread mash trickled little-and-often; size 8–12 hooks, refined tackle, stealth. Freeline or light controller float inside the cove when it’s quiet.
- Timing:
- Dusk into the first hours of darkness for bass/pollack/scad; bright, calm days for mullet and family LRF sessions.
- Fish the rocks on the flood and first of the ebb; the central sand is a bonus area for flounder on small tides.
Tides and Conditions
As an estuary-mouth pocket cove, tide state and wind direction transform the fishing. Aim for moving water and gentle onshore texture rather than heavy swell.
- Tide:
- Best on a making tide, especially the last two hours of flood and the first hour of ebb.
- Neaps give cleaner, more manageable flow on the points; big springs can rip across the mouth.
- Wind/sea:
- Sheltered in prevailing south-westerlies; fishable and comfortable.
- Easterly/onshore breezes add colour and lift for bass but become unsafe if there’s any swell on the rocks.
- Light/clarity:
- Dawn/dusk boosts bass, pollack and scad; bright, clear days suit mullet and LRF micro-species.
- After a modest blow, a tea-stained edge along the rocks is prime for bass with crab or soft plastics.
- Seasonality:
- Peak mixed fishing Jun–Oct; winter is quieter but can give whiting/pouting on calm, dark nights.
Safety
It’s a family beach, but the fishing happens around slippery rocks and in tidal flow near the estuary mouth. Plan around swimmers by day and tides by night.
- Slippery, weeded rocks: wear grippy boots; avoid green weed and polished ledges.
- Tidal cut-off: the castle-side ledges are narrowed at high water—leave an escape route.
- Swell/surge: easterly seas can push unexpected sets into the gullies; keep low and well back.
- Boat traffic: you’re near the Fowey fairway—don’t cast into navigation channels and be alert to wash from ferries and yachts.
- Popular bathing area: in season there’s often a buoyed swimming zone—do not fish within or across it.
- Night work: take a headtorch, spare light, and consider a PFD if fishing exposed rock marks.
- Accessibility: beach access is via a steep lane/steps; the sand is accessible, but the rocky platforms are not suitable for limited mobility.
Facilities
You’re close to town comforts, which makes short, opportunistic sessions easy to plan around the tide.
- Public toilets: usually available near the beach/approach (check seasonal opening times).
- Food/drink: a seasonal beach shop/kiosk operates at Readymoney; cafés and pubs in Fowey are a short walk.
- Parking: Pay & Display car park signed for Readymoney; limited spaces in high season—arrive early or late.
- Tackle/bait: limited in Fowey itself; broader tackle options and fresh bait are available in St Austell/Par (15–25 minutes by car).
- Mobile signal: generally good in and above the cove, though it can dip right under the cliffs.
Tips
Little tweaks make a big difference at a small, pressured cove. Think stealth, scale, and timing.
- Mullet: arrive early, keep noise down, trickle bread mash, and use fine fluorocarbon; they spook easily here.
- Garfish: small metals or thin slivers of mackerel under a float; keep the retrieve brisk and near-surface.
- Bass: a light onshore ripple plus colour = switch to crab or weedless soft plastics along the kelp seams.
- LRF species hunts: work every nook with 1–3 g heads and isome; expect blennies/gobies fast, wrasse on the flood.
- Snag management: fish mono/fluoro leaders and weak links on leads; stay mobile rather than anchoring gear.
- Crowds: avoid busy beach hours in summer—fish dawn, dusk, or into dark from the rocks.
- Dogs: there is usually a seasonal daytime dog restriction on the beach in summer—check current signage if bringing a dog to an evening session.
Regulations
Fishing is generally permitted from the beach and natural rocks, but local and national rules apply. Always check the latest notices on-site and official sources before your trip.
- Bathing zone/harbour byelaws: in season a buoyed swimming area is normally established—do not fish within it. Fowey Harbour byelaws prohibit causing danger or nuisance to swimmers/vessels and may restrict fishing from harbour structures and slipways; obey any local signage.
- Bass (2024 rules, Area 7 including Cornwall): recreational anglers may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day, minimum size 42 cm, during 1 March–30 November; catch-and-release only 1 December–28/29 February. Check for updates before fishing.
- Minimum sizes/berried shellfish: adhere to Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes; return all undersized fish and any berried (egg-carrying) crabs/lobsters.
- Protected species: release shad, mullet species you don’t intend to keep, and any unusual or protected fish immediately and unharmed.
- Litter and access: keep clear of slipways/launch points, pack out all line and litter, and avoid blocking paths or steps—this is a busy community beach.
- Bait collection: only take what you need and follow local byelaws; do not overturn or dislodge fixed boulders in the intertidal zone.
Note: Regulations change—consult Cornwall IFCA and Fowey Harbour Commissioners for current rules before your session.
