Summary
Tregonhawke Beach sits in the heart of Whitsand Bay on Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula, a sweeping surf beach backed by dramatic cliffs and scattered rock patches. It’s a classic South West surf mark for bass and small‑eyed rays, with room to spread out and plenty of water movement to work with. Expect productive night tides, fast‑forming gutters, and a proper workout on the steep paths.
Location and Access
Reaching Tregonhawke is straightforward by car along Military Road on the clifftop, but the descent is steep and not suitable for limited mobility. Parking is at cliff‑top lay‑bys and car parks serving the Tregonhawke chalets and beach paths. Nearest reference postcode often used for the cliff access is PL10 1JZ (by The View restaurant).
Seasons
This is a mixed surf and broken‑ground beach with year‑round potential. Expect different targets as the water warms and clears through the year.
- Spring (Mar–May): schoolie and early bass, small‑eyed ray, dogfish, occasional plaice and turbot, wrasse and pollack off nearby rocks
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (dawn/dusk in surf), small‑eyed and spotted rays, gurnards, mackerel and garfish in clearer spells, wrasse from rocks, the odd smoothhound and huss after dark
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass, consistent small‑eyed rays, increasing whiting, better chance of huss; odd turbot closer in on calm days
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, dogfish, bull huss, chance of a ray in settled windows, occasional codling in cold snaps; flounder in calmer corners
- Occasional/bonus: tope pup, spurdog (must be released), conger from rougher ends, sole in very calm, warm nights
Methods
Traditional beachcasting dominates, with distance useful for rays yet many bass coming in close to the first breaker. Work the gutters and seams; move if your ground isn’t lively.
- Rigs: pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) and up‑and‑over for rays; clipped 2‑up/1‑down for whiting; long‑snood single hook for turbot/plaice on calm days
- Leads: 5–6 oz breakout grips for surf; plain leads for short‑range bass work in gentle seas
- Baits: sandeel (whole or halves) and squid strips for small‑eyed rays; peeler crab or fresh lug/sandeel for bass; mackerel/bluey cocktails for huss; rag or lug for gurnards/flatfish; mackerel slivers under a float for gars in clear water
- Lures: 20–40 g metals and slim minnows in clear, moderate surf; weedless soft plastics in the close gutters; surface lures at dawn/dusk on calmer days
- Distances: bass often 10–40 yards in the churn; rays commonly 70–110 yards onto slightly firmer sand
- Times: dusk into dark is prime for rays, huss and larger bass; daytime sport possible after a blow or on overcast, onshore days
Tides and Conditions
Tregonhawke fishes on both states, but tide size, swell and colour decide the target. Plan your session around safe access—the beach can narrow quickly on springs.
- Best states: last 2 hours of the flood and first 2 of the ebb for bass in the surf; rays often build from mid‑flood through high and into the first of the ebb, especially after dark
- Tide size: mediums to small springs suit rays; big springs with heavy swell can be unfishable and risky
- Swell and wind: a moderating SW/W surf with some colour is ideal for bass; a settled window with gentle surf and clearer water favours rays and flats
- Water clarity: coloured = bass/whiting/dogs; clear and calm = rays/turbot/garfish potential
- Seasonality: late spring to late autumn is the headline period; winter is about picking settled gaps for whiting, dogs, huss and the odd surprise
Safety
This is a serious surf beach below high cliffs. Access is by steep paths and steps; plan your exit before you start fishing and watch the tide and swell constantly.
- Steep access: long, steep paths and steps; not suitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility; travel light and use a backpack
- Tidal cut‑off: beach narrows rapidly near high water, especially on springs; identify escape routes in daylight
- Surf/rips: powerful Atlantic surf and shifting rips; never wade deep, and keep clear of the swash zone in larger sets
- Cliffs: avoid sitting beneath unstable cliff faces; rockfall is possible after wet or windy weather
- Night fishing: headtorch plus spare, fully charged phone/power bank; mark your path up in daylight
- Footing: wet weeded rocks at either end are very slippery; wear cleated boots and consider a buoyancy aid/lifejacket if working close to rocks
- MOD range notices: the Tregantle Firing Range is to the east; respect any red flags/signage that may close parts of Whitsand Bay beyond Tregonhawke
- Lifeguards: seasonal RNLI patrols operate here—do not fish into flagged bathing/surfing zones in season
Facilities
Facilities are limited once you’re on the sand; plan as if there are none. Cliff‑top amenities are seasonal and scattered along Military Road.
- Parking: cliff‑top lay‑bys and car parks serving Tregonhawke access paths (pay‑and‑display in places)
- Food/drink: cafés and a restaurant near the cliff top (e.g., The View) operate seasonally/daytime; nothing on the beach after hours
- Toilets: no guaranteed public toilets on the beach; customer facilities at cafés/holiday parks when open
- Tackle/bait: options in Plymouth, Torpoint and Looe; bring bait with you if fishing late or off‑season
- RNLI: seasonal lifeguard presence at Tregonhawke; check board signage for flagged swimming areas
- Mobile signal: generally better on the cliff; patchy down on the beach and in coves
Tips
Think ‘mobile surf fishing’: read the water, find the gutters, and don’t be afraid to move 50 yards to freshen your chances. Rays love a clean presentation and fresh sandeel.
- Gutters: look for darker seams and first/second breakers—bass often patrol here at surprisingly short range
- Fresh sandeel: whole launce or neat squid/sandeel cocktails out‑fish old, mushy packs for small‑eyed rays
- Lead choice: step up to firm 6 oz grip leads on punchy surf days; drop to plain leads to roll and search close‑in for bass
- Hooks: strong, sharp 3/0–4/0 pennels for rays and huss; size 1–2 for flats and whiting; crush barbs if you’re practicing C&R
- Weed watch: after a big blow, suspended weed can be brutal—fish the dropping surf 24–48 hours after the peak when it clears
- Etiquette: give surfers and swimmers generous space; in summer, avoid flagged zones and fish at dawn, dusk or after lifeguards finish
- Backup plan: if the swell overruns Tregonhawke, try more sheltered corners of Whitsand Bay or nearby rock marks on the flood
Regulations
Rod‑and‑line sea angling is permitted at Tregonhawke Beach. However, you must follow national and local rules and any on‑site signage.
- Bass (England, 2025): recreational limit typically 2 fish per angler per day from 1 March–30 November; catch‑and‑release only in December–January; minimum size 42 cm. Always check the latest DEFRA notice before you go.
- Spurdog: retention by recreational anglers is prohibited—return alive
- Skates/rays: handle carefully and return brood fish; check Cornwall IFCA minimum sizes and guidance; do not retain undulate ray if encountered (protected in many areas)
- Wrasse: a regulated live‑wrasse pot fishery exists in Cornwall; rod‑and‑line anglers are not directly restricted, but many locals release wrasse and avoid using them as bait
- Whitsand & Looe Bay Marine Conservation Zone: shore angling is allowed; avoid disturbing features and follow any local notices on bait collection or protected species
- MOD range: if red flags/lamps are flying at Tregantle (east of Tregonhawke), affected beach sections are closed—do not enter
- Seasonal lifeguard zones: no fishing into flagged bathing/surfing areas when operational
- General: observe size/bag limits (Cornwall IFCA/DEFRA), dispose of line/hooks properly, and respect private property on access paths
