Zennor Head Fishing

Summary

Zennor Head is a dramatic Atlantic headland on Cornwall’s north coast between St Ives and Pendeen, renowned for deep, kelp-fringed water and powerful tides. It rewards confident rock anglers with pollack, wrasse, summer mackerel and bass—but only in the right conditions. The scenery is world‑class, the fishing can be superb, and the exposure demands respect.

Location and Access

Reaching Zennor Head is straightforward on paper but committing underfoot. You’ll approach via the South West Coast Path from Zennor village, then pick along granite outcrops to any viable ledges. Allow extra time for the return hike in fading light.

• Drive to Zennor village off the B3306; the small public car park by the church/Tinners Arms is the usual starting point (use Zennor, TR26 3BY for sat nav).
• From the village, follow signed Coast Path paths west/north-west to Zennor Head; expect 20–35 minutes on uneven, sometimes steep terrain.
• The last sections involve narrow, rocky trods through heather and granite; sturdy boots and daylight route-finding are essential.
• There are very few safe, low platforms—most of the coast is high, sheer cliff. Only use well-trodden access lines and avoid any improvised descents.
• Public transport: seasonal buses run along the B3306 between St Ives and St Just; alight at Zennor and walk out.

Seasons

This is classic rough-ground rock fishing with seasonal variety. Expect kelp-loving predators with summer pelagics when the water warms.

• Spring (Apr–Jun):
  • Pollack (all sizes, with better fish at dawn/dusk)
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse
  • Early bass on small baitfish and sandeel runs
• Summer (Jul–Sep):
  • Mackerel and garfish (daylight and dusk), scad into dark
  • Pollack (consistently), wrasse (best in settled seas)
  • Bass in the gullies on a small swell; mullet mooching in calm coves
• Autumn (Oct–Nov):
  • Bass in onshore pushes and after a blow as it settles
  • Pollack (often bigger fish), scad at dusk, wrasse in calmer spells
  • Bull huss and conger after dark from deeper holes
• Winter (Dec–Mar):
  • Occasional windows for pollack in clear, calm spells
  • Rockling; bull huss on big baits at night
  • Rare codling in some winters, not reliable

Methods

Rock-fishing tactics dominate here; fish efficiently and safely with abrasion-resistant gear and a plan for landing fish from height.

• Lures (covering ground):
  • Soft plastics (12–20 cm sandeels/shads) on 10–30 g heads; weedless rigs excel in kelp. Work mid-water over drop-offs for pollack and bass.
  • Metals/jigs (30–60 g) for mackerel/scad and searching deep ground on neaps.
  • Hard lures: mid-depth minnows and surface/sub-surface walkers on calm mornings/evenings for bass.
  • Line/leader: 20–30 lb braid with 30–40 lb fluoro/mono leader; step up if rubbing rocks.
• Float fishing (wrasse/garfish/mackerel):
  • Sliding float with size 1–1/0 hooks; ragworm, peeler crab, prawn, or mackerel strip.
  • Set 8–20 ft depending on ledge height and depth; adjust to just above kelp tips.
• Bottom fishing (rough ground):
  • Pulley or pulley‑dropper with pennel 3/0–4/0 for bigger baits; always use a weak/rotten‑bottom link.
  • Leads 4–6 oz depending on tide run; 60–80 lb rubbing leader for conger/huss work.
  • Baits: peeler or hard crab, squid/mackerel cocktails, whole or half sandeel; big oily baits after dark for huss/conger.
• Handling and landing:
  • From higher perches, use a drop net where practical; otherwise heavy leaders to swing small fish only. Gaffs are best avoided.
  • Single-hooked jigs or barbless/flattened barbs help with safe release, especially for wrasse.

Tides and Conditions

This mark is highly condition-dependent. Plan around small swell, neap tides, and low wind to fish it safely and effectively.

• Tide: the flood and last two hours into high water often fish well for pollack and wrasse; bass at dawn/dusk across the flood, especially with some fizz.
• Neaps are kinder for reaching and working lower edges; springs can rip and push swell awkwardly around the head.
• Wind/swell: best in light easterlies or any offshore quadrant that flattens the north coast; avoid big NW–W swells and long‑period groundswell.
• Water clarity: clear to lightly tinted for lures; a touch of colour after a blow can switch on bass, but heavy bloom/weed kills presentation.
• Time of day: dawn and last light are prime for pollack/bass; scad and mackerel often show at dusk into dark.
• Seasonality: May–October gives the most settled windows; winter is frequently unfishable due to swell.

Safety

Zennor Head is serious, committing rock fishing with real fall and wave risk; it’s not suitable for beginners or anyone with mobility issues. Treat it like a remote mountain route with sea hazards added.

• Do not attempt unfamiliar descents—most cliffs are sheer; stick to obvious, established trods only.
• Wear a foam or inflatable lifejacket/PFD, grippy cleated boots, and carry a headtorch with spare batteries.
• Check both swell height and period; anything over ~1–1.5 m with long period can send surges metres above the norm.
• Watch the sea for at least 10–15 minutes before committing; plan an exit that is never cut off by the flood.
• Use a buddy system; mobile signal is patchy. Tell someone your plan and return time.
• Kelp, algae and wet granite are extremely slippery; expect tackle losses and avoid over-reaching into gullies.
• Wildlife and rockfall hazards exist: keep back from unstable edges; give nesting birds and hauled-out seals wide berth.
• In darkness or fog, navigation is tricky—reconnoitre in daylight and mark safe waypoints mentally.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the headland itself—treat it as wilderness. All amenities are back in Zennor village or the nearby towns.

• Parking: small public car park in Zennor village by the church/Tinners Arms (TR26 3BY); spaces are limited in summer.
• Toilets: usually in/near the village car park or church area; seasonal opening—check local notices.
• Food/drink: The Tinners Arms pub and cafés/ice cream in Zennor; more options in St Ives, Hayle and Penzance.
• Tackle/bait: options in St Ives (seasonal), Hayle and Penzance; buy bait before the walk in.
• Phone signal: variable to poor around the headland; do not rely on data/voice.
• No lighting, water or shelter at the mark; carry everything you need and pack out all waste.

Tips

A little local-style thinking goes a long way here. Fish efficiently, minimise snags, and read the kelp lines.

• Use rotten‑bottom links on any leaded rig—accept some tackle loss as the price of admission.
• For pollack, count lures down to midwater and sweep them up over the kelp; hits often come on the climb.
• Scale lure colours to clarity: naturals (olive/sandeel/smelt) in clear water; darker backs or a hint of chartreuse in fizz/colour.
• Wrasse love crab and prawn—strike late and keep them high to avoid burying in kelp.
• If seals are working a line, move marks; they spook fish and may take hooked ones.
• Scad gather at dusk—switch to smaller metals or Sabiki-style rigs with single hooks to avoid foul-hooking.
• Bass show after a blow as it settles—work shallow divers and weightless soft plastics along foamy edges.
• Folklore bonus: Pendour Cove below has the famed ‘Mermaid of Zennor’ legend—great spot to watch the sea on a recce day.

Regulations

Recreational angling is generally permitted at Zennor Head; there is no local signage banning fishing at the time of writing. However, the coast lies within protected landscapes and sensitive wildlife areas—know your responsibilities and current byelaws.

• Check the latest Cornwall IFCA and UK MMO guidance before your trip; seasons, bag limits and sizes are updated and enforced at sea and on the shore.
• European seabass rules change annually (bag limits and open seasons). Verify the current recreational bass measures on official channels before retaining any fish.
• Shellfish/crustacea: observe IFCA minimum sizes; all berried/v‑notched lobsters and crawfish must be returned. Some local restrictions may apply to shore gathering—check before collecting.
• Wrasse: no statutory MLS, but these are slow‑growing reef fish—local best practice is catch‑and‑release.
• Marine protected areas and SSSI designations occur along this coast; angling is allowed, but it is an offence to disturb nesting birds. Avoid disturbing seals and other wildlife.
• No camping or fires on the headland; keep dogs on leads around livestock and close gates.
• Dispose of line and tackle properly; leaving gear in a protected landscape risks enforcement and harms wildlife.