Bucks Mills Fishing

Summary

Bucks Mills is a quiet, boulder-strewn cove on North Devon’s Atlantic coast between Clovelly and Westward Ho!. It’s a classic rough-ground rock mark with kelp, gullies and ledges that hold wrasse, pollack and bass, plus conger and huss after dark. The setting is dramatic, the fishing can be excellent, and you’ll often have it largely to yourself.

Location and Access

Reaching Bucks Mills is straightforward, but the final approach is steep and narrow and the foreshore is rugged. Plan to park at the top and walk in with sensible footwear and a manageable amount of tackle.

• Approach from the A39 (Atlantic Highway) and follow signs for Bucks Mills via the village road; use a sat nav for Bucks Mills, Devon rather than relying on a postcode.
• Park in the small National Trust car park at the top of the village; spaces are limited at busy times. Do not attempt to park down at the cove or block resident access.
• The walk down is 10–15 minutes via a steep lane to the shore; the return is a stiff uphill pull. Not suitable for wheelchairs or very limited mobility.
• Terrain is large rounded boulders, cobbles and weeded rock platforms with kelp beds and gullies. Studded boots or rock shoes are strongly advised.
• The foreshore includes a small slipway and historic buildings; keep access clear and respect local signage.

Seasons

This is primarily a rough-ground mark with seasonal visiting pelagics. Expect wrasse and pollack through the warmer months, bass in suitable seas, and nocturnal predators over high water.

• Spring (Apr–May): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, early bass on a building swell, pollack on calmer evenings, rockling.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Wrasse at their peak, pollack at dawn/dusk, bass along the wash, mackerel and garfish on calm, clear days, pouting and poor cod beneath ledges, the odd smoothhound if you find cleaner sand tongues.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass in blowy, coloured seas, pollack at dusk, wrasse tapering off as water cools, bull huss after dark.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Conger and bull huss on big baits, pouting and rockling. Occasional codling in cold snaps along this coast, but not a banker.

Methods

Rough-ground tactics rule here, with rotten-bottom links and strong abrasion resistance. Lure fishing can be superb in the right light and sea state.

• Bottom fishing: Pulley or pulley-pennel with a weak/rotten-bottom link; 4/0–6/0 hooks for conger/huss. Use 30–50 lb leaders and abrasion-resistant mainline.
• Float fishing: Crab or ragworm under a float for wrasse; set 2–5 m and work tight to kelp edges and gullies on the flood.
• Lure fishing (HRF/LRF): Weedless soft plastics (4–6 in paddletails or slugs) for bass/pollack; 7–20 g metals when mackerel/gar are in; small creature baits for mini species near the stones.
• Baits: Peeler crab (prime for wrasse/bass), hardback shore crab, rag/lug, sandeel and launce, mackerel or squid for conger/huss.
• Timing: Dawn/dusk for pollack and bass; mid-flood for wrasse; darkness over high for conger/huss.
• Landing: Plan your landing spot before casting; a short drop-net can help on certain ledges, but often you’ll hand-line fish through a surge window. Keep kits compact and mobile.

Tides and Conditions

Big Bristol Channel tides and Atlantic swell shape this mark; fish it when movement meets manageability.

• Tide: Best from mid-flood to the first of the ebb, especially the 2 hours either side of high water. Explore low-water gullies only in calm conditions and with an exit plan.
• Sea state: Bass like a rolling surf with some colour; pollack prefer a gentler sea with decent clarity; wrasse feed well with a bit of lift over the flood.
• Wind: A moderating south-westerly that leaves a residual swell can be excellent for bass. Strong onshore swell or long-period groundswell is dangerous on the boulders.
• Light: Dawn and dusk are prime for lures; full darkness unlocks conger and huss. Bright sun pushes fish deeper into kelp—switch to float or work lures slower and tighter to cover.
• Springs vs neaps: Springs bring life but increase cut-off risk; neaps are friendlier for prospecting new ledges.

Safety

This is a serious rock mark with slippery boulders, surge and the risk of cut-off. Treat it like a small adventure and gear up accordingly.

• Footing: Very slippery weeded rocks and rounded boulders; wear studs/felts and move slowly.
• Swell: Atlantic surges can knock you off balance well inside the intertidal zone; keep well back and never turn your back on the sea.
• Tides: Some ledges flood behind you on springs; time your retreat and mark a safe exit route in daylight.
• Cliffs: Avoid standing beneath unstable faces; occasional rockfall.
• Access: Steep descent/ascent; not suitable for limited mobility. Do not drive down to the cove; turning is tight and for residents/service access only.
• Comms: Phone signal is patchy in the cove; tell someone your plan, carry a charged headtorch (plus spare), whistle, and consider a PFD.
• Fish handling: Use long-nose pliers and barbless or semi-barbed hooks if releasing wrasse and bass in the boulders.

Facilities

Bucks Mills itself has very limited facilities, so arrive self-sufficient and plan your session length around the car park and daylight.

• Parking: Small National Trust car park at the top of the village; limited spaces at peak times; check onsite signage for any time/charge info.
• Toilets: None at the cove; nearest public toilets are in nearby villages/towns such as Clovelly (visitor area) or Westward Ho!/Bideford.
• Food and drink: No shops or cafés at the mark; bring water and provisions.
• Tackle and bait: Head to Bideford, Appledore or Westward Ho! for tackle shops and fresh/frozen bait.
• Bins: Very limited—pack all litter out. Respect the National Trust-managed heritage features on the foreshore.
• Mobile signal: Intermittent to poor down by the water; better near the car park/top of the village.

Tips

A few small choices make a big difference at Bucks Mills—both to your catch rate and your safety.

• Always use a weak/rotten-bottom link on rough-ground rigs and carry spare leads; the kelp is unforgiving.
• After rain, target the colour line where the stream meets the sea—bass often work this seam on the flood.
• Work lures along the edges of the wash, not through the heaviest kelp; a weedless 5 in paddletail fished slow-and-low is deadly for bass and pollack.
• For wrasse, fresh crab outfishes almost everything; if crabs are scarce, try big ragworm or prawn.
• Keep moving: hop gullies and micro-spots rather than camping on one ledge, especially with lures or float gear.
• Dusk into the first two hours of darkness is a prime window—have a conger/huss rod ready as light fades.
• Mind the climb back: pack light, head out with a full torch battery, and start your ascent before the last glow disappears.

Regulations

There is no blanket ban on angling here, but you must follow national and regional rules and respect on-site National Trust signage. Always check for updates before you go.

• Bass: Recreational bass rules change periodically. As of 2024, England allowed up to two bass per angler per day (minimum size 42 cm) March–November, with catch-and-release only December–February. Check current MMO/DEFRA guidance before retaining fish.
• Devon and Severn IFCA: You are within the D&S IFCA district; byelaws cover gear, netting and some intertidal activities. Shore anglers should still review local byelaws and any seasonal or spatial restrictions.
• Protected species: Do not retain tope (release alive; retention by rod-and-line anglers is prohibited in England). Handle spurdog and rays carefully and release if required by current rules.
• Intertidal foraging: Some features along this coast are protected; avoid damaging rockpools or hammering shellfish. If collecting bait by hand, do so sparingly and only where permitted.
• Access and conduct: Respect private/resident areas, keep slipways clear, no fires or camping on the foreshore, and take all litter home.
• Size/bag limits: Follow minimum sizes and any bag limits where they apply; if in doubt, measure and release.