Summary
St Agnes Head is a dramatic granite headland on Cornwall’s exposed north coast, backed by heather moorland and the iconic Wheal Coates engine houses. It’s a classic rough-ground rock mark for mobile lure work and traditional float fishing. When the Atlantic eases, the ledges can produce superb pollack, wrasse, mackerel, and surf-side bass.
Location and Access
This mark sits on National Trust land above high cliffs between Chapel Porth and Trevaunance Cove. Access is straightforward to the headland itself, but reaching fishable ledges involves care and sometimes light scrambling.
- Drive to the National Trust car park at St Agnes Head or approach on foot via the South West Coast Path from Chapel Porth or St Agnes; lanes are narrow and busy in summer.
- Parking is pay-and-display/NT member; arrive early in peak season as spaces fill quickly.
- From the car park, well-trodden paths lead along the cliff top; several side tracks drop to lower, safer perches—avoid any unmarked or eroded descents.
- Terrain is uneven, exposed and windswept; stout boots and a small, tidy kit are essential. Expect a 5–20 minute walk to your chosen spot.
Seasons
The headland fishes seasonally with clear-water summer sport and occasional winter opportunities in calmer windows. Expect rough-ground specialists and pelagic visitors.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Pollack, ball and cuckoo wrasse, garfish on brighter days.
- Early mackerel shoals in settled spells; chance of bass in foamy gutters.
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Mackerel, pollack, garfish, scad; ball/cuckoo wrasse on the reefs.
- Bass at dawn/dusk with a little lift on the sea; occasional triggerfish in late summer.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Peak pollack on lures, quality wrasse, late mackerel/scad.
- Bass on dropping swell; conger after dark from deeper holes.
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Window-dependent; dogfish, rockling and the odd conger in calm spells.
- Very occasional codling after prolonged northerlies, but not reliable.
Methods
Rough ground and kelp forests favour lure and float tactics; ledgering is possible if you plan for snags. Early and late light often outperforms the middle of the day.
- Lure fishing (mobile):
- 7–9 ft rod, 20–30 lb leader; 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad and covering water.
- Weedless soft plastics (shads, eels) 10–20 g on Texas/Chebs for pollack and bass along kelp edges.
- Slim surface or sub-surface lures (pencils, minnows) at dawn/dusk for bass in the white water.
- Float fishing:
- Set 8–15 ft for wrasse/pollack over kelp gullies; use ragworm, crab, prawn, sandeel or mackerel strip.
- Keep shotting simple and allow baits to waft on the run; fluorocarbon hooklength helps in clear water.
- Bottom fishing (select ledges only):
- Pulley/pulley-pennel with rotten-bottom link; 4–6 oz leads depending on tide.
- Baits: peeler crab, big rag, squid, mackerel fillet; expect inevitable tackle losses.
- General tactics:
- Travel light and move until you find fish; line angle control is key in crosswinds.
- A drop-net is useful on some higher spots; avoid gaffs for release-friendly handling.
Tides and Conditions
This is an Atlantic-facing mark; conditions dictate everything. Clarity drives lure sport, while a touch of lift energises bass in the foam.
- Tides:
- Mid-flood to high and the first of the ebb often fish best on the ledges.
- Springs create strong lateral run; neaps give better presentation for wrasse and finesse lures.
- Sea state and wind:
- Light to moderate swell with long intervals suits pollack/wrasse; heavy swell is dangerous and unfishable.
- Offshore or cross-off winds (generally from the south/east) improve water clarity and casting.
- A gentle, dropping northerly swell at dawn/dusk is prime for bass in the gutters.
- Light and seasonality:
- First and last light are standout periods, especially in clear water.
- Summer into early autumn offers the most consistent lure fishing; winter is highly window-dependent.
Safety
This is a high, exposed cliff environment with serious drop-offs and surging swell. Only choose ledges with safe footing and an unambiguous exit.
- High cliffs with unprotected edges; keep well back from cornices and overhangs.
- Some descents are steep or loose—do not attempt eroded or unofficial paths; avoid wet, green or lichen-covered rock.
- Atlantic surges can sweep apparently safe ledges; never fish with swell breaking at your feet.
- Wear a personal flotation device, non-slip footwear (or cleats), and carry a headtorch if staying late.
- Fish with a partner, tell someone your plan, and check both tide and swell forecasts.
- Limited accessibility for those with reduced mobility; most productive spots require uneven walks and short scrambles.
- Be mindful of nesting seabirds and seals; avoid disturbance and give wildlife space.
Facilities
The headland itself is wild with minimal infrastructure; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages have what you need before and after a session.
- Parking at National Trust car park(s) near St Agnes Head; no facilities on the immediate headland.
- Toilets and seasonal café at Chapel Porth; public toilets and cafés/pubs in St Agnes and at Trevaunance Cove.
- Nearest tackle/bait: options in St Agnes are limited; look to Perranporth or Newquay for shops and fresh bait.
- Mobile signal is generally fair on the clifftops but can drop out in coves and gullies.
Tips
Treat this like multiple micro-marks: each gully and point fishes differently with tide and swell. Keep moving until you intercept life—birds and bait tell the story.
- Watch for rafts of gulls or terns picking—often scad/mackerel are pushing sandeels tight to the rocks.
- Work soft plastics above the kelp canopy; count them down and retrieve just clear to avoid snags.
- After a blow, give it 24–48 hours of settling; green-tinged but clearing water can be excellent for pollack.
- For wrasse, small hardback crab or ragworm under a float outfishes ledger tactics and saves gear.
- Travel with a compact drop-net and a short leader—some ledges sit high above the water.
- Grey seals are regulars; expect follows on hooked fish—don’t feed or interact, and consider moving spot.
- Leave gates as found, stick to paths, and pack out all line and litter—NT wardens and local anglers keep a close eye on the area.
Regulations
Angling is generally permitted from St Agnes Head, but the area sits within protected designations and local byelaws apply. Always check current rules before your trip.
- Marine designations: parts of this coast are within or adjacent to a Marine Conservation Zone; shore angling by rod and line is typically allowed, but some methods and species protections may apply.
- Local authority: Cornwall IFCA byelaws cover the inshore area, including gear restrictions and species protections.
- European seabass: recreational bass measures change periodically (minimum size and seasonal bag/closed periods). Check the latest MMO/Gov.uk guidance before retaining any bass.
- National Trust/SSSI: keep to paths, avoid damaging vegetation or historic mining remains, and no fires or camping.
- General: observe minimum sizes and bag limits where set, practise catch-and-release for wrasse on rocky reefs where practical, and respect any temporary wildlife or cliff-access restrictions.
- If signage on-site indicates closures or restricted access (e.g., for cliff nesting birds or erosion), comply immediately.
