Babbacombe Pier

Babbacombe Pier sits in a sheltered nook of Torbay on Devon’s east-facing coast, looking into Lyme Bay. It’s a compact Victorian pier that fishes well for mackerel, garfish, pollack and a stack of mini species in clear summer water, with pout, conger and whiting showing after dark and into the cooler months.

Getting there is straightforward, but the final approach is steep. The pier is beside Babbacombe Beach, below Babbacombe Downs and the Cary Arms.

• Aim for Babbacombe Downs (Torquay); from the Downs, follow signs down Beach Road to Babbacombe Beach and the pier.
• Parking is very limited by the beach and fills fast in summer; most anglers park up on Babbacombe Downs and walk down. A useful nearby postcode is TQ1 3LX (Cary Arms area) for sat nav.
• The lane is narrow, steep and can be slippery with leaf litter or grit; expect a tough walk back up with kit.
• The pier surface is level once you arrive, but approaches include steep gradients; trolleys with brakes and stout footwear help.

The mark holds a varied inshore mix thanks to rough ground, kelp beds and sand patches. Expect clear-water summer species and nocturnal scavengers year-round.

• Spring: wrasse (ball/corkwing), pollack, garfish, early mackerel shoals in May, scad on calm evenings, mini species (blennies, gobies, tompot, rock goby, scorpionfish).
• Summer: mackerel, garfish, pollack, wrasse, scad, pout; occasional bass on a blow; thick-lipped mullet mooching in the corner by the beach.
• Autumn: mackerel (often smaller), scad in numbers at dusk, pout and conger after dark, wrasse tailing off late; chance of squid on very clear, calm nights.
• Winter: whiting on night tides, pout, poor cod, rockling, conger; occasional school bass after easterlies stir the beach.
• Year-round: mini species for LRF; dogfish on the cleaner sand patches beyond the pier.

Tactics revolve around float and light lure work in daylight, with bottom fishing into dusk and after dark. Keep tackle matched to the ground—there’s kelp and rough patches close in.

• Float fishing: fish strips or sandeel for mackerel/garfish; rag/lug or prawn for wrasse; set depth 6–15 ft and adjust until you find the fish.
• Spinning/lures: 20–40 g metals, slim jigs and white shads for mackerel/pollack; work lures mid-water at dawn/dusk; small metals and spoons for scad.
• LRF: size 8–14 hooks on split shot or 1–3 g jigheads with isome/gulp or tiny rag pieces; fish along the wall, steps and weed fringes for minis.
• Bottom tactics: 2-hook flappers (size 2–1/0) with rag, lug, mackerel, squid for pout/whiting/dogs; use a weak link/rotten-bottom lead if casting near kelp.
• Conger: stout gear, abrasion-resistant mono (60–80 lb trace), 4/0–6/0 hooks and fish baits after dark; keep fish away from piles and kelp immediately on the take.
• Accessories: a drop net is strongly recommended for landing better fish in any swell; long-handled disgorger/forceps for garfish and mini species.

The pier fishes on most tides, but height and clarity matter. It’s generally sheltered from the prevailing south-westerlies, making it a good option when other marks are blown out.

• Tide state: 2 hours either side of high water gives depth and flow; mid-flood to high is reliable for float and lure work.
• Winds/sea: best in light winds or a west/south-west; easterly/north-easterly winds push swell straight in and can weed up the mark and overtop the pier.
• Water clarity: clear, calm summer water is prime for mini species, garfish and mackerel; a little colour at night can switch on pout/whiting.
• Time of day: first/last light for mackerel, garfish and pollack; after dark for pout, conger and winter whiting; scad often stack up at dusk on neaps.
• Seasonality: peak surface activity June–September; more consistent bottom fishing October–February on settled nights.

This is a small, busy pier shared with swimmers, divers and beachgoers. Conditions can change quickly with an easterly swell—prioritise safety and other users.

• Surfaces can be very slippery with algae or spray; wear non-slip footwear and avoid running lines across walkways.
• In onshore easterly swells, waves can slap through the pier and overtop sections—keep back from the edge and fish higher where possible.
• Summer days see swimmers and paddlecraft around the inner corner; never cast across people and be ready to pause fishing when it’s crowded.
• Divers occasionally enter near the pier—watch for flags/bubbles and cease casting until clear.
• Use a lifejacket, especially after dark or in swell; headtorch and spare light are essential at night.
• Accessibility: the pier surface is level, but the access road is steep; wheelchair and reduced-mobility access is challenging without vehicle drop-off.

Facilities are close by but limited at beach level. Plan ahead in peak season when parking and space are at a premium.

• The Cary Arms pub sits beside the pier; seasonal kiosks sometimes operate at the beach.
• Public toilets may be available seasonally near the beach; more reliable options are up on Babbacombe Downs.
• Tackle/bait shops are in Torquay/Paignton within a short drive; buy bait before heading down the hill.
• Mobile signal is generally good in Torbay, though it can dip close to the cliffs.
• Bins are limited—take all litter and line home.

Local knowledge can make a big difference here. Treat it like a tight, mixed-ground venue and scale gear to conditions.

• A resident seal often patrols the beach—expect opportunistic tax! Land fish quickly and release away from the animal; never feed wildlife.
• Use small hooks (size 6–10) and fine wire traces for garfish with slivers of mackerel belly; they often sit just under the surface over clean patches.
• For pollack, work small paddletails tight to the shadow line of the pier at dusk, counting them down to avoid kelp.
• Carry a drop net—swells and low water make hand-lining risky, and wrasse/conger will ping off if lifted.
• If crabs are stripping baits in summer, switch to tougher baits (squid/cuttle) or fish floats higher in the column.
• A weak link on your lead saves rigs when dragging across kelp and pier legs; cast slightly uptide to hold line off structure.
• Evening sessions are far more comfortable than busy summer days; arrive an hour before dusk to secure a spot at the end.

Babbacombe Pier is generally fishable, but it is multi-use and may carry seasonal or area-specific notices. Always obey on-site signage and current fisheries rules.

• Torbay Council sometimes posts local notices asking anglers to avoid the inner steps/low-level areas when swimmers are present—follow any on-site instructions.
• Check current bass rules before you go; bag limits, seasons and a 42 cm minimum size commonly apply, but these can change. See MMO/IFCA updates.
• Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws and minimum sizes apply throughout Torbay; measure your catch and return undersized fish.
• Spurdog (spiny dogfish) must be released; tope retention by rod-and-line is prohibited—return sharks and rays you are not certain you can legally retain.
• Do not fish across navigational access for small craft or where diving activity is flagged; give way to other water users.
• No open fires on the pier; keep noise/light pollution down at night due to nearby residences.