Bigbury-on-Sea Fishing

Summary

Bigbury‑on‑Sea sits at the mouth of the River Avon, facing Bigbury Bay and the iconic Burgh Island on Devon’s south coast. It offers a mix of clean surf beach and rocky island ledges, giving lure and bait anglers year‑round options. Expect bass in the surf, wrasse and pollack off the rocks, and summer visitors like mackerel and smoothhound when conditions align.

Location and Access

Bigbury‑on‑Sea is reached via the A38 (exit at Wrangaton), then A3121 to Modbury and the B3392 through St Ann’s Chapel to the village. Parking is easy, but summer crowds mean early arrivals are wise.

• Main beach car park: large pay‑and‑display by the sands (Postcode: TQ7 4AZ). Fills quickly in peak season; height restrictions may apply for vans.
• Access: flat, short walk onto the beach; firm sand at higher states, softer lower down.
• Burgh Island: cross the tidal causeway on the ebb/low tide (10–20 minutes from car park). At high water the sea tractor operates (fee applies) when running; check locally.
• Terrain: clean sand with occasional shingle; Burgh Island offers low rock platforms, kelp, and boulders. Studded boots recommended on the island.

Seasons

The area fishes as two distinct marks: the surf beach for bass, flats and rays, and the island rocks for wrasse, pollack and mackerel. Seasonal patterns are fairly reliable.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass in mild onshore surf, especially around the river mouth seams
  • Plaice and dabs on calmer days; early smoothhound late spring
  • Wrasse and pollack begin to show on the rocks
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (dawn/dusk and rougher days), schoolies more common
  • Mackerel and garfish off the island; scad at dusk
  • Wrasse (ball/corkwing), pollack, occasional conger at night
  • Smoothhound and small‑eyed/spotted rays on the beach
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass window; better stamp in blowy, coloured seas
  • Rays, dogfish, whiting start; scad and late mackerel on calm evenings
  • Conger from the rocks after dark
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, pouting, dogfish; the odd ray on settled spells
  • Occasional winter bass on rough, mild days
  • Rock marks quieter but still produce conger/pollack in windows

Methods

Both natural bait and lures work well here; match your method to the ground and sea state.

• Surf/beach (Bigbury side):
  • Rigs: 2‑hook flapper (size 2–1) for flats/whiting; clipped pulley/pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/rays
  • Baits: fresh lugworm or ragworm, peeler/soft crab, sandeel, squid/mackerel cocktails for rays
  • Tactics: fish the last 2 hours of flood and first of ebb; cast onto the outer bar edges and river mouth current seams
• Burgh Island rocks:
  • Lures: weedless soft plastics (sandeel/shad 4–6 in), metal jigs (20–40 g), and surface/sub‑surface hard baits for bass/pollack
  • Float fishing: strips of mackerel, sandeel or prawn for garfish/pollack in clear water
  • Bait: hardback/peeler crab or ragworm close to kelp for wrasse (strong abrasion‑resistant leaders)
• General setups:
  • Beach: 12–13 ft beachcaster with 5–6 oz leads; shockleader 60 lb
  • LRF/HRF: 7–9 ft rods, 10–20 lb braid, 20–30 lb fluoro for rough ground
  • Night sessions: small reflective tip lights and stable rod rests; headlamp with red mode

Tides and Conditions

Tide movement drives the fishing here, and wind direction dictates surf shape and water clarity.

• Best tide states:
  • Beach: mid‑to‑high and first of the ebb; last 2 hours of the flood are prime for bass
  • Island rocks: mid to high for safe ledge access and depth; avoid biggest springs on exposed points
• Wind/sea:
  • A modest SW/W onshore with some colour often switches on the bass
  • Calm, clear days suit mackerel/garfish and wrasse on lighter tackle
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn/dusk outperform in summer and on busy beach days
  • Autumn often gives the most consistent bassing along the causeway seams
• Water clarity:
  • Slightly coloured for baited surf work; clearer for lure fishing off the rocks

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic‑facing beach with a fast‑flooding causeway and lively tidal streams around Burgh Island. A cautious, tide‑led approach is essential.

• Burgh Island causeway floods rapidly: plan exit routes and timing; do not get cut off—use the sea tractor if available
• Strong rips at the river mouth and on bar edges; avoid wading in swell
• Weed‑slicked rocks and kelp: wear grippy footwear; use a PFD on exposed ledges
• Swell/backwash can be heavy on the island’s west/north sides; fish lower, sheltered ledges on rough days
• Summer lifeguarded zones: do not cast into flagged bathing/surf areas; fish outside the zones or outside lifeguard hours
• Night fishing: bring spare lighting, check tide heights, and avoid solo rock sessions
• Mobility: beach is accessible from the car park; island rocks require a tidal crossing and short scramble—unsuitable for limited mobility

Facilities

Bigbury‑on‑Sea is well served in season, though facilities are limited after hours.

• Toilets: public toilets by the main car park (seasonal opening hours)
• Food/drink: seasonal beach café (e.g., Venus Café) and refreshments; Pilchard Inn on Burgh Island when accessible
• Lifeguards: RNLI patrols typically spring–autumn—check local boards for dates/times
• Tackle/bait: nearest options in Kingsbridge and Ivybridge/Plymouth; bring bait in peak season to avoid shortages
• Bins: waste/recycling at the car park; pack out line and hooks
• Mobile signal: generally fair on the beach; patchier around the island’s seaward side

Tips

Local anglers treat Bigbury as two different venues—move if your first plan isn’t working. Subtle positioning along seams and structure often outperforms raw casting distance.

• Bass patrol the edges of the tidal seams along the causeway and the river mouth; a 30–50 m cast into foamy water often beats a full‑blooded chuck
• On neaps with clear water, work surface lures at first light along the island’s sheltered side for surprise fish
• For rays, target warm, settled evenings with sandeel/squid on the beach—clip‑down presentations keep baits intact in the surf
• Wrasse love small crab baits tucked into kelp pockets; strike firmly and bully them clear of the weed
• Summer crowds: fish very early or after sunset; you’ll avoid swimmers/surfers and pick up the better bites
• Mackerel runs are patchy—carry a small metal jig to cover water rather than flogging full strings of feathers
• If collecting bait, do so only where permitted and avoid seagrass or protected areas; many South Devon estuaries have controls on digging

Regulations

Rod‑and‑line sea angling is generally permitted at Bigbury‑on‑Sea and around Burgh Island, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check the latest notices on the beach and consult official sources before your trip.

• Bass (recreational): as of 2024/25, minimum size 42 cm; typical retention window allows a limited daily bag during parts of the year, with catch‑and‑release outside that window. Regulations are reviewed annually—check current government guidance before retaining bass
• Protected species: do not retain shad (allis/twaite), tope (if landed from a boat, release; from shore handle with care), or eel; release any unexpectedly caught protected species unharmed
• Devon & Severn IFCA: local bylaws may affect netting, potting, and bait collection within estuaries and near nursery areas. While these primarily target commercial or fixed‑gear activity, some intertidal bait‑gathering restrictions can apply—check D&S IFCA for the Avon/Bigbury area
• Bathing/surf zones: when RNLI flags are in place, avoid fishing into designated bathing/surf areas; lifeguards may ask anglers to move for public safety
• Private property/access: Burgh Island has hotel‑managed areas—stick to obvious public routes/foreshore and be courteous to staff and guests
• General: no license for sea angling from the shore in England; observe national minimum conservation reference sizes and never sell your catch without the appropriate commercial license