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Cornwall

Talland Bay

6.9 · Rocks · Cornwall

Talland Bay is a mixed-ground venue between Looe and Polperro with boulder-strewn rock ledges, kelp beds and interspersed sand patches. Most anglers target the rocky points either side of the two small beaches, where wrasse and pollack dominate in warmer months; on clear summer evenings mackerel, garfish and scad often move tight to shore. After dark the gullies produce pouting, rockling and occasional conger, while dogfish turn up on the sand tongues. A flooding tide into high generally fishes best, with dusk and the first of the ebb also productive. Water clarity is usually good in easterlies but colours up after a south-westerly blow. Access is via the bay car park and the coast path, with short scrambles to reach the ledges. Take care with slippery weed, swell and rising-tide cut-offs, and use a drop net or long-handled net for safe landing.

Should you fish Talland Bay?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:19

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Talland Bay — 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.

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· 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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Talland Bay is a compact mixed-ground rock-and-sand venue where the best results usually come from matching the ground to the target species. Fish the rocky points, kelp edges and gullies for wrasse, pollack and bass in daylight or low light, then switch to sand tongues and rough-ground edges after dark for dogfish, pouting, rockling, huss and occasional conger. The flood into high is the main window, especially the last two hours of the push, with dusk and the first of the ebb also worth staying for.

  • Know when to fish the rocky points instead of the sandy centre.
  • Time the last two hours of the flood for Talland’s best general window.
  • Pick the right Talland tactic for wrasse, pollack, bass or dogfish.
  • Avoid wasting a session when swell, weed or summer crowds work against you.
  • Use the sand tongues as a practical fallback when the ledges are poor.

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Carey Park 0.6 mi Polperro 1.1 mi Looe 2.4 mi Pelynt 2.6 mi Downderry 5.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Carey Park · Polperro · Looe · Pelynt · Downderry

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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 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Rough ground on either headland; float or freelined crab/rag into kelp gullies. Best mid-flood to high, spring-autumn. Keep tackle strong; expect snags.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work shallow diving plugs or soft plastics across surfy gutters and rocky points. After blows, fish peeler crab or sandeel on the sand.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Lure-fish from the rocky points into deeper water at dusk on a flooding tide; 20-40 g metals or weedless sandeels. Keep lures high to avoid kelp.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: After dark over the sandy centre; simple two-hook flappers with mackerel/squid. Best on a flooding to high tide, neap seas.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Summer shoals in clear water; feathering or small metals from the rocks at mid-to-high tide, evenings best. Don't cast over swimmers/day crowds.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Under ledges in weedy gullies; size 6-8 hooks, small rag/krill. Fish the flood into high, summer best. Light gear but steady the first run.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring-autumn in clear, calm seas; float a small mackerel strip 4-6 ft deep over sand on the flood. Keep hooks fine and barbed-down.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: Night from rough ground; big mackerel/squid baits, 80 lb trace, rotten-bottom lead. Best around high on neaps; keep fish out of snags fast.
Golden-grey Mullet 5/10
Tip: Warm months over the sandy shallows on the flood; tiny ragworm baits on baited spoons or delicate float gear. Stay stealthy in clear water.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 4/10
Tip: Calm corners and weed lines; bread flake or small harbour rag under a float. Chum lightly. Early morning flood in summer.
Black Bream 4/10
Tip: Late spring-autumn over broken ground; small strips of squid or prawn on size 4-6, light rigs. Best on calm, bright days around mid-to-high.
Flounder 3/10
Tip: Light ledger or running paternoster with rag/lug on the sandy centre; fish the last of the ebb and first of the flood. Gentle lob casts.

Local knowledge

Talland Bay fishing guide

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

Talland Bay sits between Looe and Polperro on Cornwall’s south coast, offering a pair of sandy coves framed by rock ledges, kelp beds and gullies. It’s a scenic, sheltered mark that rewards mobile, thoughtful fishing with wrasse, bass and summer pelagics, plus night-time chances for huss and the odd ray on the sand patches.

Talland Bay is reached via narrow country lanes off the A387 between Looe and Polperro. There are two small beaches with easy access and a fringe of rock platforms either side that provide numerous short-range marks.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display by the beach; arrive early in summer. A useful postcode for sat-nav is PL13 2JA (beach cafés/car park area).
  • Approach: Single-track lanes with passing places; drive cautiously in peak holiday times.
  • Walk-in: 1–5 minutes to the sand; 5–15 minutes to pick your way onto rock ledges either side of the coves.
  • Terrain: Mixed—firm sand, pebbles, weed-covered rocks and low ledges. Studded boots help. The South West Coast Path runs along the cliffs for exploring further marks.

This is classic mixed-ground fishing with seasonal variety. Expect reliable wrasse and pollack in clear weather, summer shoals on the surface, and nocturnal predators after dark.

  • Spring: Ballan and corkwing wrasse (building from April), schoolie bass, pollack, occasional plaice/smaller flatfish on sandy tongues, early smoothhound in late spring on crab.
  • Summer: Wrasse (prime time), pollack, bass (dawn/dusk and surfy days), mackerel, garfish, scad, mullet in calm corners, pout/poor cod, dogfish; night chances for bull huss and the odd small-eyed ray; occasional smoothhound.
  • Autumn: Bass peak, wrasse until the first frosts, mackerel/scad tailing off by October, whiting start showing, conger after dark; occasional squid on clear evenings.
  • Winter: Whiting, pout, dogfish, conger from deeper crevices, odd pollack on lures in settled spells; a bonus ray is possible on the cleaner patches.

Mobile, light-to-medium tactics score here, tailoring approach to the ground in front of you. Fish the rocks actively by day and switch to bottom tactics after dark.

  • Rock wrasse/pollack: Float-fish ragworm, prawn or crab along kelp edges; or work 10–20 g weedless soft plastics for pollack. Use 20–30 lb fluoro leaders around rough ground.
  • Bass: Surface and sub-surface lures (pencils, walkers, slim minnows) at first/last light on a gentle swell; or ledger peeler crab/sandeel into sandy seams on the flood.
  • Summer pelagics: Metals and feathers/sabikis for mackerel and scad; add a float with strip for garfish.
  • Bottom fishing: 2-hook flapper with size 2–1/0 for mixed species on cleaner sand; pulley or running ledger with 3/0–5/0 and a weak link/rotten-bottom for huss/ray around rough patches.
  • Night tactics: Big fish baits (mackerel/squid cocktails) for huss/conger; keep rigs simple and strong (60 lb rubbing leader).
  • LRF/micro: Isome, small metals and tiny creature baits will find blennies, gobies, small wrasse and pout around the boulders.
  • Baits to bring: Rag/lug, peeler or hardback crab, sandeel, mackerel strip, squid, prawn. Fresh crab is a standout for wrasse, bass and smoothhound.

Talland is fairly sheltered; clarity can be excellent after easterlies, making it great for sighty lure work. A modest swell perks up bass and wrasse, but heavy surf makes some ledges unfishable.

  • Tide state: Flood into high water fishes well, especially the last 2 hours of the push; wrasse also feed briskly mid-tide over the reefs. Low water is good for prospecting gullies and accessing lower ledges—watch for cut-off.
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk are prime for bass and pollack; night fishing brings huss, conger and whiting on the sand tongues.
  • Conditions: Clear, calm water favours lures and float gear; a light onshore roll adds bass opportunities. After storms, expect weed and coloured water—switch to scent-led baits.
  • Wind: Easterlies flatten the sea (great for surface lures), strong southerlies can push swell onto the rocks; westerlies funnel chop into the bay and can load weed.

The rocks are low but can be treacherous with weed, swell and rising tides. Treat Talland as a classic mixed-ground rock mark—plan your escape routes and gear accordingly.

  • Slippery ground: Wear cleated/studded boots; avoid green weeded plates and wet kelp.
  • Swell and wash: Rogue sets rebound off the ledges—stay well back and keep bags high. Avoid very large swell on spring highs.
  • Cut-off risk: Some lower ledges flood early; note the tide and step back before you need to.
  • Night fishing: Bring a headtorch with spare batteries; keep your route simple and tidy your area to avoid trip hazards.
  • Safety kit: A flotation aid/lifejacket and a throw line are sensible on any rock mark.
  • Accessibility: Beach access is easy; the rock platforms require scrambling and are not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Mobile signal can be patchy at water level but improves up the path.

Despite its tucked-away feel, Talland has seasonal amenities right by the sand. Stock up on bait and terminal gear before you descend the lanes.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display by the beach; it fills quickly in summer.
  • Toilets: Usually available seasonally near the car park/cafés (check opening times outside peak season).
  • Food & drink: Two seasonal beach cafés operate at Talland Bay.
  • Tackle & bait: Head to Looe for tackle shops and fresh/frozen bait; limited or no tackle retail at the bay itself.
  • Signal & lighting: Patchy phone signal; no lighting after dark—bring headtorches. No freshwater taps on the rocks.

Think small distances and precise placement—most fish are tight to kelp edges, seams and sand/rock boundaries. A little stealth pays off, especially in clear water.

  • Recon: Arrive an hour or two before low to map gullies, weed beds and sandy tongues; fish the push back up.
  • Rotten-bottoms: Use weak links on any lead dropped near boulders or reef; you’ll save gear and fish more confidently.
  • Crab rules: Hardback crabs from rockpools are superb wrasse bait—use sparingly and return small ones; never strip a pool bare.
  • Mullet moments: On calm, bright days, mullet cruise the corners and stream outflows—bread flake under a light controller float can be deadly.
  • Summer crowds: Swim zones and kayaks/SUPs proliferate on hot days—fish early/late and avoid casting near bathers.
  • Squid watch: Clear, still autumn evenings can see squid under headtorch light—carry a couple of Egi jigs just in case.

Sea angling is permitted at Talland Bay, but you must follow national and local rules. Regulations can change—always check current guidance before your session.

  • Bass (recreational): Check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice. Recent rules have allowed a limited daily bag with a 42 cm minimum size during a defined open season, and catch-and-release outside that window.
  • Minimum sizes: Observe minimum conservation reference sizes for any fish you retain (e.g., bass 42 cm) and for shellfish. Cornwall IFCA enforces byelaws—verify current MLS and any seasonal closures.
  • Shellfish/crustaceans: Do not take berried or soft-shelled crabs/lobsters. Respect any local notices restricting collection, and avoid disturbing seagrass beds.
  • Protected areas: Parts of the south Cornwall coast fall within Marine Conservation Zones and SSSIs. Shore angling is generally allowed, but some activities (e.g., commercial gathering) may be restricted—heed local signage.
  • Access and courtesy: Keep clear of bathers and watercraft, don’t block lanes or gateways, and take all litter and line home. If signage temporarily restricts fishing in busy swim areas, comply and move along the coast path.
  • Licensing: No rod licence is required for sea fishing in England, but a permit is needed for some estuary/harbour piers; none is typically required at Talland’s open shore.

Always confirm the latest rules with the Marine Management Organisation and Cornwall IFCA before retaining fish or shellfish.