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Cornwall

Treyarnon Bay

6.8 · Beach · Cornwall

Treyarnon Bay is a west-facing sandy beach with rocky headlands and gullies at either end, offering mixed-ground fishing. The surf beach produces bass in a rolling sea, while the kelp-fringed rocks to the north and south hold wrasse and pollack. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad to the points on clear, calm evenings; winter and nights see dogfish and the odd ray from the cleaner sand. Dabs, flounder and the occasional sole are taken at short to medium range over the flat sand. Access is straightforward from the nearby car park with short walks to either side. Best conditions are a building or easing swell on a flooding or first of the ebb, with dusk and dawn particularly productive. Hazards include strong surf and rip currents, swell on the rocks, the risk of cut-off around the headlands at mid to high tide, slippery weeded ledges, and lesser weever fish in summer—wear boots and check tides carefully.

Should you fish Treyarnon Bay?

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 4 mph Rain 8% High tide 11:04

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Treyarnon Bay — 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.

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· 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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Treyarnon Bay is a west-facing surf beach with rocky, kelp-fringed ground at both ends, so the best plan is to choose your ground around the sea state. In a manageable rolling swell, the main beach is the bass option, especially on the flooding tide around dawn or dusk. In clearer, calmer water, the north and south rocky points give better chances of wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish and scad. After dark, the cleaner sand is the more sensible focus for dogfish, whiting, dabs, flounder and the chance of a small-eyed ray, particularly from the last of the flood into the first of the ebb.

  • Know when Treyarnon is a surf-bass beach and when it becomes a rock-and-kelp mark.
  • Pick the right end of the bay for wrasse, pollack or summer mackerel.
  • Time the flood and first ebb instead of guessing at a state-dependent venue.
  • Target rays and dogfish from the cleaner sand after dark with the right rigs.
  • Avoid the swell and ledge conditions that quickly make Treyarnon a poor choice.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Constantine Bay 0.8 mi St Merryn 1.4 mi St Ervan 2.4 mi Trevone 2.4 mi St Eval 3.6 mi

Explore nearby towns: Constantine Bay · St Merryn · St Ervan · Trevone · St Eval

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

Overall rating

6.8 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Bass 9/10
Tip: Work the surf gutters on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk or after a blow; sandeel, lug, or shallow divers/soft plastics.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Fish the kelpy rock ledges at either end on the flood; float crab or rag, or weedless soft plastics; avoid low water.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Lures from rocky points at dusk into dark on a rising tide; metals or paddletails kept just above the kelp.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Night over clean sand from the main beach; small fish/squid or sandeel on 2-hook flappers; summer-autumn with a gentle surf.
Small-eyed Ray 6/10
Tip: Warm months at night over sandy channels; long casts with sandeel or launce on pulley rigs; best on last of the flood into first of the ebb.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Summer shoals from the rocky points; small metals/feathers at first and last light on the flood; clearer water helps.
Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
Tip: Calm surf lines in summer; tiny rag or isome on size 8-10 hooks, light gear; fish dusk on the flooding tide.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Winter nights from the beach; small fish or squid baits on 2-3 hook flappers; best on a flooding tide with moderate surf.
Rock Goby 5/10
Tip: LRF in gullies at mid to high; size 14-18 hooks with isome or shrimp; drop into cracks along weeded rocks.
Turbot 4/10
Tip: Occasional from clean sand; long-range sandeel baits into the gutters on a rising tide late spring to early autumn.

Local knowledge

Treyarnon Bay fishing guide

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

Treyarnon Bay sits between Constantine Bay and Porthcothan on Cornwall’s exposed north coast, offering a mix of sandy surf and rocky headlands. It’s a versatile mark: bass in the breakers, wrasse and pollack off the rocks, plus the chance of summer mackerel and the odd ray after dark. Anglers come for the scenery and the variety—just pick your ground to match the conditions.

Getting there is straightforward from St Merryn, with clear signage to Treyarnon Bay and a pay-and-display car park close to the beach. The terrain ranges from level beach to uneven rocky headlands; plan your approach according to the tide and swell.

  • Follow local signs from St Merryn to Treyarnon Bay; the access road ends at a clifftop/near-beach parking area (pay-and-display, seasonal attendants at busy times).
  • Short, easy walk to the sand via paths and steps; rock marks lie on both the northern and southern headlands via the South West Coast Path.
  • Terrain is mixed: compact sand, kelp-fringed ledges, and barnacle-covered slabs. Footing can be slick—use studded boots on the rocks.
  • The northern side overlooks the famous tidal rock pool; the southern side offers lower ledges and gullies looking toward Porthcothan.
  • Public access is good, but the best ledges require short scrambles. Travel light and keep hands free.

A classic mixed-ground venue, Treyarnon produces surf bass, rough-ground wrasse and pollack, and seasonal pelagics. Expect different fishing depending on whether you’re on the beach or rocks.

  • Spring (Apr–Jun):
    • Bass (schoolies to better fish in onshore surf)
    • Pollack (dawn/dusk, clear water)
    • Ballan & corkwing wrasse (as seas warm)
    • Garfish (late spring, calm bright days)
  • Summer (Jul–Sep):
    • Mackerel and garfish (evenings, rock points)
    • Bass (lures in the surf or around reefs)
    • Wrasse (crab baits in kelp gullies)
    • Smoothhound (occasional, crab baits)
    • Small-eyed ray/spotted ray (after dark on sandier patches)
    • Gurnards and the odd turbot from the surf-line
  • Autumn (Oct–Nov):
    • Peak bass runs in lively seas
    • Pollack (lures and float)
    • Whiting, pouting (nights from beach)
    • Bull huss/strap conger from rough ground after dark
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting, pouting, dogfish on the beach
    • Occasional storm-bass in big, coloured surf (pick windows carefully)
    • Rock fishing is risky in winter swells—choose sheltered ledges or stand down

Choose your approach by ground and conditions: surf tactics for the beach, finesse or stout gear on the rocks. Lures score consistently for mobile anglers; bait excels in darkness or coloured water.

  • Beach (surf and sandy patches):
    • Bass on lures: 9–11 ft rod, 20–30 lb braid, 20–25 lb fluoro leader; shallow-divers, surface walkers, metal spoons, and 10–20 g soft plastics. Work the gutters and along the shore dump.
    • Baiting the surf: 1–2 hook clipped-down or pulley rigs; 3–4 oz leads (rolling leads in smaller surf), baits of fresh peeler crab, sandeel, squid, or mackerel strip for bass and rays. Size 1/0–3/0 hooks.
    • Whiting/pouting at night: 2-hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks, small mackerel or worm baits.
  • Rocks (headlands north and south):
    • Wrasse: simple running ledger or short pulley with rotten-bottom link; 30–40 lb mono trace, 2/0 strong hooks; crab or prawn baits dropped into gullies.
    • Pollack: spinning or soft plastics (20–40 g metals, 12–20 g paddletails on 20–25 lb leaders). Best at first/last light and on a flooding tide.
    • Float fishing: mackerel strip or ragworm for garfish and pollack; set depth to just above weed line.
    • After dark: big fish baits (mackerel/squid cocktails) for bull huss/strap conger; 80–100 lb mono traces, strong 4/0 hooks, and a rotten-bottom system.
  • General tips:
    • Use rotten-bottom links over rough ground to save gear.
    • Travel light and move to find fish; don’t plant a tripod where waves can reach it.
    • Match lure colour to clarity: naturals in clear water, brighter profiles in fizz and colour.

Treyarnon is highly state- and swell-dependent. Read the beach and headlands before committing, and avoid exposed ledges in big Atlantic swell.

  • Tide: Middle of the flood into the first of the ebb often fishes best. Low-to-mid water opens rock gullies; be sure you have a safe exit before the flood.
  • Surf bass: 1–4 ft onshore swell with building or steady bar pressure is ideal; a milky tinge is fine, heavy chocolate soup is not.
  • Lure clarity: Clear to lightly tinted water for pollack and surface bass; overcast dawn/dusk windows are prime.
  • Wrasse: Moderate swell that stirs kelp without smashing the ledges; too much swell turns them off and endangers you.
  • Night sessions: Calm-to-moderate seas for rays, huss, and conger; fish the first push of the flood or the top of the tide.
  • Springs vs neaps: Springs increase movement for surf species and rays; neaps can be excellent for wrasse where presentation matters.

This is an exposed Atlantic venue with real hazards. Respect the sea, the tide, and the lifeguarded swimming zones.

  • Never fish within the RNLI red/yellow flagged bathing area (typically in summer). Move well away from swimmers and surfers.
  • Atlantic swell and surges: set up well back; avoid low, wave-washed ledges. If in doubt, don’t go out.
  • Cut-off risk: Many ledges flood quickly. Plan your route, note your time limits, and carry a headtorch and spare light.
  • Slippery weed/barnacles: Wear studded boots and consider a buoyancy aid/lifejacket on the rocks.
  • Rips on the beach: Don’t wade deep while casting; use longer rods/leads to reach gutters from dry sand.
  • Accessibility: The beach path is manageable, but rock marks involve uneven ground and short scrambles—not suitable for wheelchairs or very limited mobility.
  • Fish with a buddy where possible and tell someone your plan; carry a charged phone in a waterproof pouch.

Facilities are better than many wild marks, especially in summer. Expect seasonal services and plan outside peak months.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display close to the beach; can fill quickly in peak season.
  • Toilets: Usually available near the beach (seasonal opening hours).
  • Food & drink: Seasonal café/kiosk; YHA Treyarnon Bay typically offers refreshments. More options in St Merryn and Padstow.
  • Tackle/bait: Head to Padstow or Newquay for shops; book bait ahead in summer.
  • Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard patrols on the main beach in season—observe flagged zones.
  • Mobile signal: Generally fair on headlands; can dip in coves.

A little local knowledge goes a long way at Treyarnon. Use the tide to reveal structure and plan your return.

  • At low tide, scout gutters and kelp lines; mark features to fish on the flooding tide.
  • On a small swell, work surface lures along the edges of the breaking bar—bass often patrol the whitewater seams.
  • For wrasse, bring peeler or hardback crab in summer; fish tight to the structure and hold on.
  • The northern rock pool is a bathing hotspot—give it a wide berth with hooks and lures when people are around.
  • Evening sea breezes can kill the surface bite; switch to subsurface soft plastics or metals.
  • If the bay is too busy or the swell is awkward, hop the path to the next headland for cleaner water and less footfall.

Rod-and-line sea angling is permitted at Treyarnon Bay. There are no local byelaws banning fishing from the beach or rocks, but a few key rules and good practices apply.

  • Do not fish within the RNLI flagged bathing/surfing areas when lifeguards are on duty; follow any on-site signage from the council or RNLI.
  • European seabass: Rules (bag limits/season) change year to year. The current minimum size is 42 cm; check the UK Government/MMO “Recreational bass fishing” page before you retain any fish.
  • Tope: It is illegal to retain or sell rod-caught tope in England and Wales (Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008). Release alive.
  • Conservation areas: This coastline is within/near designated conservation sites. Rod-and-line angling is allowed, but do not damage reefs, seagrass, or rock pools; avoid collecting live bait from protected features.
  • If you cannot confidently identify a ray or skate (e.g., common skate), release it. When in doubt, return fish.
  • Cornwall IFCA and national minimum conservation reference sizes apply to many species—check the latest sizes and seasonal restrictions before keeping catch.