St Loy Cove Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

St Loy Cove Fishing Map

A secluded, boulder-strewn cove on the south coast of Penwith between Lamorna and Penberth. Fishing is from granite ledges and large rounded boulders with rough, kelpy ground and occasional sand patches. Best in settled to moderate conditions and during the flood through high water, with dusk and dawn especially productive in summer and early autumn. Expect snaggy ground—use rotten-bottom rigs and keep tackle robust. Sudden surges can roll through on spring tides or after southerly swell. Access is via a footpath down the wooded St Loy valley; there are no facilities on-site.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at St Loy Cove

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 9/10
🎯 Tip: Float crab or rag over kelp and boulders on the flood. Daylight, calm to moderate swell. Use strong tackle to bully fish from snags.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Soft plastics or metals along kelp edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Work lures high to avoid snags; long leader helps.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Surface/subsurface lures or peeler crab in surfy gutters on a rising tide, best at first light/dusk after a swell.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with ragworm/shellfish under a float tight to weed and rock, mid-flood to high, summer.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; cast metals/feathers from the points at dawn/evening. Keep mobile and avoid the snaggiest ground.
🐟 Rock Goby 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks with bits of prawn or rag lowered into holes and weedy edges at low–mid water. Under-the-rod-tip.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark, drop whole/half mackerel or squid into kelp gullies. Heavy gear and rotten-bottom links; slack to first of flood.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm days late spring–autumn. Float a small mackerel strip mid-water on a long light trace; rising tide.
🐟 Bull Huss 5/10
🎯 Tip: Large fish/squid baits at night over rough ground. Strong mono, no wire needed. Use rotten-bottoms; neap tides help.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 5/10
🎯 Tip: Size 10–14 hooks with small worm or prawn in cracks right under your feet. Best in calm water, any state of tide.

St Loy Cove Fishing

Summary

St Loy Cove (often written St Loy’s) is a secluded, boulder-strewn cove on Cornwall’s far west south coast, tucked between Lamorna and Penberth. It’s a beautiful, wild mark with a sub‑tropical wooded valley and clear water, offering rewarding rough‑ground fishing for wrasse, pollack and bass, plus huss and conger after dark. The terrain is challenging but the fish respond well in the right tide and a bit of sea.

Location and Access

Reaching St Loy Cove involves quiet lanes and a walk; there is no formal car park right at the beach. Approach via the B3315 (St Buryan–Porthcurno road) and use signed footpaths to the cove or come in along the South West Coast Path from neighbouring coves.

Seasons

The mark fishes as a rough-ground, clear-water south coast venue with seasonal variety. Expect reef species by day and predators after dark, with pelagics in summer.

Methods

Rough ground dictates tackle choices: keep lines high, use abrasion-resistant leaders, and plan your landing before you cast.

Tides and Conditions

Tide run and water movement are key; the cove responds best to a building sea with some colour but not a heavy groundswell.

Safety

This is a serious boulder beach: footing is awkward, swells rebound unpredictably, and access is not suitable for limited mobility. Treat it with respect.

Facilities

There are no facilities at the cove itself—come self-sufficient and pack out everything you bring.

Tips

Success here comes from travelling light, reading the water, and picking your windows.

Regulations

There is no general prohibition on angling at St Loy Cove, but normal national and local rules apply. Always verify the latest measures before your trip.