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Cornwall

Trevaunance Cove

7.2 · Rocks · Cornwall

A picturesque north-coast Cornish cove at St Agnes with rocky ledges, kelp beds and mixed rough ground giving way to sandy patches. Most anglers fish the rock arms on either side of the beach and around the old harbour remains. Summer brings clear water, wrasse, mackerel, garfish and scad; dusk and dawn are prime for pollack and bass. Fish the flooding tide or first of the ebb in settled weather with a safe swell. Access is straightforward from the cove car park, but the rocks can be slippery and Atlantic swells are hazardous—pick calm days and avoid swell surges.

Should you fish Trevaunance Cove?

57 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Fair conditions. Best around 18:00-21:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 3 mph Rain 24% High tide 10:54

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Trevaunance Cove — 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.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Trevaunance Cove is a compact but varied north-coast Cornish cove where the key decision is whether to fish the kelp-fringed rock arms or drop back to the sand and old harbour area. In settled weather it is strongest on a flooding tide, especially around dawn and dusk, with wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish and bass the main warm-weather targets. The same rough ground that holds fish also makes the mark snaggy and exposed: heavy Atlantic swell, dirty water and high spring tides around low ledges are the main reasons to avoid the rocks.

  • Know when to fish the rock arms and when to drop back to the sand.
  • Use the flood properly for wrasse, pollack, bass and summer pelagics.
  • Pick the right tactic for kelp gullies, sand patches and old harbour ground.
  • Avoid the swell and tide traps that make the ledges a poor choice.
  • Have a practical backup plan before Trevaunance gets too rough or crowded.

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St Agnes 0.6 mi Trevellas 1.3 mi Mount Hawke 2.6 mi Perranporth 2.6 mi Bolingey 2.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: St Agnes · Trevellas · Mount Hawke · Perranporth · Bolingey

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

7.2 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Ballan Wrasse 9/10
Tip: Rough kelp gullies either side of the cove; float-fished crab or rag, or soft plastics. Best on flooding tide, late spring–autumn.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work metal jigs or SPs along the rock points at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; also float-fish sandeel/mackerel strip over kelp. Swell and colour help.
Bass 7/10
Tip: After a swell, fish plugs or SPs around boulders/white water on the flood into dusk; or bait (peeler/sandeel) into sand patches. Autumn blows best.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals from the points/harbour; small metals or feathers, evenings through dusk on the flood. Clear water helps.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late-summer nights; small metals or sabikis worked under lights from the harbour wall on the flood.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Abundant in kelp fringes; small hooks, rag/lug or prawn under a float close to rock faces. Flooding tide, calm to moderate sea, May–Sep.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: Night sessions into kelpy gullies; strong gear, large fish baits (mackerel/squid). Best low to mid flood, calm to slight sea.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float fish small strip or live sandeel off the harbour or points. Dusk on the flood in clear water.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
Tip: Cruise inside the harbour/back of surf; bread flake or small bait on light gear, stealth essential. Best on neap/flood, summer–early autumn.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: Darkness around rough ground; small fish baits or rag on 2-hook flapper into sand patches at mid–high water. Autumn–winter.

Local knowledge

Trevaunance Cove fishing guide

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

Trevaunance Cove is St Agnes’s compact, north-coast cove framed by rugged granite and kelp-fringed reefs. It’s a versatile shore mark offering beach and rock fishing with summer pelagics, wrasse-filled gullies, and moody night sessions for eels and bass. Come for the scenery and stay for the consistent fishing at dawn, dusk, and on a pushing tide.

Set on Cornwall’s Atlantic side at St Agnes, the cove is easy to reach by road, with short walks to the sand and slipway and more demanding scrambles to the rock marks. Expect firm paths near the beach and rough, weedy rock platforms on either flank of the cove.

  • Follow signs from the A30 via the B3277 to St Agnes, then Trevaunance Cove; well signposted in the village.
  • Pay-and-display car park by the beach; spaces fill quickly in summer—arrive early or fish dawn/dusk.
  • The beach and slipway are a minute from parking; rock marks to east and west involve uneven paths, steps, and short scrambles.
  • Ground is mixed: clean sand in the middle of the cove, heavy kelp and rocky ledges either side, and remnants of old harbour structures.

The cove fishes seasonally, with clear summer water bringing pelagics and wrasse, and cooler months suiting night ledgering. Below is a realistic pattern rather than an exhaustive list.

  • Spring (Apr–Jun): Pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early school bass, garfish late spring; first mackerel typically appear in June.
  • Summer (Jul–Sep): Mackerel and garfish in numbers, scad at dusk, pollack along the kelp edge, wrasse in the gullies, bass on lively evenings; occasional gurnard and small flatfish over sand patches.
  • Autumn (Oct–Nov): Bass improve after a blow, pollack remain reliable, scad and mackerel linger into early autumn; whiting begin to show on darker nights.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pouting, and dogfish from the sand on calmer nights; conger from rough ground year-round, with better odds after dark. Odd codling possible in strong northerlies but not dependable here.

This is a mixed-ground venue, so choose methods to match sand versus reef and the level of swell. Scale your tackle to cope with kelp and snags on the flanks.

  • Lure fishing: Metals (20–40 g), small casting jigs, and 10–15 cm soft plastics on 20–30 lb braid with 30–40 lb leader; weedless Texas/weighted hooks excel in kelp for pollack and bass. Best at dawn/dusk and on a flooding tide.
  • Float fishing: 10–20 g clear floats fishing 8–15 ft deep along the kelp line; baits include live prawn, peeler crab, rag/lug for wrasse, and mackerel strip for garfish/mackerel.
  • Bottom fishing (sand): 2-hook flapper, size 2–1, with ragworm, lugworm, sandeel or mackerel strip for whiting, flats, and scad; keep leads streamlined to cast beyond the shore break.
  • Bottom fishing (rough): Pulley/pennel rigs with 3/0–4/0 hooks and a weak-link (rotten-bottom) for conger/bass/huss; big mackerel or squid baits at night close to reef edges.
  • Fly and LRF: On calm, clear evenings try saltwater flies for gar/pollack or light rock fishing around the boulders and weed beds; mind sudden swells.

Movement is key: the cove often wakes up on the push and around dusk. Swell direction and water clarity strongly influence lure and float fishing success.

  • Tide state: Flood to high water is reliable from both beach and rocks; low-water springs open up productive wrasse gullies—plan your exit to avoid being cut off.
  • Swell: Light to moderate westerly/north-westerly swell creates bass-friendly fizz; heavy Atlantic swell makes ledges dangerous and the water too stirred for lures.
  • Clarity: Clear to slightly tinged water suits pollack/gar/lures; after storms, allow 24–48 hours for the cove to drop weed and colour.
  • Time of day: Dawn and last light for pelagics, pollack and bass; full dark for conger/whiting. Overcast days can extend feeding windows.
  • Seasonality: Peak lure/float action in late spring through early autumn; switch to bait-led night sessions in late autumn and winter.

This is an Atlantic-facing cove with real surge and weeded ledges—treat it with respect. The beach is straightforward, but most rock marks are not.

  • Wear a PFD, grippy boots (studded soles help), and carry a headtorch for low-light exits.
  • Beware swell and shore dump; rogue sets can wash across low ledges. Keep well back from edges.
  • Several ledges on both sides can be cut off 2–3 hours either side of high on springs—check tides and plan a safe route.
  • Slippery kelp, holes, and uneven ground—use a wading staff or rock spike if needed.
  • Summer RNLI patrols: do not fish within flagged bathing/surf zones; expect lifeguard requests to stop if lines endanger water users.
  • Accessibility: Beach/slope to slipway is manageable; rock marks involve steps and scrambles and are unsuitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.

You’re well catered for by Cornish beach standards, with seasonal services steps from the sand. For specialist tackle, plan ahead.

  • Pay-and-display parking by the cove; overflow options in the village during peak season.
  • Public toilets near the beach (seasonal opening hours).
  • RNLI lifeguards typically operate in summer daytimes.
  • Beach café/ice-cream in season; The Driftwood Spars pub is a short walk for food and drink.
  • No tackle shop on the beach; nearest full bait/tackle outlets are in Perranporth, Newquay, or Truro—ring ahead for bait.
  • Mobile signal is generally good on the cliff tops but can be patchy down in the cove, depending on network.

Local knowledge revolves around timing, finesse, and reading the kelp line. Think stealth at dusk and stout end tackle near the rough stuff.

  • Arrive early in summer—parking and elbow room vanish by mid-morning. Dawn raids or late stints are best.
  • For wrasse, small hardback crab or prawn outfishes worm on pressured days; strike firmly and steer fish up immediately to beat the kelp.
  • Scale down for gar and scad at dusk: size 6–8 fine-wire hooks, a small sliver of mackerel, and a long fluorocarbon trace.
  • After a modest blow, as the sea cleans, try a white or natural soft plastic in the wash on the western side for bass.
  • Carry a drop net if fishing higher rocks; otherwise unhook wrasse/pollack in the water to protect them.
  • Seals often patrol the cove—if they appear repeatedly, move marks to avoid lost fish and spooked shoals.

Rules here are a mix of national sea fisheries measures, local IFCA byelaws, and sensible beach-management practice. Always check the latest official notices before retaining fish.

  • Marine Conservation Zone: Trevaunance Cove sits within the Godrevy to St Agnes MCZ. Recreational rod-and-line fishing is permitted; avoid damaging intertidal habitats and be sparing with any collection of invertebrates.
  • Bass measures: Recreational bass fishing is subject to national size and bag limits and an open/closed season. Recent rules have typically been a 42 cm minimum and a limited daily bag during the open season—check current MMO/DEFRA guidance before keeping any bass.
  • Cornwall IFCA byelaws: Minimum sizes apply to finfish and shellfish; it is illegal to take berried or v‑notched lobsters or crawfish. If collecting peeler crabs or other bait, consult the latest CIFCA size charts and limits.
  • Protected species: Allis/twaite shad and European eels must be released if caught. Do not intentionally target them.
  • Beach and safety: When RNLI flags designate bathing/surf zones, do not fish within those areas. Obey any local signage near the slipway or harbour remnants.
  • General: Use barbless or crushed-barb hooks when practicing catch-and-release, and respect voluntary local practice of returning wrasse.