Summary
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.
Location and Access
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.
Seasons
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.
Methods
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.
Tides and Conditions
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.
Safety
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.
Facilities
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.
Tips
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.
Regulations
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.
