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Devon

Berry Head

6.7 · Rocks · Devon

Prominent limestone headland near Brixham with deep water tight to the rocks. Productive through late spring to autumn for pelagics and rough-ground species; winter can see smaller codling/whiting and persistent conger/pouting. Best on a flooding tide with clear to moderate clarity. Access is a fair walk from the car park and some ledges are exposed or high above the water—fish only in calm conditions, use rotten-bottom rigs, and plan how you’ll land fish before you cast.

Should you fish Berry Head?

56 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Mackerel and Ballan Wrasse

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Mackerel and Ballan Wrasse.

W 3 mph Rain 4% High tide 12:06

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Berry Head — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Berry Head is a deep-water limestone rock mark where the flood tide, clear water and low-light periods do most of the work. Treat it as a roam-and-hunt venue: travel light, watch for bait activity, and choose ledges where you can fish tight to kelp, gullies or the rock wall without creating an impossible landing situation. It can be excellent from late spring through autumn for mackerel, pollack, wrasse, scad, garfish and bream, while winter is more of a bait session for pouting, poor cod, whiting-sized fish and persistent conger.

  • Know when Berry Head’s flood tide is worth the walk.
  • Pick the safer side before committing to a ledge.
  • Target pollack, wrasse, mackerel and conger with mark-specific tactics.
  • Avoid the swell directions that spoil both safety and clarity.
  • Use the right rough-ground approach before the snags cost you gear.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Brixham 4.0 mi Paignton 4.4 mi Torquay 4.7 mi Kingswear 5.1 mi Dittisham 5.2 mi

Explore nearby towns: Brixham · Paignton · Torquay · Kingswear · Dittisham

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.7 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 4/10

Mackerel 9/10
Tip: Summer shoals; spin metals/feathers from the headland on a flooding tide at dawn/evening. Use 1-2 oz lures to reach depth; avoid heavy swell.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or float-fished sandeel tight to kelp gullies; best dusk into dark on a rising tide. Retrieve slow and shallow over rough ground.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Rag/crab baits on strong gear; drop into kelp-lined ledges and lift off bottom. Daylight on a flooding tide; use rotten-bottom to reduce losses.
Pouting 7/10
Tip: Small mackerel/rag strips on size 1-2 hooks, ledgered into deep water. Prolific after dark on the flood; keep baits just off the bottom.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
Tip: Late summer nights; small sabikis or a tiny strip under a glow float. Best on a flooding tide over deep water.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: Big mackerel/squid baits lowered straight down at night; neap tides safer. 80 lb mono trace and a drop net help; fish tight to the rock wall.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Ragworm/peeler close to weed beds on small hooks; short casts into kelp in daylight on the flood. Rebait often due to crabs.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Float a small sandeel or mackerel strip shallow in clear summer seas; rising tide along the edges and tidal seams.
Black Bream 6/10
Tip: Float-fish small squid/peeler strips over rough ground late spring to autumn. Keep baits mid-water; trickle groundbait and use light gear.
Bass 5/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk plugging or live sandeel worked around headland wash on a rising tide. Keep lures high to avoid kelp.
Poor Cod 5/10
Tip: Tiny worm/fish baits on size 4-6 hooks, scratch rigs into deep water. More likely on winter evenings; fish just off bottom.
Bull Huss 5/10
Tip: Large fish/squid baits on a pulley rig to rough ground at night, preferably on neaps; 80 lb mono trace, patient fishing.

Local knowledge

Berry Head fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Berry Head is a dramatic limestone headland guarding the entrance to Brixham, Devon, and part of a protected nature reserve. Deep water tight to towering cliffs, clear tides and reefy ground make it a classic South Devon rock mark for lure, float and bottom fishing.

Set on the Torbay coast above Brixham, the mark is reached via the signed Berry Head Nature Reserve road and pay-and-display car park. From there it’s a 10–20 minute walk on good paths to the headland, with further uneven, sometimes steep tracks down to individual ledges.

  • Drive: Follow local signs for Berry Head Nature Reserve from Brixham; the road ends at the main car park near the fort and café.
  • Parking: Pay-and-display car park by the fort; height barrier in place; check seasonal opening/locking times.
  • Approach: Easy on the main paths, but access to fishing ledges varies from simple to committed scrambles. Wear grippy footwear and keep hands free for down-climbs.
  • Terrain: Limestone platforms, broken rock and weeded gullies; very deep water close in on exposed faces.
  • Public transport: Regular buses serve Brixham; allow a 25–35 minute uphill walk from town to the headland.
  • Night access: The reserve is open, but the car park may be locked after hours on some dates—confirm times or park in town and walk.

Berry Head fishes like a classic deep, clear South Devon rock mark, with summer pelagics and year-round residents. Expect variety, with the odd surprise in warm spells.

  • Spring (Apr–May): Pollack, ballan wrasse, early mackerel, garfish; chance of bass on lures in onshore chop; conger after dark.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Mackerel, garfish, pollack, scad (horse mackerel at dusk/night), ballan/cuckoo wrasse, black bream, bass; occasional triggerfish in warm years; pout and dogfish after dark.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Mackerel (often to Oct), prolific scad at night, black bream into early autumn, pollack, bass, wrasse; increasing conger and bull huss potential.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pout, rockling, conger; odd bass in rough seas; rare codling.
  • Mini species (milder months): Corkwing wrasse, tompot blenny, scorpion fish, gobies around weedy gullies and boulder pockets.

Depth, tide run and snags dictate relatively robust tackle for bottom work, while float and lure tactics shine in clear water. Travel light and use a drop-net for safe landing from higher ledges.

  • Lures: Metals (20–40 g), slim spoons and casting jigs for mackerel/scad; soft plastics on 10–30 g heads or weedless paddle/needle tails for pollack and bass; surface/sub-surface lures at dawn/dusk in swell for bass.
  • Float-fishing: Slim floats with Sandeel, mackerel strip or prawn for garfish and pollack; set 8–20 ft depending on ledge height and fish marks; keep rigs streamlined for tide run.
  • Bottom fishing: 4–5 oz leads typically; up-and-over or long pulley for bream/bass; pulley pennel or simple running ledger for huss/conger; use rotten-bottom links to save gear in snags.
  • Baits: Fresh mackerel/sandeel (cuts or whole) for pollack, gar, huss and conger; squid and bluey for scent trails; ragworm, peeler crab, mussel or prawn for wrasse and bream; small cocktail baits for whiting/pout.
  • Night tactics: Scale down to small metals or 2–3 g jigheads for scad on light gear; for eels/huss use big, tough baits and strong abrasion-resistant mono/fluoro traces.
  • Landing: A long drop-net is strongly recommended; avoid gaffs, especially for fish you intend to release.
  • Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rods (15–40 g) for roaming; 11–13 ft rock rods with 20–30 lb mainline or 30–40 lb braid plus 60–80 lb abrasion leaders for bottom work.

This mark benefits from depth at most stages, with fish often pushing in on the flood and during low-light periods. Clarity and swell direction are key.

  • Tide: Productive throughout, with a notable lift from mid-flood to high; first of the ebb can fish well for pelagics; slack water can be quieter.
  • Wind/swell: East–SE swells can make it dangerous and kill clarity on exposed faces. The Torbay side can offer shelter in W–NW winds.
  • Water clarity: Clear to gin-clear much of the year—ideal for lures/float; slight colour and fizz can switch on bass.
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk for pollack, mackerel and bass; after dark for scad, pout and conger.
  • Seasonality: Peak mixed fishing from late spring through autumn; winter becomes a bait game for eels, whiting and pout.

This is a serious rock venue above deep water with high, committing ledges and changeable swell. Treat it like a cliff environment and put safety first.

  • High cliffs and exposure: Some ledges are a long way above the water with no easy exits; a slip could be fatal—wear a flotation aid/lifejacket.
  • Swell risk: Rogue sets wrap around the headland—observe for 15–20 minutes before committing; avoid easterly/SE swell days.
  • Footing: Polished limestone, loose rubble and weeded rock—use grippy boots/cleats and keep both hands free for scrambles.
  • Cut-off hazards: A few lower ledges and gullies can be affected by tide—know your route and retreat points.
  • Rockfall/bird cliffs: Do not position beneath unstable faces or near the guillemot colony; respect rope/barrier lines and any seasonal closures.
  • Night fishing: Headtorch with spare batteries; mark your exit path in daylight; fish with a partner where possible.
  • Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility beyond main paths; safe fishing requires agility.
  • Comms: Mobile signal is generally good on the headland; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Being within a popular nature reserve, basic amenities are close at hand near the fort, with full services in Brixham a short drive away.

  • On-site: Pay-and-display car park; daytime toilets near the fort; seasonal café (The Guardhouse Café) for hot food and drinks.
  • Nearby: Tackle, bait and groceries in Brixham town and harbour area; more options in Paignton/Torquay.
  • Lighting: No pier-style lighting—bring a good headtorch; the lighthouse’s flash is not for illumination.
  • Bins: Limited—take all litter and line home; use car park bins if available.
  • Phone/data: Generally decent on the headland; patchier on some lower ledges.

Local anglers treat Berry Head as a roam-and-hunt venue—travel light, watch the water and move to life. Respect the reserve and you’ll be welcomed back.

  • Read the birds: Gulls picking or gannets diving off the point often signal mackerel, scad or bass pushing bait.
  • Keep leader long: A 2–3 m abrasion leader saves fish and lures over sharp limestone and kelp.
  • Rotten-bottoms pay: A weak link on grip leads saves a fortune when ledgering over rough ground.
  • Black bream tricks: Small size 4–6 hooks, 10–12 lb fluoro snoods and tiny squid/mussel strips; keep baits neat and let the tide work.
  • Wrasse etiquette: Barbless or crushed barbs and steady pressure—release them quickly; they’re local keystone fish.
  • Night scad: Tiny metals or size 8–10 sabikis with a single 5–10 g casting jig; slow, steady retrieve under the surface.
  • Crowds and closures: It’s a busy spot for walkers, climbers and birders—avoid casting near viewing areas and obey any seasonal no-access signs around the colony.
  • Transport fallback: If the car park is shut at night, park in town and allow extra time for the walk in/out.

Berry Head sits within protected landscapes and sensitive wildlife areas. Shore angling is generally permitted, but restrictions and national fisheries rules apply.

  • Nature reserve rules: The headland is a National Nature Reserve; obey all Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust signage, barriers and any seasonal closures near nesting seabirds. Do not access roped-off cliff edges or colony viewpoints with fishing gear.
  • Marine designations: The waters form part of wider conservation areas (e.g., Torbay MCZ/Berry Head to Start Point SAC). Recreational angling is allowed, but avoid damaging habitats and only collect bait where and when permitted. Check Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws before foraging or setting any pots/nets.
  • Bass (recreational) [ICES 7d–h]: At time of writing, a minimum size of 42 cm and a daily bag limit of 2 fish applies from 1 March–30 November; no retention in December–February. Always check current MMO/UK government updates before your trip.
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits: UK minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) apply to many species—measure fish and release undersize immediately.
  • Prohibited/CRS species: Recreational retention of tope and spurdog is prohibited—catch and release only; treat all large sharks and rare rays with care and release promptly.
  • Wrasse fishery: Local byelaws target the live-wrasse potting fishery (commercial). Anglers are not generally restricted, but best practice is catch-and-release for wrasse on this reef system.
  • General: No sea angling rod licence is required in England for saltwater species, but a licence is needed for migratory salmonids in estuaries/rivers (not applicable here). Pack out all litter and discarded line.
  • If in doubt: Check the Devon & Severn IFCA, Torbay Council and site signage for the latest closures, parking hours and any temporary restrictions.