Blegberry Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Blegberry Fishing Map

Exposed Atlantic rock ledges on the Hartland Peninsula with fast-running tides and deep, kelp-lined gullies. Access is via the South West Coast Path with a steep, rough descent to the ledges. Best in settled seas with a light to moderate swell; dusk and dawn are prime. Flood and first of the ebb produce for pollack and bass, while evenings into night bring pouting, conger and bull huss. Summer months see mackerel, scad and garfish; wrasse fishing can be excellent around kelp and rock fingers. Always assess swell and surge before committing to a ledge.

Ratings

⭐ 6.3/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 3/10

Fish You Can Catch at Blegberry

🐟 Pollack 9/10
🎯 Tip: Work soft plastics or metal jigs along kelp-fringed drop-offs at dawn/dusk on the flood; keep lures high to avoid snags.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm into kelp gullies on the flooding tide in daylight; strong tackle and rotten-bottom essential over rough ground.
🐟 Conger Eel 8/10
🎯 Tip: After dark, lower big mackerel/squid baits tight to the rock face; slack to first of flood best; heavy gear and rotten-bottom.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work white water in gullies on the flood at dawn/dusk; surface plugs/paddle tails or peeler crab tight in. Avoid big swell.
🐟 Bull Huss 7/10
🎯 Tip: Large fish or peeler baits cast short into rough ground at dusk/night on a rising tide; pulley pennel and thick rubbing leader.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small strips of mackerel or squid at night close to structure; short casts; handy as livebait.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer to early autumn on calm evenings; feathers or small metals from the ledges into deeper water on the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer nights; tiny metals or sabikis worked midwater; bites around dusk into first of the flood; keep line high to avoid kelp.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Size 2–4 hooks with rag or small crab under a float into kelp; mid-flood in daylight; lift out promptly to beat snags.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months in clear water; float-fished mackerel strip or small metals near the surface at dawn/dusk on neap floods.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 4/10
🎯 Tip: After dark on neaps; small worm baits dropped into crevices at your feet with minimal lead to feel bites.

Blegberry Fishing

Summary

Blegberry is a rugged rock-mark stretch on the Hartland Peninsula of North Devon, between Hartland Quay and Speke’s Mill Mouth. It’s classic Atlantic-facing ground with deep, kelpy gullies, slate ledges and fast-running tides that draw in quality wrasse, pollack, bass and powerful night-time predators. Experienced rock anglers rate it for its dramatic scenery, proper rough-ground challenges and the real chance of specimen bull huss and conger.

Location and Access

This is wild-coast fishing on the South West Coast Path, reached by a hike and a steep descent to the ledges. Expect a serious walk, uneven ground and a final scramble; it’s not a venue for first-timers or those with limited mobility.

  • Area: North Devon’s Hartland Peninsula, roughly north of Hartland Quay and around Blegberry Farm/Speke’s Mill Mouth
  • Approach: Drive to Hartland village and follow signs for Hartland Quay; common options are to park at Hartland Quay (pay-and-display, seasonal) or at small pull-ins/parking near Speke’s Mill Mouth, then walk the Coast Path to the Blegberry ledges
  • Walk-in: 20–45 minutes each way depending on the exact ledge; the final approach is a steep, sometimes muddy or grassy scramble down sheep tracks
  • Terrain at the mark: Slate platforms, boulder fields and kelp-choked gullies; some ledges are high above the water, others low and wave-washed
  • Footwear: Studded rock boots or aggressive-soled hiking boots are strongly recommended
  • Note: Fields are working farmland—stick to waymarked rights of way, respect gates, and expect livestock

Seasons

The Hartland coast is productive but patchy: hit the right window and it can be superb. Here’s what commonly turns up by season.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Bass in foamy water after a blow
    • Pollack building at dusk and dawn
    • Wrasse (ballan, with occasional corkwing) as temps rise
    • Early bull huss and strap conger at night
  • Summer (Jun–Sep):
    • Ballan wrasse (specimens possible), pollack, mackerel, garfish and scad
    • Bull huss and conger after dark, with the odd tope a genuine outside chance
    • Bass along the white-water edges, especially on a dropping swell
    • Occasional triggerfish in late summer on calm, clear days
  • Autumn (Oct–Nov):
    • Better-sized pollack tight to the rock at dusk
    • Huss and conger remain strong; bass as seas colour up
    • Mackerel/scad tail off by late autumn; whiting and pout appear
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Bull huss, conger, pouting and rockling on big baits
    • Spurdog occasional on larger tides in some seasons
    • Very rare codling in northerly seas (now uncommon)

Methods

Treat Blegberry as proper rough-ground rock fishing: robust gear, short rigs, and baits that stand up to tide and kelp. Lure and float tactics also shine in the right water.

  • Bottom fishing (rough ground):
    • Rigs: Short pulley/pulley-dropper or up-and-over with a rotten-bottom/weak-link for the lead
    • Hooks: 4/0–6/0 strong patterns (pennel) for huss/conger; 2/0–3/0 for mixed-fish rigs
    • Line: 25–30 lb mono or 40–50 lb braid with 60–80 lb rubbing leader; 10–15 lb rotten-bottom to save leads
    • Baits: Whole squid, mackerel fillet or head/section, launce, and peeler or hardback crab; big, oily baits for huss/conger, peeler/sandeel for bass
  • Float fishing:
    • A 20–30 g sliding float set 10–20 ft over kelpy ground
    • Baits: Ragworm, prawn or crab for wrasse; sandeel or mackerel strip for pollack/garfish
  • Lure fishing:
    • Weedless soft plastics (20–40 g) for pollack in clear water; metals for mackerel/scad
    • Surface or sub-surface hard lures for bass at first light or on a dropping swell
    • Keep retrieves positive to stay above kelp; use fluorocarbon leaders for abrasion resistance
  • Timing:
    • Dusk and dawn for pollack and bass; full darkness for huss and conger
    • Summer neaps for wrasse under floats; springs for moving-water predators
  • Landing fish:
    • Many ledges are elevated—use a drop-net where practical; plan a safe landing point before you cast

Tides and Conditions

The Atlantic sets the rules here; reading swell and colour is paramount. The ground is deep and kelpy, so choose states that give movement without chaos.

  • Tide states:
    • Flood into high often best for pollack, wrasse and bass; first of the ebb can also switch fish on
    • Springs bring stronger movement—great for predators but more snaggy; neaps are kinder for wrasse
  • Sea conditions:
    • Moderate, dropping swell with a touch of colour is prime for bass and huss
    • Clear, calmer water favours pollack and wrasse on float/lures
    • Persistent ground sea lingers after winds ease—allow time for it to settle
  • Wind:
    • Offshore or cross-off (E/SE) keeps it cleaner and safer; strong W/SW winds make it dangerous and usually unfishable
  • Time of day & seasonality:
    • Dawn/dusk year-round spikes; summer nights for huss/conger; late autumn evenings for better pollack

Safety

This is a serious rock venue with real hazards. If you’re in doubt, don’t go down—there are safer options nearby.

  • Steep, exposed descents: expect mud, loose slate and goat tracks—avoid after heavy rain
  • Swell and surges: rogue waves are common; keep well back on low ledges and never fish in big onshore seas
  • Cut-off risk: understand how the tide floods your chosen platform and identify escape routes before starting
  • Footing: studded boots, headtorch with spare batteries, and a helmet are strongly advised; always wear a lifejacket/PFD
  • Snaggy ground: keep lines high on tripods to reduce kelp snags; use weak links to retrieve safely
  • Communications: mobile signal is patchy; tell someone your plan and fish with a partner where possible
  • Access notes: stick to marked public rights of way, close gates, keep dogs on a lead around livestock; occasional seasonal notices may request path users to avoid certain field margins—follow any on-site signage

Facilities

This is a wild stretch with minimal amenities at the mark itself. Plan to be self-sufficient.

  • Parking: pay-and-display at Hartland Quay (seasonal); limited roadside/lay-by options near Speke’s Mill Mouth—check any local restrictions
  • Toilets: seasonal facilities at Hartland Quay; public toilets in Hartland village
  • Food & drink: Hartland Quay hotel/bar (seasonal) and pubs/shops in Hartland village
  • Tackle & bait: bring it with you; nearest shops are typically in Bideford, Barnstaple or Bude; some local garages may stock frozen bait
  • Phone signal: variable and often weak along the cliffs
  • No lighting, no shelter, and no bins—pack out all litter and waste

Tips

Blegberry rewards tidy, disciplined fishing and good sea-reading. Little tweaks make a big difference here.

  • Carry plenty of leads and pre-tied rigs with rotten-bottoms; short snoods snag less
  • Circle or semi-circle hooks reduce deep-hooking huss and conger and often hold better in surging water
  • For wrasse, hardback crab is gold; for pollack, work weedless paddletails along the drop-offs at dusk
  • Bass often hold on the edges of white water—fish a big peeler or a sandeel where the foam meets depth
  • After a big SW blow, give it 24–48 hours and hit the first safe, dropping sea with some colour
  • A small drop-net is a trip-saver on higher ledges; pre-plan landing spots and avoid risky gaffing on surging platforms
  • Keep noise and lights down at dusk—pollack push surprisingly tight to the rock
  • Respect the place: cliff-nesting birds and fragile flora share these ledges; leave no trace and avoid trampling vegetated edges

Regulations

Recreational shore angling is generally permitted at Blegberry; there are no widely publicised local byelaws prohibiting fishing from the rocks. However, rules do change—always check the latest official sources before you go.

  • Sea bass: national size and seasonal bag limits apply and are reviewed annually; check current MMO/DEFRA guidance for the exact dates, limits and the 42 cm minimum conservation reference size
  • Retaining crustaceans: if you plan to keep crab or lobster, consult Devon & Severn IFCA for minimum sizes, berried (egg-bearing) restrictions and any permit rules for pots; hand-gathering has limits
  • Protected areas: the Hartland coast sits within designated landscape protections (e.g., AONB/Heritage Coast) that do not usually restrict line angling, but respect any on-site notices and seasonal access guidance (e.g., bird nesting)
  • General: no night-fishing curfews are posted at the time of writing; observe private land signage, stick to public rights of way, and follow the Angling Trust’s code—take litter home and avoid leaving fish waste on ledges
  • Always verify current regulations via the MMO and Devon & Severn IFCA websites before retaining fish