Stanbury Mouth Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Stanbury Mouth Fishing Map

Remote, rugged cove on the north Cornwall coast between Sandymouth and Duckpool near Morwenstow. Access is via the South West Coast Path and a steep, sometimes slippery descent to a boulder-and-sand pocket beach flanked by kelp-grown rock ledges. The ground is mixed rough with gullies, ledges and patches of sand that form surf channels on a swell. It fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk, with summer clarity bringing pollack, wrasse, mackerel and scad tight to the rocks, while surf and coloured water suit bass. Night sessions over the rough ground can turn up pouting and the odd conger. Atlantic swell, backwash and cliff hazards are significant—pick calm windows, watch the tide to avoid cut-off, and choose higher ledges if any swell is running. Parking is typically at Sandymouth or Duckpool (National Trust) followed by a 20–30 minute walk.

Ratings

⭐ 5.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 3/10

Fish You Can Catch at Stanbury Mouth

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach; fish the flood into dusk with peeler crab or sandeel, or metal/surface lures in white water. Work gutters and rips; avoid heavy swell.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Lures at dawn/dusk along kelp gullies from the points on a flooding tide; cast parallel to rock lines. Use soft shads or slim metals.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Rocky ledges either side; fish flood to high with crab or prawn, or weedless soft plastics. Strong tackle; use rotten-bottom over kelp.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night on the sandy patch with squid or fish baits on pulley rigs; best around first of the flood. Use gripper leads in surf.
🐟 Bull Huss 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark over rough ground with big fish/crab baits; mid-flood to high. Heavy gear and rubbing leaders; expect snags.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer, calm seas; feathering or small metals from rock points on the rise to high. Watch swell and ledge access.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer/autumn at dusk into dark; small sabikis or float-fished strips from deeper edges over the flood/high water.
🐟 Rock Goby 5/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks baited with worm/shrimp in rockpools and gullies on the flood; keep baits tight to structure.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Night from kelpy gullies with large fish baits; slack to first of the flood. 30–50 lb gear and strong leaders.
🐟 Long-spined Sea Scorpion 4/10
🎯 Tip: Small static baits among boulders at low to mid tide; slow lift-and-drop along kelp edges.

Stanbury Mouth Fishing

Summary

Stanbury Mouth is a wild, seldom-visited cove on North Cornwall’s Atlantic coast where the River Tidna meets the sea, between Duckpool and Morwenstow. It rewards the fit and prepared angler with proper surf-bass conditions, rough-ground species off the flanking ledges, and glorious solitude.

Location and Access

This is a remote mark reached on foot via the South West Coast Path or public footpaths down the Tidna valley. Allow time for a strenuous approach and be ready for steep ground and uneven surfaces.

  • General area: North of Bude, between Duckpool and Morwenstow, at the mouth of the River Tidna
  • Approaches: via the Coast Path from Duckpool (to the south) or from the Morwenstow side; or by a public footpath down the Tidna valley from inland lanes
  • Parking: National Trust car parks at Duckpool or Sandymouth; limited parking around Morwenstow/hamlets inland—respect signage and residents
  • Walking time: typically 25–45 minutes depending on route and fitness; multiple steep descents/ascents on the Coast Path
  • Terrain at the mark: boulder/pebble beach with pockets of sand; rugged rock ledges on both sides; stream outflow across the stones
  • Footwear: sturdy boots with good grip; waders optional if you intend to work the stream edge in calm surf

Seasons

This is classic mixed, rough-ground and surf territory with seasonal variety. Expect bass and wrasse as headliners, with predators patrolling the ledges and summer visitors on calm evenings.

  • Spring (Apr–Jun): bass (crab and sandeel baits), ballan wrasse, pollack; occasional garfish; spider crabs abundant at times
  • Summer (Jul–Sep): bass (dawn/dusk), mackerel, garfish, scad, pollack, ballan wrasse; bull huss after dark; chance of conger from deeper ledges
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass, pollack, wrasse tapering off; increasing dogfish; whiting appear after dark; occasional codling in a real stir
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pout, rockling on calmer nights; occasional huss and conger from rough ground; bass still possible in heavy colour close-in
  • Year-round by-catch: dogfish, corkwing wrasse (LRF), blennies and gobies in the gullies

Methods

Treat Stanbury Mouth as two marks in one: a surf beach around the river mouth and rough-ground ledges either side. Tailor gear to snaggy ground and surge.

  • Surf/bottom fishing (beach): pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) with rotten-bottom link; 4–5 oz grip lead; sandeel, squid, mackerel or crab for bass/huss
  • Distance scratching (clearer water/night): 2-hook flapper size 1–2 with lug/rag/mackerel strip for whiting and mixed fish; keep rigs streamlined
  • Rough-ground ledges: strong gear (20–25 lb mono or 30–40 lb braid, 60 lb leader); pulley or up-and-over; fish baits for huss/conger after dark
  • Float fishing the ledges: size 1–1/0 hooks, ragworm/crab for wrasse; set 10–20 ft; abrasion-resistant trace (30–40 lb mono)
  • Lure tactics: dawn/dusk or overcast days; shallow divers and weedless soft plastics (sandeel/shad) around the stream seam and gullies; metals when it’s choppy or for range
  • LRF/HRF: isome-style worms and small creature baits for mini species in slack water; step up leader around barnacled rock
  • Presentation notes: use a weak link/rotten-bottom on all bottom rigs; work baits across the colour line from the Tidna outflow; keep terminal tackle simple to beat the snags

Tides and Conditions

Tide and sea state are everything here. The stream adds colour and structure, often making marginal days into bass days.

  • Best tide windows: last 3 hours of the flood and first of the ebb for bass; mid-to-high for float/lure work off the ledges
  • Neaps vs springs: neaps are kinder over the rough ground; big springs create strong rips and increase cut-off risk on ledges
  • Surf and colour: a 1–3 ft rolling surf with some peat-stained colour from the river is ideal for bass; heavy swell/backwash becomes unfishable
  • Wind: W–NW winds generate productive surf but also weed; light E/SE flattens and clears for lures; SW can be workable if not too big
  • Time of day: first light and dusk are prime for bass and pollack; after-dark brings huss/whiting/conger onto the feed
  • Seasonality: May–November is the main window for lure/surf bass; winter favours after-dark scratching on calmer nights

Safety

This is a committing, exposed Atlantic mark with serious cliff and surf hazards. It is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

  • Paths: steep, narrow, and slippery when wet; take your time, especially on descents to the beach
  • Cut-off risk: both flanking ledges can cut off rapidly on a building tide—plan an escape route and set a hard time to leave
  • Swell and backwash: boulder beach surges dangerously; never turn your back on the sea; avoid in big swell or on storms
  • Footing: kelp, algae and barnacles make rock ledges treacherous; wear grippy boots; consider studded soles
  • Personal safety: wear a lifejacket when on the rocks; fish with a partner; carry a headtorch, spare light, and a throw line
  • Communications: mobile signal is patchy; download offline maps; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
  • Livestock and access: stick to waymarked paths, close gates, keep dogs on leads, and heed any temporary cliff-nesting bird or path-closure notices

Facilities

Come self-sufficient—there are no facilities at the mark itself. Nearby National Trust sites and Bude provide services.

  • On-site: no toilets, water, bins or lighting; pack out all litter and line
  • Nearby toilets: seasonal facilities at Duckpool and Sandymouth (National Trust); public conveniences in Bude
  • Food and cafés: options in Bude and at Morwenstow (seasonal tea rooms); nothing at the cove
  • Tackle and bait: shops in Bude and Kilkhampton (fresh/frozen bait, lures, leads)
  • Parking: National Trust car parks at Duckpool/Sandymouth; limited informal parking inland—check signs, do not block gateways
  • Phone signal: intermittent on the coast; generally better inland or on higher ground

Tips

Subtle reading of the river seam and ground changes pays off here. Think stealth, timing, and snag-proofing.

  • After rain, fish tight to the colour line where fresh meets salt—the bass often track the seam
  • Use a short, weak link to your lead on any bottom rig; accept you’ll donate some gear
  • In summer, try a small topwater/patchinko-style lure at first light over the stream fan before the surf builds
  • Peeler crab is dynamite in spring; in weedier spells switch to tough baits (squid/mackerel) or lures to beat crab attention
  • “May rot” (algal bloom/weed) can be severe—lures or float tactics help when bottom fishing is unfishable
  • Night sessions: keep lights low and pointed away from the water; bass and huss patrol surprisingly shallow here
  • Watch for seals and porpoises; if they’re working bait tight in, metal lures or small sandeels can find mackerel/scad quickly
  • Waders can help position on the boulders in gentle surf, but never wade if there’s any push on the sea

Regulations

Recreational sea angling is generally permitted here, but rules change and local byelaws apply. Always check the latest guidance before you go.

  • Management: this coastline falls under Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) and the UK MMO—review current byelaws and national rules
  • Bass: recreational bass regulations (seasons, bag limits, and minimum size) are reviewed annually—check current MMO/IFCA notices before retaining any fish
  • Minimum sizes: adhere to current Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for all species; measure and release undersized fish
  • Protected/prohibited species: release allis/twaite shad if encountered; release spurdog and tope; if you accidentally hook bluefin tuna, do not boat or remove from water—release immediately unless you are on an authorised scientific/tagging programme
  • Crustaceans: do not take berried or v-notched lobsters/crabs; observe local shellfish rules and voluntary conservation measures
  • Access and environment: keep to public rights of way, avoid disturbing nesting seabirds, and follow Leave No Trace principles
  • If in doubt: contact Cornwall IFCA or a local tackle shop for up-to-date, mark-relevant regulations before retaining fish