Blackpool Sands Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Blackpool Sands Fishing Map

A steeply shelving shingle cove in Start Bay with quick access to depth and rocky headlands at both ends. In calm, clear conditions it fishes well with floats and light lures for wrasse, pollack, garfish and mackerel; after a blow, coloured water can draw bass tight to the surf line. Dusk into dark in late summer brings scad and mackerel shoals close, while night sessions produce dogfish and pouting over the cleaner patches and the odd thornback ray at range. The rocks hold blennies and gobies year-round and conger after dark. Parking, café and toilets are adjacent (seasonal), but the loose, steep shingle makes barrow access harder and swell/backwash can be heavy in onshore winds.

Ratings

⭐ 7.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Blackpool Sands

🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
🎯 Tip: Evening into dark from the beach. 2-hook flappers with small mackerel/squid strips cast 30–60m onto clean ground. Best on the flood with light surf.
🐟 Mackerel 8/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals. Feather/sabiki or small metals from the steep shingle. Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; watch for birds working.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Rougher surf or dusk. Whole sandeel/peeler on pulley or shallow divers. Work the gutters and ends; flood to high water best, after a blow with some colour.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer–autumn at dusk into dark. Small sabikis or float with mackerel strip, fish mid-water. Flooding tide in the cove.
🐟 Garfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm evenings late spring–autumn. Float-fish tiny sandeel or sliver of mackerel 2–6ft deep, slow retrieve. Rising tide.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Lures along rocky points either side at dusk. Small soft plastics/metals, retrieve high to avoid kelp. Best on the flood, spring–autumn.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings on the flood. Size 2 hooks, small mackerel/squid strips on 2–3 hook flappers, cast just beyond the shore dump.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Fish the rocks at either end with crab or worm baits on strong gear. Short casts into kelp gullies on the flood. Summer–early autumn.
🐟 Thornback Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional at night from clean shingle. Sandeel or bluey on pulley rigs, cast 60–90m. Mid-to-high water on spring tides.
🐟 Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer. Peeler or hard crab on pulley/running ledger to sand patches; flood to high. Use strong snoods.
🐟 Black Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn over mixed ground near the points. Small squid/prawn on fine hooks; single paternoster to lift baits off bottom. Calm, clear days.
🐟 Conger Eel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Night from the rocky ends. Big mackerel baits on heavy gear dropped close in. Best on the flood; mind snags and swell.

Blackpool Sands Fishing

Summary

Blackpool Sands is a sheltered shingle cove on the A379 between Dartmouth and Stoke Fleming in South Devon. Enclosed by wooded hills and facing roughly south, it offers clean-to-mixed ground within easy casting range, making it a convenient and scenic mark for both casual and target-led sessions.

Location and Access

This mark sits directly off the A379, a few minutes west of Dartmouth, with pay-and-display parking right behind the beach. Access is straightforward, but the beach is steeply shelving pea-to-cobbly shingle.

  • Postcode for the main car park: TQ6 0RG (follow local signage once close).
  • Parking is adjacent to the beach; charges apply and hours can be seasonal. Gates may be locked outside stated times—check on arrival if planning to fish late.
  • Very short walk from car to waterline, but the shingle is unstable and tiring underfoot.
  • Terrain: steep shingle beach with rocky patches at either end; largely clean sand/shingle in the centre.
  • Public transport: the A379 bus route (e.g., Dartmouth–Kingsbridge/Plymouth services) stops near the entrance—confirm current timetables before travelling.

Seasons

Expect a mix of clean-ground and fringe reef species, with summertime baitfish and winter visitors.

  • Spring (Mar–May): bass, plaice, dabs, gurnard; early garfish; occasional small-eyed ray on settled spells.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad, bass (dawn/dusk and after a blow), black bream (occasional), smoothhound (odd fish), pollack from the rocky ends; dogfish at night.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass, mackerel (early autumn), gar/scad into darkness, bream tailing off, rays on sandeel, mixed flats; increasing pouting.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting, dogfish, dab/plaice on calmer days; the odd codling in a hard blow (uncommon), conger from rock fringes after dark.
  • Occasional visitors: thornback ray, small-eyed ray, sole on quiet, warm nights; squid sporadically on very calm, clear evenings.

Methods

Standard beach tactics work well, with lure or float options in summer.

  • Bottom fishing: 2- or 3-hook flappers (size 2–1) for flats, gurnard, whiting; pulley/pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/rays/hounds.
  • Baits: ragworm and lug for flats/gurnard; peeler or soft crab for bass/smoothhound; sandeel (whole or half) and squid/mackerel cocktail for rays; mackerel strip for gar/scad/bream.
  • Lures: metal jigs and slim spoons for mackerel/scad; small surface/sub-surface plugs or soft plastics for bass at first and last light, especially on a building sea.
  • Float fishing: mackerel strip or ragworm set shallow for garfish; set deeper at dusk for scad.
  • Casting range: 30–80 yards covers most of the clean ground; step left/right toward the ends to probe slightly rougher patches for bream/pollack.
  • Night sessions: scale baits up to avoid whiting rattles; fish a big crab or squid/sandeel combo on one rod for a bonus bass or ray.

Tides and Conditions

The beach fishes reliably around mid-to-high water, with conditions dictating target species.

  • Tide: flooding tide into high water is productive; first half of the ebb can also fish if the sea holds.
  • Bass: after a southerly blow when the water colours up and there’s a manageable surf; dawn/dusk are prime.
  • Mackerel/gar/scad: calm to moderate seas with clear water, especially evenings into darkness (scad).
  • Rays/smoothhound: settled periods with gentle swell; best on neaps or small-to-moderate tides to reduce backwash.
  • Winter: calm, cold nights bring whiting/dabs; a big stir can throw up a rarity but watch for heavy dumpers.
  • Wind/swell: exposed to southerly swells (dumping surf); comparatively sheltered from west/northwest winds by the surrounding hills.

Safety

It’s an easy-access beach but the steep shingle and dumping waves demand respect.

  • Steeply shelving shingle creates strong backwash and sudden drop-offs—stay well clear of the swash line, especially at night.
  • Dumping surf in southerly swells can knock you off your feet; wading is not advised.
  • Rock ends are slippery with weed—use a lifejacket and cleated footwear if you venture onto them.
  • Private/managed beach: seasonal lifeguards and bathing zones may restrict fishing during busy daytime hours—always obey local signage and staff.
  • Headtorch with spare batteries for night sessions; keep kit high up the bank in case of surges.
  • Accessibility: parking is close, but the loose shingle is challenging for wheels and limited-mobility anglers; ask on site about any seasonal beach access mats/ramps.

Facilities

Blackpool Sands is well-served in season, reflecting its Blue Flag status.

  • Toilets and showers: usually available in season near the car park; hours can be reduced off-season.
  • Café and beach shop: the Venus Café/Takeaway operates seasonally for hot food, drinks, and basics.
  • Lifeguards: typically present peak summer—check current dates.
  • Phone signal: generally fair but can be patchy in the valley; step up the bank for better reception.
  • Tackle and bait: look to Dartmouth, Torbay, or Kingsbridge/Start Bay (e.g., Torcross) for shops; check opening times and fresh bait availability before you go.
  • Parking: pay-and-display by the beach; confirm gate closing times if planning to fish late.

Tips

Reading the small variances in ground and the state of the sea pays off here.

  • The central belt is clean—ideal for flats and rays—while the flanks toward the rocks hold bream/pollack in late summer.
  • Watch for birds and surface dimples at dusk; scad and mackerel often push in tight for a short, frantic window.
  • For bass after a blow, fish big crab or squid/sandeel at short-to-mid range on the flood; keep terminal gear simple and strong.
  • Small-eyed rays show after settled warm spells—fresh sandeel is the difference-maker.
  • Winter whiting can be relentless—use larger hooks/baits on one rod to filter them and hold out for a better fish.
  • A lightweight beach buddy or windbreak is useful; the valley can funnel katabatic breezes in the evening.
  • Keep lights low at night—this clear-water cove can switch off quickly with too much illumination.

Regulations

There is no general ban on sea angling here, but this is a privately managed Blue Flag beach with seasonal bathing zones. Always check and comply with current on-site notices.

  • Seasonal restrictions: daytime fishing may be restricted during peak bathing season and within marked swimming areas—obey lifeguards and signage.
  • Devon & Severn IFCA district: national minimum sizes and local byelaws apply (e.g., no retention of undersized fish; protections for berried lobsters/crawfish; permits needed for potting/netting).
  • Bass rules change periodically (bag limits/closed periods). Do not assume—check the latest MMO/DEFRA and IFCA guidance before retaining any bass.
  • Bait collection: follow local codes; respect private property and SSSI rules nearby in Start Bay where applicable.
  • General conduct: no casting near bathers; no fires or camping on the beach without permission; take all litter and discarded line/rigs home.