Babbacombe Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Babbacombe Beach Fishing Map

A sheltered shingle-and-sand cove within Babbacombe Bay, bordered by kelp-covered rocks and a small pier. The water is clear and relatively deep close in on the right-hand side, with mixed ground (sand patches between boulders). Best results are on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Summer brings prolific surface activity (mackerel, garfish, scad), with wrasse and mini-species tight to the rough ground; winter sees whiting and the odd codling substitute like poor cod/pouting. Night tides can produce conger from the rocky fringes. Access is via a steep lane/steps with limited parking near the beach café; facilities are seasonal. Watch for swimmers and boat traffic in summer, slippery weeded rocks, and occasional lesser weever on the sand.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Babbacombe Beach

🐟 Mackerel 9/10
🎯 Tip: Summer, clear water. Spinners or feathers from pier or casting from beach; best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work dark soft plastics or metal jigs along kelp edges from rocks/pier; best dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, spring–autumn.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 8/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer–autumn nights under pier lights. Small sabikis or size 6 hooks tipped with fish, mid-water on the flood.
🐟 Rock Goby 8/10
🎯 Tip: Very common around pier/rocks. LRF rigs with size 16–20 hooks and small worm/squid; fish tight to structure at any tide.
🐟 Pouting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Abundant after dark. Size 2–4 hooks with strips of mackerel/squid fished close to the pier and rough ground, any tide.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm on strong gear, fish into boulders/kelp on a flooding tide. Late spring–autumn from rocks and pier.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 7/10
🎯 Tip: LRF tactics; tiny hooks and bits of worm/shrimp dropped into rock holes and pier legs. All year, best on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish slivers of mackerel or small sandeel shallow over clean water; summer on the flood in bright conditions.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night over sand patches from the beach. Squid or fish baits on 2/0 hooks; best on a rising or high tide.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark from rocks/pier; strong gear, wire trace, large fish baits dropped into kelp gullies on the flood.
🐟 Black Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer, calm clear days. Small hooks with strips of squid or prawn over rough ground from pier/rocks; steady on the flood.
🐟 Bass 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional after a blow; fish surfy edges and gullies with peeler crab or lures at dawn/dusk on spring floods.

Babbacombe Beach Fishing

Summary

Babbacombe Beach sits tucked under the red sandstone cliffs on Torquay’s north-eastern fringe, facing into the sheltered waters of Tor Bay. It’s a compact, scenic cove with a small pier, mixed ground and clear water — ideal for float fishing, light lure work and family-friendly sessions. While busy with visitors in summer, it consistently turns up mackerel, garfish and mini-species by day, with conger, pouting and whiting after dark.

Location and Access

This mark lies below Babbacombe Downs, reached by a steep, narrow lane that drops to the cove beside the Cary Arms. Access is straightforward but the descent and return climb are taxing with heavy tackle, so travel light if possible.

Seasons

The cove holds fish year-round with classic Tor Bay seasonality. Expect mini-species in any month, pelagics in summer and bottom-dwellers after dark.

Methods

Mixed ground and clear water reward finesse by day and heavier gear after dark. Scale your approach to the target species and footfall.

Tides and Conditions

Tor Bay is sheltered from prevailing south-westerlies, so Babbacombe often fishes when other marks are blown out. It comes alive with movement and low light but is rarely unfishable unless a strong easterly pushes in.

Safety

It’s a friendly venue but do not underestimate the steep access and slippery, weedy rock margins. Share space courteously with beach users, boaters and the pub’s guests.

Facilities

Facilities are better than most coves thanks to tourism in Babbacombe, but plan ahead outside summer hours.

Tips

Little venue quirks can make a big difference here. Think finesse by day, and be ready to switch when crowds or seals turn up.

Regulations

Babbacombe lies within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone. Rod-and-line angling is generally permitted, but some rules apply.