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Cornwall

Vault Beach

7.0 · Beach · Cornwall

A long, secluded shingle-and-sand beach on the east side of Dodman Point (Roseland Peninsula). Clean sand in the middle with bouldery, kelpy ground and small ledges at either end gives a mix of surf and rough-ground fishing. Best in settled weather with a modest onshore ripple for bass; clear summer evenings bring mackerel, scad and garfish within range, while the rocky margins produce wrasse and pollack. After dark, simple bottom rigs turn up dogfish, small flatfish and the odd pout/conger. Access is via steep coast-path descents from National Trust car parks (Lamledra/Penare); there are no facilities, and the beach can dump at mid-to-high tide—take care with swell, slippery rocks and weever fish in summer.

Should you fish Vault Beach?

66 Good

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel

Good conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel.

NW 3 mph Rain 6% High tide 11:12

Worth fishing if you can hit the best window.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Vault Beach — 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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Vault Beach is best treated as a timing-and-ground-choice mark rather than a simple cast-and-wait beach. The clean middle suits bass, rays and night scratching, while the rocky, kelpy ends are the better choice for wrasse, pollack, garfish and occasional conger. It usually fishes best in settled conditions with enough movement to stir the surf, but not enough swell to create a dangerous shore dump on the steep shingle.

  • Know when to fish the clean middle instead of the rocky ends
  • Time the flood into dusk for Vault’s strongest all-round window
  • Avoid the shingle dump before it ruins the session
  • Pick the right ground for bass, wrasse, rays or night scratching
  • Have a backup ready if Vault is too exposed

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Gorran Haven 0.5 mi Mevagissey 2.7 mi Tregony 5.9 mi Sticker 5.9 mi Polgooth 6.1 mi

Explore nearby towns: Gorran Haven · Mevagissey · Tregony · Sticker · Polgooth

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

Overall rating

7.0 /10

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

Category scores

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

Bass 8/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work shallow diving lures in the surf or fish peeler crab/sandeel into the gutter. A southerly swell stirs it up.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer into early autumn; evenings with calm clear water. Feathering or small metals from mid-beach or near rocks. Look for birds/boils on a flooding tide.
Ballan Wrasse 7/10
Tip: Fish the rocky ends on a flooding tide; float or ledger hard crab or rag tight to kelp. Daytime, spring-autumn. Use strong tackle.
Pollack 6/10
Tip: From the rockier points at dusk into dark; cast soft plastics or metals along kelp lines on a flooding tide. Spring-autumn.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: Night over clean/mixed sand; small fish or squid baits, cast 30-60m. Best on neaps and a flooding tide.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring-autumn; float a sliver of mackerel or small sandeel 3-6ft under cork in clear water. Best on the last of the flood, calm seas.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: Dusk into dark around mixed ground; small fish/worm baits close to the rocky margins. Flooding tide.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Winter nights; lug/squid cocktails on two-hook flappers over sand at 40-80m. Best on the flood and first of the ebb.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Warm nights Aug-Oct; small sabikis or 10-20g metals worked mid-water under light. Best on the flood near rocky ends.
Plaice 4/10
Tip: Spring to early summer on bright days; long cast worm/razor baits over sandy patches with beads/bling. Works on a steady flood.
Dover Sole 4/10
Tip: Calm, warm nights May-Sept; small rag or lug on long snoods, cast short into the near sand. Gentle surf, last of the flood.
Conger Eel 4/10
Tip: After dark from rocky ends; big fish baits on strong gear dropped into gullies. Slack water to first of the flood.

Local knowledge

Vault Beach fishing guide

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

Vault Beach sits between Gorran Haven and Dodman Point on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, a long, steep shingle strand facing into St Austell Bay. It’s a quietly productive mark with mixed ground: clean sand and gravel through the middle, with rougher, wrasse-friendly rock at the ends. Expect classic surf bass opportunities, summer mackerel and garfish, and after-dark ray fishing when the sea settles.

Getting to Vault Beach involves a scenic walk and a bit of a descent, which keeps crowds down and fishing pressure modest. Choose your approach depending on which end of the beach you want to fish.

  • Approach from Gorran Haven: Park in the village’s main car park (public toilets nearby), then follow the South West Coast Path east/south-east to Vault. Allow 15–25 minutes on a rolling path; the final section down to the beach is steeper shingle.
  • Approach from the Dodman/Penare side: Use the National Trust parking near Penare/Dodman and follow signed paths towards the coast, then west to drop down to Vault. Similar 15–25 minute walk with a steeper final descent.
  • Terrain: The beach is mainly steep shingle/pebble with a pronounced bank and shore dump in swell. Ends become increasingly rocky with boulders and weed.
  • Footwear and carry: Sturdy boots recommended; trolleys are impractical on the path and shingle. Pack light if you plan to move along the beach.
  • Note: The eastern end near Dodman has a long-standing naturist section; be respectful when choosing a spot.

Vault produces a good cross-section of south-coast species. The clean-to-mixed ground and proximity to Dodman’s reefs give year-round interest.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass (first push of schoolies from late April, better fish into May after a blow)
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse (from April on rough ends)
  • Pollack from the rocky fringes; occasional small-eyed ray on settled evenings
  • Spider crabs move in during late spring, affecting bait presentation
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Mackerel, garfish, and scad; thick-lipped mullet on calm, clear days
  • Bass (dawn/dusk in surf or on lures); wrasse strong on crab and prawn
  • Rays (spotted/small-eyed) after dark over the cleaner patches
  • Smoothhound occasional; gilthead bream possible in settled, warm spells
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass time with blowy fronts followed by clearing seas
  • Mackerel/scad into October in the evenings; garfish on floats
  • Conger from rougher ends after dark; rays on neaps and calm nights
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, dogfish, pouting on standard bottom tactics
  • Conger still feasible on the rough; the odd ray on mild, settled nights
  • Rare: Sole on calm, dark nights; codling are very scarce here but not impossible in cold snaps

Tactics hinge on where you set up: clean-middle for rays and general scratching, rocky ends for wrasse and conger, and mobile lure work for bass along the margins.

  • Bottom fishing (clean to mixed ground):
  • Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) with 4–5 oz grip leads for bass and rays; fish close-in gutters at dusk
  • 2-hook flapper or 1-up/1-down for whiting, pouting, gurnard, and dabs; size 1–2 hooks
  • Baits: Peeler crab (spring–summer), fresh lug/rag, sandeel, mackerel, squid; cocktail sandeel/squid for rays
  • Rough-ground ends (wrasse/conger):
  • Simple paternoster with rotten-bottom link; strong 20–30 lb mono snoods, 2/0 hooks
  • Baits: Peeler/hardback crab, prawn, rag for wrasse; mackerel/squid sections for conger after dark
  • Lure fishing (bass, pollack, mackerel):
  • Shallow divers and subsurface soft plastics along the first breaker line at dawn/dusk
  • Metals and slim spoons for mackerel and scad in calm, clear water
  • Topwaters on overcast dawns with a light onshore ripple
  • Float fishing (garfish/mackerel/wrasse):
  • Slim floats, 6–10 ft trace with size 4–1 hooks; mackerel belly, sandeel slivers, or prawn
  • Timing: Dusk into full dark is prime for rays, dogfish, and conger; first and last light for bass and garfish

Vault fishes best with movement but not mayhem. The steep shingle amplifies shore dump in swell, and the headland creates notable tide run at the ends.

  • Tide state:
  • Flood tide into and through dusk is a reliable window for bass and rays
  • Over low, wrasse forage around the ends; over high, avoid getting cut off on bouldery ledges
  • Springs create stronger lateral current, especially near Dodman
  • Sea conditions:
  • Bass: A dying SW/S swell with clearing water is ideal; a slight colour helps
  • Rays: Settled, clear-ish seas on neaps, especially at night
  • Mackerel/gar: Calm, clear, sunny days with evening bites; scad on dark
  • Seasonality:
  • Late summer through autumn is the most consistent overall; winter is scratchy but can produce on mild, still nights
  • Wind:
  • Light onshore (S–SW) for surf activity; strong onshore winds make it unfishable due to shore dump
  • Prolonged easterlies clear the water but can dampen bass sport; good for sighty float work

This is a committing shingle beach with no lifeguard cover and limited exits; plan conservatively. Rock ends add slip, weed, and cut-off risk on a rising tide.

  • Steep shingle bank with heavy shore dump in swell; waves can surge up unexpectedly
  • Strong lateral current near the ends, especially towards Dodman; beware wading and long lines in side run
  • Slippy weeded rocks and unstable boulders at the margins; use cleated boots and a headlamp at night
  • Limited mobile signal in dips; tell someone your plan and carry a charged phone
  • Not suitable for wheelchairs or barrows; final descent is steep and uneven
  • Avoid setting up mid-beach on big spring highs; retreat route can vanish quickly
  • Wear a flotation aid if venturing onto the rocks; carry a knife to cut free from snags
  • Respect the naturist area at the eastern end; choose a pitch with consideration

There are no facilities on the beach itself, so arrive prepared. Nearby villages cover basics if you plan ahead.

  • Toilets: In Gorran Haven near the main car park/harbour (check seasonal opening hours)
  • Food and drink: Cafés and a shop in Gorran Haven; pubs and more options in Mevagissey
  • Tackle and bait: Mevagissey and St Austell have tackle shops supplying bait; phone ahead in winter
  • Parking: Pay-and-display in Gorran Haven; National Trust parking near Penare/Dodman (membership/fees may apply)
  • Lighting and water: No lighting on paths or beach; bring headlamp and water
  • Phone signal: Patchy on the beach; generally better higher on the path

Vault rewards stealth and timing. Treat it as a roaming mark rather than a pitch-and-wait beach in summer.

  • For bass, cover water with lures at first light: 60–90 minutes around sunrise can out-fish the rest of the day
  • On settled nights, a long flowing trace with sandeel dropped beyond the first bar picks up small-eyed rays
  • If spider crabs are stripping baits, switch to tougher cocktails (squid wraps) or move spots; short soaks help
  • Float a strip of mackerel over the kelp at the ends for non-stop garfish sport on summer evenings
  • Use longer shockleaders: the steep shingle demands a high rod lift when landing fish in a shore dump
  • Weed can stack on a lateral run—angle casts slightly uptide and use breakout leads to hold line shy of snags
  • Keep an eye on naturist use at the eastern end in summer; set up discretely to avoid conflicts with bathers
  • After an onshore blow, give it 12–36 hours to fine down—just enough colour for confident bass

Recreational sea angling is permitted at Vault Beach, but normal UK and local Cornwall IFCA byelaws apply. Regulations change, so always check the latest official sources before you go.

  • Minimum sizes and bag limits: Observe current MMO/Cornwall IFCA size limits for species (bass, wrasse, rays, flatfish, etc.) and any bag limits in force
  • European seabass: Seasonal bag limits and a 42 cm minimum size typically apply; verify current dates and allowances before retaining fish
  • Protected species: Do not target or retain protected species (e.g., shad, tope for sale, crayfish/spider crab rules); return any accidentally caught protected species promptly
  • Netting/longlining: Shore netting and fixed engines are controlled by IFCA byelaws; this guidance is for rod-and-line only
  • Marine designations: Parts of the surrounding coast have conservation designations; while rod angling is generally allowed, some bait collection and potting restrictions may apply—check IFCA notices
  • Access and conduct: No fires on the shingle, take all litter home, and avoid obstructing the coast path; be considerate around the naturist section
  • Night fishing: Allowed, but carry lights and respect nearby residents when returning to car parks
  • Always verify current rules via Cornwall IFCA and the UK government fisheries pages before retaining fish