Summary
Upton Towans fronts the wide, surf‑washed sands between Hayle and Gwithian on the north coast of Cornwall. It’s a classic open beach mark backed by dunes, with shifting bars and gutters that regularly hold bass, rays and winter whiting. If you like reading the surf and moving to find fish, this stretch rewards the effort.
Location and Access
Set behind the Towans dune system on the north side of St Ives Bay, access is via several car parks and sandy paths across the dunes. The walking is easy to moderate on soft sand, but expect a 5–15 minute stroll depending on where you park and which gutter you choose to fish.
- Easiest access from Gwithian Towans car parks (around TR27 5BT) with signed dune paths to the beach; pay‑and‑display in season.
- Godrevy end (TR27 5ED, National Trust) gives access to the eastern extremity; longer walks to spread out from the crowds.
- Smaller parking areas serve Upton Towans Nature Reserve from Prosper Hill/Connor Downs side; unsigned lanes and limited spaces—arrive early in summer.
- Terrain is clean sand backed by dunes; no rocks or cliffs at the waterline, but expect soft, energy‑sapping sand underfoot.
- Choose your entry point to target visible features: banks, rips and gutters are obvious from the dune tops an hour or two either side of low water.
Seasons
This is a classic surf beach species mix, with bass the headline act and rays a strong summer/autumn option. Winter brings numbers fishing for whiting and the odd surprise after a blow.
- Spring (Mar–May): school bass, early turbot on sandeel, flounder closer to the estuary mouth (avoid the reserve areas), occasional small-eyed ray in settled spells.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (better fish at dusk/night), small‑eyed and spotted rays, turbot/brill on clear days, gurnard, smoothhound occasional, mackerel shoals sometimes push tight on calm evenings, dogfish.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass, consistent rays, more turbot on bright days, sole occasional on quieter nights, whiting arrive late.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting in numbers on calm, dark nights, dogfish, dab, odd codling after big westerly blows, lingering bass (retention rules apply).
Methods
Reading the surf is half the game here: find a feeder rip or a longshore gutter and drop a bait on the seam. Keep mobile, fishing 20–60 minutes per spot until you find fish.
- Bass: long flowing trace or pulley‑dropper with 3–4 ft snood, size 2/0–4/0 hooks; peeler crab, lug/squid cocktail, fresh mackerel or whole sandeel. Dawn/dusk and the first push of flood are prime.
- Rays: clipped‑down pulley pennel with 4–5 oz grip lead; fish baits (bluey/sandeel/squid cocktails). Night into early flood or last of the ebb on settled seas.
- Turbot/brill: 1–2 hook clipped rigs with size 1–1/0 hooks; whole small sandeel or strip baits. Cast just beyond the inner bar and slowly step along the line of the gutter.
- Whiting/dabs (winter): 2–3 hook flappers, size 2–4 hooks; lug, mackerel or squid slivers. Short to medium casts in the inner runnel after dark.
- Lures (calm/clear): shallow‑diving minnows, metal spoons and 20–30 g surface/sub‑surface lures at first and last light along rip heads; keep well clear of any lifeguarded bathing zones.
- Tackle notes: 12–13 ft beach rod (or 14–15 ft continental) with 4–6 oz grips to hold in the sweep; shock leader essential. Use a bait clip for clean, aerodynamic casts in the wind.
Tides and Conditions
Upton Towans fishes best when there’s life in the water but not unmanageable surf. The banks are mobile—conditions can change weekly, so scout from the dunes before committing.
- Tide: 2–3 hours into the flood and the first of the ebb are consistent; low‑water springs can expose great gutters for a short session.
- Swell: 2–4 ft W–NW with milky water is perfect for bass; rays prefer smaller, longer‑period swell and cleaner water.
- Wind: light to moderate onshore W/SW to stir things up for bass; easterly offshore winds flatten the sea—better for turbot/brill and long‑range scratching.
- Time of day: dawn/dusk for bass and turbot; full dark for rays and winter whiting.
- Seasonality: May–Oct for bass/turbot/rays; Nov–Feb for whiting and the odd codling after sustained westerlies.
- Weed and spiders: expect floating weed and moulting spider crabs in late spring/early summer—adjust to tougher baits (squid, crab) and check traces frequently.
Safety
This is an exposed Atlantic beach with powerful rips and shore‑dumping surf at times. There are no cliffs, but soft sand and mobile water demand caution, especially after dark.
- Powerful rip currents around bar ends and feeder channels—do not wade deep; avoid standing in active rips.
- Shore dump and backwash on bigger swells can knock you off your feet; keep rods high and stay well back on steep banks.
- Longshore drift can be fierce on springs—use adequate grip leads and don’t chase lost gear into the surf.
- In summer, RNLI‑flagged bathing/surfing zones are usually in place at Gwithian/Godrevy; do not fish inside flagged areas and give water users a wide berth.
- Dune system is protected—stick to signed paths; some fenced areas are conservation zones.
- Night fishing: headlamp, spare light and a buddy recommended; bright reflective tape on rod tips helps in surf haze.
- Personal safety: consider a wading belt and an auto‑inflating PFD if stepping into the wash; non‑slip boots for wet sand.
Facilities
Facilities cluster at the Gwithian/Godrevy ends; the central Upton Towans stretches are quieter with minimal infrastructure. Plan to be self‑sufficient away from main access points.
- Toilets: seasonal/public toilets at Gwithian Towans and Godrevy car parks (hours vary).
- Food/drink: cafés near Gwithian and at Godrevy (seasonal); wider choice of shops and takeaways in Hayle.
- Tackle/bait: several tackle shops within a short drive in Hayle, Camborne and the surrounding area; buy bait in town rather than digging in sensitive estuary areas.
- Lifeguards: usually present at Gwithian/Godrevy in summer—observe beach signage for flagged zones.
- Mobile signal: generally good on the dunes; can dip in hollows behind the first ridge.
- Parking: pay‑and‑display common at beach car parks; National Trust charges at Godrevy; limited free spaces at smaller dune access points.
Tips
Think like a surfer: the fish are where the water moves. Spend 10 minutes on a dune ridge picking your bank and you’ll save an hour of unproductive casting.
- Look for the dark, slower lanes beside white‑water bars—the seam where foamy water feeds back is prime for bass.
- On springs, fish the last hour of ebb at a gutter mouth, then leapfrog up the beach with the first push to stay on the same feature.
- Rays here love a double‑sandeel pennel with a squid top hat—keep it pinned, don’t overcast, and let the scent work.
- Turbot often sit absurdly close: 30–50 yards into the inner runnel on bright, calm days can outfish the horizon.
- If weed is relentless, shorten snoods, step up hook sizes slightly, and switch to tougher baits to stay fishing.
- Summer evenings can be busy with surfers—walk 10–15 minutes from main access to find quiet water and avoid conflicts.
- Historical quirk: the dunes hide remnants of the old National Explosives works—stay on marked paths and respect fenced areas.
Regulations
This is an open beach mark where recreational sea angling is generally permitted. However, nearby Hayle Estuary is a protected site with additional restrictions, and lifeguarded bathing zones operate seasonally at parts of the beach.
- Do not fish within any RNLI‑flagged bathing/surfing zones when they are in operation; follow on‑site signage and lifeguard directions.
- Dune system and some adjacent areas are protected for wildlife—keep to waymarked paths; do not cut new tracks or disturb fencing.
- Bait digging and certain activities are restricted within parts of Hayle Estuary/RSPB reserve; source bait from shops rather than digging the estuary.
- Bass (area covers ICES 7): at time of writing, recreational retention is typically 2 fish per angler per day, minimum 42 cm, and only during an open season (commonly Mar–Nov). Always check current MMO/UK government notices before retaining bass.
- Observe national/certain local minimum sizes and conservation rules (e.g., turbot/brill, skates/rays); return undersized fish and protected species immediately.
- No vehicles on the beach/dunes; adhere to parking rules and any seasonal dog controls posted by the local authority.
- For authoritative updates, consult the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Cornwall Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) before your trip.
