West Portholland Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

West Portholland Fishing Map

Compact sandy cove on the Roseland with easy access from the hamlet and rocky headlands either side. The bottom is mixed sand, boulder and kelp, giving options for both bait and lure fishing. Wrasse and pollack dominate around the rough ground; mackerel and scad show in summer evenings; bass patrol the surf and gullies on a flooding tide. Best results are typically 2 hours up to high and the first of the ebb, with dawn/dusk most productive. Use strong abrasion-resistant traces over the kelp, and a rotten-bottom link if casting onto rough patches. Swell from the south can make the rocks slippery and the surge tricky—pick a settled day and watch the sea. Limited village parking; be considerate to residents.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at West Portholland

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or rag baits dropped tight to kelpy gullies on the rocky points. Best on the flood, spring–autumn. Use strong tackle and a rotten-bottom lead.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work shallow plugs or soft plastics in the surf and around headland points at dawn/dusk on a rising tide with a bit of swell; peeler crab or sandeel also score.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Cast metals or weedless soft shads along rock edges and drop-offs at dusk into dark; fish the flood to HW.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night ledgering onto sandy patches from the beach with mackerel or squid. Best 2 hours either side of high water.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small strips of fish or rag on size 2–4 hooks over rough ground after dark; bites peak around HW.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish small sandeel or strip 4–8 ft deep from the rock points on the flood in summer; keep the bait moving.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: In calm summer conditions, freeline bread or fish small rag under a float in the cove on the flood. Stealth and light gear.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional summer shoals within range of the points at HW; cover water with spinners or small feathers.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer evenings into dark from rock points near HW. Work small metals or sabikis mid-water; a glow bead can help.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark from bouldery ledges; drop big fish or squid baits into holes. 80 lb mono trace and strong gear; HW best.

West Portholland Fishing

Summary

West Portholland is a quiet twin-cove hamlet on Cornwall’s Roseland coast, with clean sand, rocky margins and a small stream that screams bass on a flooding tide. It’s a low-key, scenic mark that rewards stealth and timing rather than brute distance. Expect mixed ground tactics: surf for bass and rays, rock edges for wrasse and pollack, and the odd summer surprise when the water warms.

Location and Access

Reaching West Portholland is part of the adventure: narrow lanes, high hedges and very limited parking once you arrive at the beach and slipway. It sits between Caerhays (Porthluney) and Portloe on the south coast of the Roseland.

Seasons

This is a classic mixed-ground venue: bass and flatties on the sand; wrasse and pollack on the rough; summer pelagics if baitfish are in. Seasonality matters.

Methods

Think light and mobile on the beach, precise and safe on the rocks. Match your approach to the ground you’re covering.

Tides and Conditions

Timing and water colour are everything here. The cove fishes very differently on neaps vs. springs and with wind direction.

Safety

It’s a friendly-looking cove, but Atlantic surge still bites on the rock ledges, and the tide isolates ground quickly. Prioritise stable platforms and conservative decisions.

Facilities

Expect minimal amenities at the beach itself; plan as if there are none, especially out of season.

Tips

Little patterns make big differences here—treat it like a small estuary-mouth beach with rock options.

Regulations

Rules can change—always check current MMO and Cornwall IFCA guidance before you go. The following apply broadly to rod-and-line anglers as of late 2024.