Summary
Trewavas Head is a dramatic National Trust headland on Cornwall’s south coast between Porthleven and Praa Sands, backed by the atmospheric ruins of the Wheal Trewavas mine. The cliffs fall into deep, kelpy water with broken ground, gullies and tide runs that hold quality pollack, wrasse and bass. It rewards careful, mobile anglers who can fish safely and read the swell.
Location and Access
This is a remote, cliffy rock mark reached via the South West Coast Path; expect a proper walk and some scrambling to reach the better ledges. Plan your approach in daylight the first time and travel light.
- Main approach: National Trust Rinsey car park (approx. postcode TR13 9TS), then follow the coast path west towards the Wheal Trewavas engine houses (15–30 minutes depending on pace). Some undulation and uneven steps.
- Alternative: From Porthleven harbour car parks (approx. TR13 9JY), follow the coast path east (45–75 minutes). Longer but scenic and straightforward to navigate.
- Terrain: Exposed cliff path, narrow sections, and occasionally greasy grass/rock. Final access to fishing spots is via steep sheep tracks and short scrambles onto uneven, kelp-fringed rock ledges.
- Footwear: Grippy boots with cleats or rock shoes strongly recommended. Travel with a pared-down kit and a rucksack for hands-free movement.
Seasons
The headland’s deep, rough ground is classic south-coast rock fishing territory. Expect summer variety and occasionally chunky predators in the dark.
- Spring: Pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early bass on lures, garfish later in the season; odd conger after dark.
- Summer: Pollack (often the headline fish), wrasse, mackerel, scad, garfish; bass in lively white water; the odd bull huss and pout at night.
- Autumn: Consistently good for pollack and bass in onshore conditions; wrasse until the water cools; scad at dusk; occasional squid on calm, clear evenings.
- Winter: Fewer options but conger, bull huss and pout at night; bass possible in heavy, coloured seas (only when safe).
- Occasional visitors: Red mullet in nearby sand-edged gutters, poor cod, and the very odd ling from deep holes.
Methods
Lure work and float fishing shine here due to snaggy ground and depth, with rugged bottom tactics for after-dark predators.
- Lure fishing:
- Pollack: 20–40 g jigheads with 4–6 in soft plastics, or 20–40 g metals swung along kelp lines; weedless Texas rigs reduce losses.
- Bass: Weightless/weedless soft plastics, small shallow-diving minnows and surface lures in fizzing white water at dawn/dusk.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, crab or prawn baits for wrasse around gullies; strip mackerel or sandeel for garfish/mackerel. Set stops to fish 10–20 ft, adjusting to depth.
- Bottom fishing: Strong gear (30–50 lb leaders), pulley or pulley-dropper with a rotten-bottom link (15–25 lb) to shed leads. Big mackerel or squid baits for conger/bull huss after dark.
- Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rods (20–40 g) for mobility; 11–13 ft rock rods for bottom work. Braid 20–30 lb with 40–60 lb fluoro/mono leader. Use a drop net for landing if you intend to retain fish; avoid gaffs.
Tides and Conditions
Trewavas fishes best with movement in the water but punishes anyone venturing out in a big swell. Read the sea carefully.
- Tide: Mid-flood to high is reliable for wrasse in the gullies and pollack along the margins; bass often show around the top of the tide over foamy water. The first of the ebb can switch on pelagics at dusk.
- Swell/wind: Light northerly or easterly winds bring calmer, clearer water ideal for wrasse and pollack. A modest onshore push can spark bass but becomes dangerous quickly—avoid large SW swells.
- Water clarity: 1–3 settled days improves lure sport; in coloured water switch to bigger profiles, darker lures and scented baits.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk are prime for pollack, bass and scad; after dark for conger/huss.
- Seasonality: May–October is the peak window; winter sessions are specialist and safety-dependent.
Safety
This is an exposed, cliff-fringed rock mark with mining ruins and loose ground—treat it with utmost caution. It is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.
- Cliffs and ledges: Steep scrambles, slippery weeded rock and sudden swell surges. Keep low and stable; never fish the very edge in swell.
- Swell: South and south-westerly groundswell wraps in; if in doubt, don’t go out. A personal flotation device and cleated footwear are strongly recommended.
- Cut-off risk: Some low ledges flood on spring highs—note your exit and keep an eye on the tide line.
- Old mine workings: Keep to marked paths; do not approach fenced shafts or unstable ground near engine houses—rockfall is possible.
- Night fishing: Reccy in daylight; headtorch with spare batteries; fish with a partner; carry a charged phone but expect patchy signal.
- General: Pack light, use a rucksack, and tell someone your plan and return time.
Facilities
There are no facilities at the head itself—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages cover basics before and after the session.
- Parking: National Trust car park at Rinsey; pay-and-display options around Porthleven harbour.
- Toilets: Seasonal toilets at Praa Sands and public facilities around Porthleven harbour. None on the headland.
- Food and drink: Cafés, pubs and shops in Porthleven; seasonal kiosks at Praa Sands.
- Tackle/bait: Tackle and bait available in Porthleven and Helston (check opening hours, especially off-season).
- Mobile signal: Intermittent on the ledges; generally better on the higher path.
Tips
This mark rewards stealth, line management and smart positioning more than brute casting distance. Small tweaks often turn follows into hook-ups.
- Keep moving: Work along the kelp edges and depth changes—pollack and bass often sit surprisingly close in.
- Angle of retrieve: For pollack, count lures down and retrieve on an upward diagonal; many hits come mid-water near kelp tops.
- Wrasse baits: Peeler crab is king; hardback crab, prawn or worm cocktails also score. Strike positively and steer fish clear of the rough on a tight drag.
- Rotten-bottoms: Save a fortune in leads on this snaggy ground by using weak-link clips or lighter mono to your lead.
- Dusk switch: Keep a metal or small jig handy—scad often arrive suddenly at last light.
- Wildlife/etiquette: Seals and gannets betray baitfish; if a seal sits on your mark, move. Pack out all line and litter; it’s a sensitive NT coastline.
- First visit: Scout multiple ledges at low or mid tide so you have safe options for different sea states.
Regulations
Angling is permitted at Trewavas Head, which lies on National Trust coastline and near/within wider marine conservation designations. There is no blanket fishing ban, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check for updates before you go.
- National framework:
- European seabass (2024 rules at time of writing): Minimum size 42 cm; recreational rod-and-line bag limit typically 2 fish per angler per day during the open season (commonly Mar–Nov) with catch-and-release outside that—check current MMO/Defra notices for exact dates.
- Pollack (2024 measures in ICES area 7): Periods of catch-and-release only followed by a restricted daily bag later in the year—verify the current UK position before retaining fish.
- Cornwall IFCA byelaws: Observe local minimum conservation reference sizes for finfish and shellfish; do not disturb intertidal habitats when collecting bait (return any turned stones). Some MCZ/SSSI features are protected from damage, though rod-and-line angling is generally allowed.
- Protected species: Allis/twaite shad, seahorses and other protected species must be released unharmed if encountered.
- Access and conduct: Keep to public rights of way; heed National Trust safety signage around mine ruins and fenced areas. No open fires/BBQs on the headland; remove all litter and discarded line.
- Harbours and nearby beaches: Separate local bylaws may restrict fishing in Porthleven harbour—read on-site signs if you fish there instead.
- Night safety: Regulations aside, emergency services access is difficult—fish within your limits and consider carrying a PFD and means of calling for help.
