Summerleaze Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Summerleaze Beach Fishing Map

A wide sandy surf beach in Bude with easy access, backed by dunes and a large car park. The Bude Canal/river mouth and harbour entrance at the northern end create channels and gutters that draw fish on a flooding tide. Bass in the surf, flatfish over the clean sand, and winter whiting are the main targets, with occasional rays and smoothhounds in settled summer spells. Best results come at dawn/dusk or into darkness, fishing the runnels and the estuary channel. Be aware of strong surf and rips, and avoid bathing/surfing zones in season.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Summerleaze Beach

🐟 Bass 9/10
🎯 Tip: Surf beach; fish dawn/dusk or after dark in a rolling sea. Shallow lures or lug/sandeel on simple running rig. Target gutters and first bar on a flooding tide.
🐟 Mackerel 8/10
🎯 Tip: Summer to early autumn. Feathering or small metals from the breakwater on the flood; best at dawn/evening or when baitfish show.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights on clean sand; 2–3 hook flappers with lug, maddies or small sandeel. Best on the flood into darkness.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn. Long-cast sandeel or bluey on pulley dropper to clean sand beyond first bar; dusk into night on neaps works well.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer nights. Fresh peeler/soft crab on 3/0–4/0 running rig over clean ground; fish the flood around dusk.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer nights near harbour lights; small sabikis or size 6 hooks with slivers. Fish midwater on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn. Float-fish sandeel or strip 1–2 m deep along the breakwater on a flooding tide; clear water helps.
🐟 Pollack 5/10
🎯 Tip: From the breakwater rocks at dusk; work soft plastics or metal jigs parallel to structure on the flood, keep lures deep.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Autumn–winter near the river mouth; light running rig with lug or rag. Cast to channels on last of the ebb and first of the flood.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or prawn baits tight to breakwater rocks/kelp. Daytime over the flood; strong tackle and rotten-bottom advised.
🐟 Turbot 4/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional in settled surf; long casts with whole sandeel on pulley dropper. Best mid-flood over clean sand.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 4/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with rag or prawn close to weeded rock edges of the breakwater; float or light ledger on the flood.

Summerleaze Beach Fishing

Summary

Summerleaze Beach sits at the heart of Bude on Cornwall’s north coast, framed by a harbour entrance, the iconic Bude Sea Pool and a long, surf-washed strand. It’s a classic mixed venue where surf-bass tactics meet light estuary-style fishing near the canal outflow, with rock-ledges and the breakwater offering extra options. Busy by day in summer, it really comes into its own at dawn, dusk and after dark.

Location and Access

Access is straightforward, with a large pay-and-display car park directly behind the beach and level routes from Bude town centre. The harbour, canal sea lock and breakwater sit at the southern end; the Sea Pool and rockier ground are to the north.

Seasons

Species vary with season and conditions, with surf predators in lively water and flatfish or rays in calmer spells. Expect quick, mobile sessions to outperform static camping in summer daylight.

Methods

This is a versatile mark: bring a surf setup for the open beach, light gear for the outflow and a lure or float rod for the breakwater and rough-ground edges.

Tides and Conditions

Tide size and wind direction shape this beach. Aim to read the bars and gutters and fish when water movement meets visibility for your target.

Safety

This is a lifeguarded, family beach with strong surf dynamics, rips near the harbour and Sea Pool, and big-tide ranges. Respect the flags and keep well away from bathers at all times.

Facilities

Facilities are excellent by Cornish standards, with most amenities within a short stroll of the car park and promenade.

Tips

Treat Summerleaze like three marks in one: open surf, harbour/outflow, and rough-ground edges. Move to find fish and time your visit when beach traffic is light.

Regulations

Angling is generally permitted, but you must comply with RNLI flagged zones, harbour notices and any Cornwall Council signage. Regulations change—check current rules before you fish.