Brownsham Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Brownsham Fishing Map

Brownsham refers to the rugged rock marks around Mouthmill/Blackchurch Rock on the Hartland coast. From the National Trust car park at Brownsham, a steep woodland path (20–30 minutes) leads to a boulder and reef shoreline with kelp-filled gullies and broken ground. The area offers productive summer–autumn lure and bait fishing with deep water close to the rocks in places, but it is very exposed to Atlantic swell and the tidal range is large. Fish the flood into high water or the first of the ebb, and avoid big seas or spring tides. Take care with slippery weed, surging swell in the gullies, and being cut off on lower ledges. Strong, abrasion-resistant tackle is advisable.

Ratings

⭐ 6.5/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Brownsham

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 9/10
🎯 Tip: Hard crab or rag baits on strong gear; fish tight to kelp-lined gullies on the flood; summer–autumn; keep baits moving to avoid snags.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Soft plastics or small metals worked along kelp edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; summer–autumn; slow, deep retrieve.
🐟 Bull Huss 8/10
🎯 Tip: Large mackerel/squid baits on 80lb mono and a rotten-bottom; short casts into rough ground at night, flooding to high; best autumn–spring.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: After a blow, fish surfy boulder run-offs around Blackchurch Rock; peeler, sandeel or shallow divers at dawn/dusk on a rising tide; late spring–autumn.
🐟 Conger Eel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Whole mackerel or big squid; deep gullies at night on neaps with rotten-bottom and strong gear; bites often on slack; year-round.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small squid or worm strips on a 2-hook paternoster; cast short to rough ground at dusk/night on the flood; year-round, peaking in winter.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings; small metals or 2–3 hook feathers from safe ledges on a flooding tide; keep lures high over kelp.
🐟 Rock Goby 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks with rag or prawn pieces straight down the side among boulders; best low to mid-flood in calm seas; year-round.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small worm or fish strips fished static in rock holes at night on neaps; winter–spring; very short casts to reduce snags.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish a thin mackerel strip shallow over clear patches with a long trace; bright days on a rising tide; late spring–autumn.

Brownsham Fishing

Summary

Brownsham is the National Trust-owned woodland and coastal section above Mouthmill, between Hartland and Clovelly on the North Devon coast. The pebble-and-boulder cove and the striking Blackchurch Rock offer classic rough-ground fishing with deep gullies, weed beds and tide run. It’s a rewarding but committing rock mark for lure and bait anglers who are confident on uneven, kelpy terrain.

Location and Access

This is a remote, walk-in mark reached via the Brownsham National Trust car park and the steep woodland path to Mouthmill. It’s a beautiful approach, but the final shoreline is bouldery and slippery, so pack light and plan your route on a falling tide first.

Seasons

Species vary with season and sea state, with wrasse, pollack and bass the principal targets. Night tides throw up huss and eels from the rough ground.

Methods

Both lure and bait tactics work well; it’s classic rough-ground fishing, so fish strong and expect to lose gear without sacrificial links.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and swell dictate everything here. Plan for a safe platform with water movement but not dangerous surge.

Safety

This is an exposed, committing rock mark with serious slip and cut-off risk. Only confident rock anglers should attempt it, and never in heavy swell.

Facilities

There are no facilities at the beach or on the ledges—treat it as a fully self-supported session.

Tips

Treat Mouthmill as several small marks: inside the cove, the arch area, and the outer reef arms—each fishes differently with tide height.

Regulations

Brownsham/Mouthmill sits on National Trust coastline within North Devon’s protected landscapes. Recreational sea angling from the shore is generally permitted, but you must follow national and local rules.