Summary
Whipsiderry Beach is a tucked‑away cove just north of Newquay, between Porth and Watergate Bay on Cornwall’s wild north coast. With clean sand, exposed reef gullies at low water, and deep under‑cliff water on a push, it’s a quietly productive mark for surf bass, small‑eyed rays and rough‑ground species. It rewards timing and mobility more than brute casting distance.
Location and Access
Reaching this mark is straightforward by road, but the final descent is steep and only for sure‑footed anglers. Plan your arrival around the tide so you can get onto the sand and reef safely and give yourself time to exit before the flood.
- Approach via the coast road (B3276) between Newquay and Watergate Bay; Whipsiderry sits at the northern end of Porth.
- Parking options include the larger paid car park at Porth Beach and limited on‑street spaces near the Whipsiderry steps (respect residents and signage). Using "Whipsiderry Beach" or "Trevelgue Road, Porth" in a satnav will get you close (TR7 district).
- Access is via a long, steep flight of steps cut into the cliff; they can be wet, sandy and slippery. There is no direct vehicle access to the beach itself.
- Terrain is a mix of clean, flat sand with reef platforms and boulder gullies exposed at lower states. Much of the beach is covered at high water, especially on springs.
- Plan an exit route before you start: it is easy to get cut off around the caves and undercuts as the tide floods.
Seasons
This stretch fishes year‑round with a pronounced summer/autumn peak. Expect classic north‑coast surf species over sand, with wrasse and pollack from the reefy edges.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- School and early bass along the gutters and bars
- Turbot over the outer sand at low water, gurnard possible
- Ballan wrasse and pollack from rockier corners on calmer days
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass in the surf (dawn/dusk), often better after a blow settles
- Small‑eyed ray after dark on clean sand; dogfish common
- Turbot, the odd plaice or dab; mackerel/garfish in calm clear spells
- Wrasse, corkwing, scorpionfish and mini species in gullies for LRF
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bigger surf bass on coloured seas; best time for a better fish
- Small‑eyed ray remain a good night target; whiting start to show
- Pollack tight to rough ground in daylight drop‑offs
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting, dogfish and rockling; occasional storm bass on the inside bars
- Rare codling some winters; conger from deeper holes at night (from safe ledges only)
Methods
Whipsiderry rewards anglers who adapt to the sandbars and reef features that shift with each swell. Travel light, move between features, and match rigs to the ground in front of you.
- Surf bass (sand):
- Long flowing traces or pulley‑dropper with 2–3 ft snoods; 3–4 oz grip leads in lateral sweep
- Best baits: fresh peeler or soft crab (when available), sandeel, razorfish, surf‑dug lugworm; small squid/sandeel cocktails after dark
- Lures at first/last light: 9–10 ft rod, 20–40 g shallow divers, metal spoons and 4–6" soft plastics on 7–14 g heads, worked along gutters on the flooding tide
- Rays and general clean‑ground work:
- Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for small‑eyed ray and better bass; sandeel (whole or launce), bluey/squid wraps at night
- 2–3 hook flapper with size 1–2 hooks for scratching dabs/plaice/gurnard at 30–70 yards
- Reef edges and gullies:
- Float fishing for wrasse/pollack with ragworm, prawn, or hardback/peeler crab; adjust depth to just off the bottom
- LRF with 1–3 g heads and isome/gulp worms for mini species around kelp pockets
- Practical touches:
- Use mono or fluorocarbon snoods (15–25 lb) on clean sand; step up to 30–40 lb with abrasion resistance around reef
- Carry both plain and grip leads; swap to plain leads in mild surf to let baits roll and search
- Fresh bait outfishes frozen here; if crabs are rampant (May/Jun), try tougher baits (sandeel/squid) or rebait frequently
Tides and Conditions
Tide timing is everything at Whipsiderry. Aim to fish when you can safely access the sandbars and retreat before the beach disappears beneath a spring tide.
- Access and coverage:
- 2–3 hours either side of low water exposes the best reef gutters and outer bars
- On big springs, the beach can be almost fully covered for hours around high; neaps leave more fishable sand
- Bass:
- Best on a flooding tide with a light to moderate surf (knee–waist high) and a touch of colour
- Dawn and dusk are prime; a building but settling sea after a south‑westerly blow is ideal
- Rays/whiting:
- After dark over neap to mid tides on clean patches, especially first half of the flood
- Lures/wrasse:
- Clear to lightly tinged water and smaller swell; lures at grey light, wrasse on calmer daytime lows in the gullies
- Wind and swell:
- Offshore or cross‑off (E/NE) cleans and flattens the surf; strong onshore (W/SW) can make it unfishable and dangerous
- Swell rebound off the cliffs can be severe on larger swells—give yourself extra margin
Safety
This is a beautiful but committing venue beneath high cliffs. Treat it with the same respect you would a tidal rock mark.
- Steep, uneven steps cut into the cliff; not suitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility
- Large tidal range with cut‑off risk around caves and undercuts; know your exit and carry a headtorch if fishing into dusk
- Slippery weeded rocks and reef platforms—wear grippy boots or studded soles; avoid polished green weed
- Atlantic swells rebound off the cliffs; rogue waves possible even on "moderate" days—keep a safe stand‑off from the waterline
- Potential rockfall from the cliffs after heavy rain/frost; keep clear of overhangs and heed any local signage
- No lifeguard cover at Whipsiderry; mobile signal can be patchy tight under the cliff—tell someone your plan and consider a personal flotation device
Facilities
Facilities are minimal at the beach itself, but you’re close to Newquay amenities. Sort bait and supplies before descending the steps.
- No toilets, cafés or water on the beach; seasonal facilities and cafés are available at nearby Porth Beach
- Tackle and bait in Newquay (e.g., Newquay Angling Centre in the town centre); call ahead for fresh lug/rag availability
- Supermarkets, fuel, and accommodation in Newquay
- Seasonal lifeguards at Porth and Watergate Bay (not at Whipsiderry); do not fish within any flagged bathing zones if present nearby
- Bus services run along the coast road between Newquay and Watergate Bay; nearest stops are a short walk from the steps
Tips
This mark fishes differently every week as bars and gullies shift—walk it at low water before you cast. A little recon pays big dividends.
- The first push of flood along the main gutter often brings a quick window for bass—be in position with a fresh bait or a lure ready
- Look for the darker, rippled seams that mark the edges of sandbars; let a plain lead roll to find these trenches
- On spring lows, an outer bar can show briefly—waders help, but keep a strict retreat time; the return flood is fast
- Spider crabs can strip baits in late spring; sandeel and tougher squid wraps last longer than worm
- After heavy swell, expect weed in the water on the first calm day—either fish short in the inside gutter or wait a tide
- Night rays like a well‑presented whole launce or sandeel on a pulley pennel; keep snoods abrasion‑resistant to cope with occasional rough patches
- Clear‑water days: scale down leaders and go stealthy for lure bass; metal spoons can pick out bonus mackerel/garfish at range
- Keep noise and lights low on calm nights—this under‑cliff cove fishes better when you blend in
Regulations
Shore angling is permitted at Whipsiderry, but standard national and local rules apply. Regulations change, so always check current guidance before you go.
- Bass (recreational): seasonal bag limits and a 42 cm minimum size have applied in recent years, with retention typically limited to part of the year; this is reviewed annually. Check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice for the current season and daily bag limit
- Spurdog: generally catch‑and‑release only for recreational anglers—release carefully
- Minimum sizes: Cornwall IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes apply to sea fish taken by any person. Check the current CIFCA size tables (examples at time of writing include bass 42 cm; turbot 30 cm; plaice 27 cm)
- Marine and coastal designations: the surrounding cliffs include protected sites (SSSI). Stay on established paths, avoid disturbing nesting birds, and heed any onsite signs; shore angling itself is allowed
- Bathing zones: if lifeguard flags are present on nearby beaches (e.g., Porth/Watergate), do not fish within marked bathing/surfing areas
- Bait and foraging: local byelaws protect certain intertidal species and prohibit taking berried lobsters/crabs; only collect bait where permitted and within limits
- Litter and fish welfare: take all line, hooks and litter home; consider releasing large female rays and big wrasse to sustain local stocks
- Night fishing: no specific prohibition here, but be considerate to nearby residents and adhere to any temporary notices or seasonal restrictions
Always verify up‑to‑date rules with the Marine Management Organisation and Cornwall IFCA before your session.
