Towan Beach, Roseland Fishing

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Towan Beach, Roseland Fishing Map

An east-facing sandy beach on the Roseland Peninsula with rocky fringes at both ends and clear water. Sheltered from prevailing south-westerlies but exposed to easterlies; a gentle slope over clean sand with patches of weed and gullies. Best on a flooding tide into dusk. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad close in; nights produce dogfish and the chance of small-eyed rays. The rock ends hold wrasse and pollack. Winter sees whiting after dark. Beware lesser weever in the shallows, slippery weeded rocks and being cut off around the rocky points at high water. Access is via National Trust paths with a moderate walk from nearby parking; facilities are limited but scenery is superb.

Ratings

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

Fish You Can Catch at Towan Beach, Roseland

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf line on a flooding tide; dusk/dawn best. Lures (metals/soft plastics) or sandeel/crab baits in a light swell. Try gullies and rocky ends when the sea is calm.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 7/10
🎯 Tip: Clean sand, night into 2 hrs either side of high. Long casts just beyond the first bar. Sandeel or launce baits, summer–autumn, settled seas.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer on peeler/hardback crab. Fish dusk on the flood into high across gutters and sand patches; 2/0–3/0 hooks on long snoods.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Very common after dark year-round. Small fish/squid baits on clean sand; short to medium casts. Good bite-finders while waiting for rays.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings when bait is in; cast metals/feathers to working birds or visible shoals. Best on the last of the flood into dusk.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm, clear seas; target the surf tables just behind the first breaker with small rag/shellfish on size 6–8 hooks. Dawn/evening on neap tides.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Nov–Feb after dark. Twin-hook flappers with small fish/squid/worm baits at range over clean sand. Often show on the first of the flood.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–early summer in clear water. Long casts over clean sand with beads/spoons; rag/lug tipped with shellfish. Daylight on neaps with light surf.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: June–Oct on warm, calm nights. Short casts to the surf line with rag/lug on long snoods; minimal lead movement. Try 2 hrs after dusk on the flood.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: From rocky ends only. Float or light ledger with crab/worm tight to kelp on the flood; summer–autumn. Avoid pure sand sections.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer–autumn in clear, calm seas. Floatfish small sandeel/mackerel strip at 2–6 ft, especially near the rocky points at dusk on a flooding tide.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 4/10
🎯 Tip: Common in summer in the shallow surf. Small rag or sandeel strips on size 6–8 while scratching. Handle with care—venomous spines.

Towan Beach, Roseland Fishing

Summary

Towan Beach on the Roseland Peninsula is a quiet, east-facing sweep of clean sand with rocky shoulders and deep gullies near St Anthony Head. It fishes best when there’s a little sea on it for bass, yet its clear-water days also suit lure work and species hunting from the rocks.

Location and Access

This mark sits on the St Anthony-in-Roseland side of Gerrans Bay, reached via the narrow lanes signposted from Portscatho/Gerrans towards St Anthony Head (National Trust). Access is via woodland and coast path trails; expect a short but steep walk with steps down to the sand.

  • Drive via Truro > Tregony > Portscatho, then follow brown National Trust signs for St Anthony Head
  • Parking: National Trust car parks around St Anthony Head/Porth; a commonly used sat-nav target is TR2 5HA (check on arrival for the closest car park open that day)
  • Footpaths: 10–15 minutes’ walk to the beach; uneven, often muddy after rain, with steps near the bottom
  • Terrain: Clean sand in the middle; broken ground and kelp-fringed rock ledges at either end; small stream outflow at times
  • Note: This is Towan Beach on the Roseland, not the better-known Towan at Newquay

Seasons

A mixed venue with surf-zone predators over sand and classic south-coast rock species on the shoulders. Seasonality matters.

  • Spring (Mar–May): School bass, flounder/plaice, garfish from May, wrasse on the rocks, early gurnard
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (including better fish at dusk), mackerel and scad on tides, garfish, pollack from rock points, ballan and corkwing wrasse, golden grey mullet around the stream/gutters, dogfish after dark; the odd small-eyed or spotted ray on bigger tides
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass window, mackerel tailing off, thicker pollack at dusk, gurnard, sole possible at night, plaice/dab
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting on dark neaps, dabs and the odd flounder; occasional dogfish; codling are rare on this coast but not impossible in prolonged cold snaps

Methods

Both beach ledgering and rock tactics work here; pick your ground and fish to the conditions.

  • Over sand (middle of the beach):
    • 1–2 hook flappers (size 2–1/0) with ragworm or lug for flatties and whiting
    • Up-and-over or long-trace rigs with beads/spoons for plaice in light surf
    • Pulley/pulley dropper with a pennelled 3/0–4/0 for bass/ray; baits: peeler crab, whole squid, sandeel
    • Grip leads 3–5 oz depending on surf; clipped-down rigs help in onshore winds
  • Rock shoulders and gullies:
    • Lures for bass/pollack: 20–40 g metals, slim minnows, and 4–6 inch soft plastics (weedless if kelpy)
    • Float fishing for wrasse/garfish with ragworm or prawn; depth-adjust to skim reef edges
    • Free-lined bread or small wagglers for mullet near calm, weedy corners/stream
  • Timing and presentation:
    • Bass: dusk/dawn, especially into a coloured, lively sea; keep moving to find gutters and rips
    • Flats/sole: after dark with small worm baits, tip with mackerel for scent; keep traces long and light
    • Rays (occasional): fish the first of the flood into dusk with sandeel/squid cocktails

Tides and Conditions

Towan prefers movement. A gentle to moderate onshore and a flooding tide transforms the venue, but it still rewards stealth on calm days.

  • Tide state: 2 hours up to high water and the first of the ebb are prime for bass; low-water gulleys can shine for flats in calm seas
  • Conditions: A modest easterly or southeasterly puts life on the beach; strong easterlies can create weed and awkward cross-drift
  • Clarity: Clear water suits finesse lures and float tactics; coloured water benefits bigger baits and silhouettes
  • Time of day: Dusk and dawn are standout, with proper after-dark bites for sole/whiting/plaice in summer–autumn
  • Seasonality: Late spring to late autumn is the main run for bass, garfish, mackerel and wrasse; winter shifts to whiting and dabs on neaps

Safety

It’s a natural beach approached by coast-path tracks and steps. Plan for the walk and treat the rock ends with respect.

  • Paths: Steep, uneven and often slippery after rain; good footwear is essential
  • Rocks: Seaweed makes ledges treacherous; use cleats or spiked soles, and a PFD if fishing the rocks
  • Tide: The rocky ends can be cut off on a fast flood; always hold the high-water line in mind
  • Sea state: Rips form around the gutters in onshore conditions; avoid wading beyond knee depth in swell
  • Night fishing: Carry spare headtorches and mind the return climb
  • Mobile signal: Patchy in places around St Anthony Head; tell someone your plans
  • Etiquette: In summer, expect swimmers and SUPs—give wide berth and avoid casting near people

Facilities

This is a low-key, National Trust-backed stretch with minimal amenities on the beach itself. Come self-sufficient.

  • Toilets: Usually at main National Trust car parks around St Anthony Head (none on the beach)
  • Food and drink: Seasonal cafés/refreshments around St Anthony Head and in Portscatho/St Mawes
  • Tackle and bait: Head to Truro, Falmouth or St Austell for full-service tackle shops and fresh bait
  • Lifeguards: None typically on this beach
  • Bins: Limited—pack out all litter and waste line
  • Phone signal: Variable; data coverage can drop near the cliffs/woods

Tips

Towan rewards watercraft. Read the sand and the edges, not just the horizon.

  • Find the gutters: Walk the strandline at low water to mark depressions and bars; fish these at dusk on the flood
  • When the spider crabs arrive (late spring), elastic your baits tight and consider tougher baits (squid wraps) to beat pickers
  • A small sandeel or Isome on a size 6–4 can winkle out gurnard and bonus flats when bites are shy
  • Watch the birds: Terns and gulls working tight often mean sandeels—clip on a slim metal for mackerel/bass
  • Carry a short handle landing net on the rocks to beat the kelp lip; many fish are lost in the last metre
  • Don’t ignore neaps: Clear, small tides can be brilliant for wrasse under a float and sight-fished mullet

Regulations

Shore angling is generally allowed here. There’s no known blanket ban on fishing at Towan Beach (Roseland), but follow posted National Trust guidance and local byelaws.

  • Bass (recreational): Minimum size 42 cm; a seasonal daily bag limit and closed periods apply—rules are reviewed annually. Check the latest MMO/DEFRA update before you go (recent years allowed limited retention Mar–Nov with catch-and-release outside that window)
  • Minimum sizes: Observe UK minimum conservation/reference sizes for common species (e.g., mackerel, plaice, wrasse not usually retained); when in doubt, release
  • Protected areas: The wider Fal–Helford area includes designated conservation sites; avoid disturbing wildlife, seals and nesting birds, and respect any temporary access restrictions
  • Methods: No fires on the beach; no camping in dunes/woods; keep clear of any marked swim/kayak areas in peak season
  • Bait and foraging: Only collect bait where permitted; some estuarine zones nearby have restrictions—avoid saltmarshes and protected beds
  • Always check Cornwall IFCA byelaws and any National Trust signage on arrival, as local rules can change