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Cornwall

Stack Point

6.9 · Rocks · Cornwall

Stack Point is a rugged rocky headland on the Roseland side of Falmouth Bay, offering quick access to deep, kelpy water and lively tide rips formed by the movement at the mouth of the Fal/Carrick Roads. It’s a classic summer lure-and-wrasse venue with Pollack patrolling the kelp edges, mackerel and garfish running the outer stream, and bass moving through on dusk tides and in onshore swell. Night sessions can produce pouting and conger from the rough ground. Swell rebounds off the cliffs and the ledges can be narrow and weeded, so pick calm settled days or light onshore swell and avoid big southerlies/easterlies. Best results are on a flooding tide into dusk, especially when water clarity is good for lures. Access is via the coast path with a steep, sometimes exposed descent to low ledges; travel light and use cleated footwear. There are no facilities on the point itself, but parking is available at nearby National Trust car parks with a walk in along the coast path.

Should you fish Stack Point?

60 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 3 mph Rain 6% High tide 10:47

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Stack Point — 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.

Friday 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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Stack Point is a mobile, rugged rock mark where the main advantage is quick access to deep kelpy water and tide movement around the mouth of the Fal/Carrick Roads. It is strongest as a clear-water summer venue for pollack, wrasse, mackerel, garfish and dusk bass, with rough-ground bait options after dark for pouting and conger. The key decision is whether to work the outer tide stream and kelp edges with lures, or slow down in the gullies and sand tongues with bait. Calm, settled conditions or only a light onshore ripple give the best balance of fishing and safety; big southerlies/easterlies and heavy swell make the narrow, weeded ledges a poor choice.

  • Know when to fish the outer tide stream instead of the gullies.
  • Time the flood so you are not wasting the best kelp-edge window.
  • Pick the right tactic for clear water, colour or darkness.
  • Avoid the ledges when swell and weed make Stack Point a poor call.
  • Use nearby backups intelligently when the point is too exposed.

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Falmouth 1.4 mi Budock Water 1.6 mi Mawnan Smith 2.0 mi Flushing 2.2 mi Penryn 2.9 mi

Explore nearby towns: Falmouth · Budock Water · Mawnan Smith · Flushing · Penryn

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

Overall rating

6.9 /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 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work metal jigs or soft shads along kelp reefs at dawn/dusk on the flood; cast parallel to the point. Clear water fishes best.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Drop hard crab or ragworm into kelp gullies; strong gear and rotten-bottom. Best on neaps to mid-flood, Apr–Oct.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Plugs or soft plastics through white water on a flooding tide; freelined sandeel after dusk. Best after a swell, May–Oct.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Feathers or small metals into moving water on calm evenings, Jun–Sep. Avoid big swell and use a long-handled drop net.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Scratch with small hooks and fish baits into gullies at dusk/night; bites through ebb. Keep rigs just off the bottom to limit snags.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Night sessions with small sabikis under a glow float from mid-flood, Aug–Oct; keep baits mid-water.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Float-fish sandeel or mackerel strip 4–8 ft deep along tide lines on clear, settled days, May–Sep.
Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Small worm or crab baits under a float tight to rock faces and kelp, mid-tide, May–Sep.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: After dark drop big fish baits into deeper holes; 80 lb mono trace and rotten-bottom. Flood tide, best late summer–autumn.
Bull Huss 4/10
Tip: Large fish or squid baits at night from ledges near sand patches; calm to moderate sea, flood or slack. Occasional but good size.

Local knowledge

Stack Point fishing guide

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

Stack Point is a rocky headland on the west side of Falmouth Bay between Maenporth and Rosemullion Head, offering classic Cornish rock fishing into clean-to-mixed ground and kelp. It’s a versatile mark that produces wrasse and pollack in clear water, with bass and mackerel showing when baitfish push tight to the stones. Quiet ledges, decent depth and tide run make it a rewarding spot for lure and bait anglers alike.

This mark sits along the South West Coast Path near Mawnan/Maenporth, a short drive from Falmouth. Access is by coast-path footwork and short scrambles to rock ledges, so plan for a modest hike with care underfoot.

  • Approach from Maenporth Beach (pay-and-display; postcode roughly TR11 5HN), then follow the coast path east towards Rosemullion Head. Allow 20–30 minutes to reach fishable platforms around Stack Point.
  • Alternative approach via Mawnan/Rosemullion side using small lay-bys or National Trust parking options, then walk west along the coast path. Allow similar time.
  • Terrain is undulating with sections of narrow path, steps and short, steep drops to ledges. Footing can be greasy with weed and spray.
  • Footwear with good grip is essential; pack light and keep hands free for short down-climbs.
  • Parking is limited in peak season; arrive early or at unsociable hours for space.

The headland fishes year-round with a strong summer/autumn peak. Expect rough-ground regulars around kelp and gullies, plus passing pelagics.

  • Spring (Apr–May):
    • Ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse
    • Pollack (increasing through May)
    • Early bass on sandeels/soft plastics
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Pollack, mackerel, scad (horse mackerel), garfish
    • Ballan wrasse (prime time), occasional conger after dark
    • School bass, chance of better fish at dawn/dusk or in fizz
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Bass (often best of the year), pollack, mackerel (early autumn), scad
    • Pouting, poor cod, wrasse tailing off late
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting and pouting after dark
    • Conger from the rough ground
    • Occasional winter bass in weather windows

Rough-to-mixed ground tactics work best. Lure fishing is excellent in clear water; bait scores consistently in the gullies and on dusk tides.

  • Lures:
    • Soft plastics (10–20 g jigheads or weedless Texas rigs) for pollack and bass; work parallel to the kelp line at first/last light.
    • Metals and casting jigs (20–40 g) for mackerel/scad; vary retrieve, add pauses around tide turns.
    • Surface/sub-surface plugs in a light onshore ripple for bass.
  • Float fishing:
    • Float-fish ragworm, prawn or strips of mackerel for wrasse, pollack and garfish. Set depth to run just above kelp.
  • Bottom fishing:
    • Use strong gear and rotten-bottom links. Pulley or pulley-dropper for bass/conger with whole squid, squid/sandeel wraps or crab.
    • Two-hook flappers (size 2–1/0) for mixed species at medium range; aim for sand tongues between weed beds.
  • Tackle notes:
    • 20–30 lb braid with 30–40 lb leader (or 0.35–0.40 mono) to resist abrasion.
    • Long-handled net or gaff alternative is rarely practical; plan safe gully landings or handlines with care.
    • Barbless or crushed barbs make unhooking safer on slippery ledges.

Stack Point benefits from tidal flow wrapping the headland. Water clarity and wind direction strongly influence the fishing.

  • Tide states:
    • Flood to high water is often most productive, especially the last two hours of flood and first of ebb.
    • Springs increase movement and can switch pelagics on; neaps suit methodical wrasse and pollack work.
  • Wind and sea:
    • Sheltered in prevailing south-westerlies; clearer water favours wrasse/pollack on lures.
    • Easterlies and southerlies can push swell and weed in; bass may switch on in fizz, but ledges become risky.
  • Time of day:
    • Dawn/dusk for bass and pollack; mackerel/scad often at last light into night.
    • Night sessions for conger, pouting and whiting in winter.
  • Seasonality:
    • Peak mixed fishing from June through October. Winter windows can still produce on calmer nights.

This is a committing rock mark with uneven ground, weed, and occasional swell surges. Treat ledges with respect and fish with a partner where possible.

  • Slippery, weeded rock and short scrambles; not suitable for buggies or limited mobility.
  • Watch swell and set waves; keep low gear count and maintain escape routes.
  • Wear a personal flotation device, headtorch with spare batteries, and grippy footwear or studs/cleats.
  • Avoid fishing the lowest ledges on big tides or onshore swell; pick higher platforms.
  • Mobile signal is generally fair but can dip in gullies; tell someone your plan and timings.
  • No known blanket fishing bans; observe any temporary National Trust or landowner signage on path closures or erosion.

Facilities are limited at the headland; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby beaches and villages cover basics.

  • Nearest amenities at Maenporth Beach: café and seasonal toilets; pay-and-display parking (check seasonal hours/height barriers).
  • Additional options in Falmouth (10–20 minutes by car): supermarkets, cafes, fuel, and tackle shops.
  • Bins are scarce along the path; pack out all litter and line cuttings.
  • Phone reception usually workable on higher ground; weaker down on ledges.

Local anglers treat Stack Point as a mobile lure venue in clear water and a selective bait mark in colour or after dark.

  • After a blow from the west, this coast often clears quickly; strike while the water turns green/clear.
  • Fish lures tight to the kelp line; most hits come within the first 10–15 metres on the retrieve.
  • Carry a spare lure rod set up for opportunistic mackerel/scad at dusk.
  • Use rotten-bottom links and be disciplined with range; casting over kelp forests costs rigs.
  • Prawn or hardback crab under a float can pick out better wrasse in bright conditions.
  • Keep quiet and low on calm, clear evenings—bass cruise the edges within rod length.
  • Summer holiday evenings see paddlecraft and swimmers near Maenporth; walk a little further onto the point for space.

Angling from the shore is generally permitted at Stack Point, which falls within Cornwall IFCA’s district and near the Fal & Helford SAC. There are no site-specific blanket bans for line fishing here, but you must follow national and local rules.

  • Bass: Minimum size 42 cm and a strict recreational retention limit applies; seasons and bag limits can change. Check current MMO/DEFRA notices before your trip.
  • Mackerel, pollack, wrasse and other species: Observe national and any local minimum sizes and recommended catch-and-release for larger breeding fish (wrasse in particular are slow-growing).
  • Shellfish/crustaceans: Local MLS, berried female protections and gear restrictions apply; check Cornwall IFCA byelaws if considering collecting.
  • Protected sites: Parts of the wider area include marine protected designations; while shore angling is typically allowed, abide by any on-site signage or temporary path/land access notices.
  • Always carry a rubbish bag, avoid live-rock disturbance, and follow the Angling Trust’s Code of Conduct.
  • For authoritative updates: consult Cornwall IFCA and the UK Government/MMO websites before fishing.