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Devon

Blackchurch Rock

6.6 · Rocks · Devon

An iconic sea arch on the remote Mouthmill boulder beach near Brownsham/Clovelly. This is a rough-ground, kelp-filled rock mark with deep gutters close in on mid-to-high tides and powerful tidal movement. It fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk with light swell. Expect prolific wrasse and pollack in summer, mackerel and garfish in clear conditions, and conger, huss, and whiting after dark later in the year. Access is a steep, long walk through the valley and footing is on uneven boulders; heavy swell and rockfall risk mean it is only for experienced, well-prepared anglers.

Should you fish Blackchurch Rock?

51 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

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

NW 4 mph Rain 19% High tide 11:28

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Blackchurch Rock — 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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Blackchurch Rock is a high-reward, high-consequence rough-ground venue. It fishes best when a clean flood pushes through the kelp gullies around the arch, especially into dusk with a light swell and enough clarity for lures. Treat it as a short-range, structure-led mark: the best bites usually come tight to kelp, foamy seams, deep close-in gutters and clear pockets between boulders rather than from long casting.

  • Know when the arch gullies are worth the walk.
  • Fish the flood without losing every rig.
  • Pick the right water for bass, pollack or huss.
  • Avoid the tides and swells that make Blackchurch unfishable.
  • Use a backup plan before conditions trap your session.

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

Hartland 2.7 mi Buck's Cross 3.7 mi Woolfardisworthy 4.0 mi Bradworthy 8.0 mi Westward Ho! 8.5 mi

Explore nearby towns: Hartland · Buck's Cross · Woolfardisworthy · Bradworthy · Westward Ho!

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

Overall rating

6.6 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 3/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Work shallow divers or sandeel SPs through surfy gullies at first/last light on a rising tide. Peeler or crab baits also score after a swell.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Float fish or spin metals/soft shads along kelp gullies at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Keep lures tight to the weed; 20–30 g works well.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Daylight on the flood; fish hard crab, rag or prawn tight to rock/kelp. Strong gear, short traces; expect snags. Summer–autumn best.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Evenings/nights; small fish or squid on simple paternoster cast to clear patches beyond kelp. Year-round, more in warmer months.
Bull Huss 7/10
Tip: Night into rough gullies with big mackerel/squid on pulley rigs. Use rotten-bottoms; neap floods fish well. Spring–autumn.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Dusk/night; two-hook flappers with fish/squid strips into gullies. Short casts over rough ground. Year-round.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small hooks with ragworm/crab under a float or light ledger tight to kelp edges on a flooding tide. Summer reliable.
Tompot Blenny 6/10
Tip: Micro hooks with tiny rag/squid lowered into cracks and pools at mid–low tide on calm days. Year-round fun close in.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark, drop big oily baits into deep holes under the rod tip. Heavy abrasion-resistant leaders. Best on neap floods, summer–autumn.
Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
Tip: Winter nights; small worm baits fished static in kelpy gullies at low to mid-flood. Keep baits hard on the bottom.
Mackerel 5/10
Tip: Summer shoals; spin small metals or single feathers when tide pushes past the rock. Best in clear water on evening floods.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float small fish strips or sandeel on long traces. Clear, calm days on the flood around the point.

Local knowledge

Blackchurch Rock fishing guide

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

Blackchurch Rock sits on the wild Mouthmill beach between Clovelly and Hartland on North Devon’s Atlantic coast. It’s a dramatic sea arch flanked by steep cliffs, boulder fields and kelp-lined gullies that scream rough-ground fishing. For adventurous shore anglers, it offers bass, wrasse, pollack and powerful nighttime predators when the sea and tide align.

This mark is reached via woodland paths to Mouthmill beach, on National Trust land, with no direct road access to the shore. Expect a proper walk and very rough ground underfoot when you arrive.

  • Parking: National Trust Brownsham car park (signed “Brownsham” off local lanes; EX39 6AN gets you close). Free/donations; no overnight camping.
  • Walk-in: 20–30 minutes downhill through the Mouthmill valley; longer on the return climb. Paths can be muddy, slippery and rooty after rain.
  • Approach: From the beach, head right (west) over large rounded boulders to the arch. Movement across the boulders is slow; allow extra time.
  • Terrain: Big cobbles, barnacle-coated rock, kelp and gullies. Not suitable for trolleys. Good ankle support and cleated soles are essential.
  • Alternative access: Some anglers approach from the Coast Path via Clovelly/Hobby Drive, but Brownsham is the simplest and safest option.

This is classic rough-ground fishing with seasonal variety. Expect close-in action when the sea has life, with a few surprises in autumn and at night.

  • Spring (Mar–May)
    • Bass on building tides and in gentle surf
    • Pollack from ledges and deeper gullies
    • Ballan wrasse as water warms; dogfish present
    • Bull huss after dark; early conger possible
  • Summer (Jun–Aug)
    • Ballan and corkwing wrasse tight to the weed
    • Pollack at dawn/dusk; garfish and the odd mackerel in clear, calm spells
    • Bass on lures or crab baits in the white water
    • Conger and bull huss at night; pout and poor cod as bycatch
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov)
    • Peak bass fishing on a dropping swell; pollack still consistent
    • Wrasse remain good into October
    • Huss, conger; increasing whiting on bigger tides
    • Stray ray not common here due to ground, but not impossible on sand patches
  • Winter (Dec–Feb)
    • Whiting, pout, rockling in surges of fish on springs
    • Conger and huss on settled nights
    • Occasional codling in the right blow-and-clear window

Rough-ground tactics rule: fish strong, accept some tackle loss, and present baits or lures tight to structure and white water.

  • Bottom fishing (rough ground)
    • Rigs: Pulley pennel, pulley dropper, or short up-and-over with a weak-link (rotten-bottom) to the lead
    • Leads: 4–6 oz; plain or spoon leads to reduce wedging in boulders
    • Hooks: 3/0–5/0 for bass/huss (pennel); 1/0–2/0 for mixed species
    • Line: 30–50 lb braid or 20–25 lb mono mainline with 60–80 lb leader; abrasion resistance is key
    • Baits: Peeler or hardback crab, large lug/rag cocktails, squid strip, mackerel/sandeel for bass, huss and conger
  • Lure fishing
    • Soft plastics (12–20 cm) weedless on Texas/Cheb/weighted belly hooks (10–28 g) for bass and pollack
    • Metal jigs and slim minnows in clear water at dawn/dusk; keep presentations up and away from snags
    • Work gullies, rips and the foamy edges around the arch on the flood
  • Float fishing
    • Sliding float with 20–30 g capacity; 10–20 lb mono; 3–6 ft trace of 15–20 lb fluoro
    • Baits: Crab, ragworm, prawn or mackerel strip for wrasse/pollack around kelp lines
  • Night tactics
    • Big fish baits (mackerel head, squid/mackerel cocktail) for huss and conger
    • Keep traces short to limit snagging; lock drags and be ready for powerful runs

The Bristol Channel’s extreme tidal range and Atlantic swells shape this mark. Plan around the tide, swell height and wind direction for both safety and success.

  • Tide state
    • Productive from mid-flood to high and the first of the ebb; wrasse also fish well 2–3 hours either side of low on calm neaps
    • Springs create strong lateral pull and more snags; neaps give better presentation for wrasse/lures
  • Sea and wind
    • Best with a small, clean swell and light offshore or cross-off winds (E/NE/SE). Big W–SW swells make it dangerous and unfishable
    • After a blow, 24–72 hours of settling and clearing often switches on bass and huss
  • Time of day/season
    • Dawn/dusk lures for bass/pollack; night for huss/conger
    • Late spring to late autumn is prime; winter windows exist in settled spells
  • Water clarity
    • Mild colour helps for bait fishing; lures need moderate clarity (avoid chocolate-brown floods)

This is a serious rough-ground venue beneath unstable cliffs with rapid tidal flooding. Only experienced, well-equipped anglers should attempt it in fair conditions.

  • Major hazards
    • Cut-off risk: Sections near the arch and under the cliff are quickly cut off on the flood; always keep an escape route
    • Swell and surges: Rogue waves and heavy backwash across boulders; avoid any big or building swell
    • Rockfall: The cliffs are active—do not linger beneath them; avoid the arch in heavy seas
    • Slips/trips: Slippery weeded boulders; ankle-turning terrain
  • Accessibility
    • Long, steep, muddy walk; unsuitable for limited mobility or heavy kit
    • No lighting; carry headtorch, spare batteries and a first-aid kit
  • Personal safety
    • Wear a modern sea angling lifejacket and cleated/studded boots
    • Fish with a partner; tell someone your plan; check tide times and forecast meticulously
    • Take a long-handled net or glove for landing; never gaff bass

You’re far from amenities once you drop to the beach—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages offer limited services.

  • On-site: No toilets, water, bins or lighting at Brownsham or Mouthmill; pack out all waste
  • Nearest toilets: Clovelly Visitor Centre (pay parking), Hartland Quay (seasonal), or Hartland village facilities
  • Tackle and bait: Summerlands (Westward Ho!), Bideford Angling Centre (Bideford), Quay Sports (Barnstaple); phone ahead for bait
  • Food/fuel: Hartland village and Clovelly area have pubs/shops (seasonal hours)
  • Mobile signal: Patchy to poor in the valley and on the beach; do not rely on data/voice

Local knowledge minimises losses and maximises bites on this snaggy, mobile ground.

  • Use weak-link leads and keep traces short; lift into the fish and wind hard to keep it up over boulders
  • Set rods high on a sturdy tripod to hold line above kelp; plain leads roll less into cracks than heavy grip leads
  • For wrasse, fish crab or rag tight to kelp in daylight on neaps; release them carefully and quickly
  • Lure anglers: go weedless, slow your retrieve, and target foamy seams and gully mouths at first light
  • Bass often show on a dropping swell with a bit of colour—think 1–3 ft swell, light offshore breeze
  • Start the walk back with plenty of tide still off the rocks; don’t commit to spots that need a wade to exit
  • Expect photographers and walkers—be courteous and give the arch a wide berth if it’s busy

Shore angling is permitted here; there are no site-specific bans known at the time of writing. Standard national and local rules apply—always check the latest before you go.

  • Bass (recreational): Minimum size 42 cm. Recent rules have limited anglers to a small daily bag during Mar–Nov with catch-and-release only in winter months; confirm the current year’s dates and limits via MMO/IFCA updates before retaining any fish
  • Local authority: Devon & Severn IFCA waters—check byelaws for bait collection, netting prohibitions, and any MCZ measures. Rod-and-line angling is generally allowed within nearby MCZs
  • Protected areas/wildlife: Cliffs and foreshore form part of designated conservation landscapes; do not disturb nesting birds or seals
  • National Trust land: No fires, no camping, keep dogs under close control, take all litter home
  • General: Never gaff bass; adhere to national MCRS for other species; only retain what you will eat; respect other users of the beach and coast path