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Devon

Bull Point

6.7 · Rocks · Devon

Bull Point is a steep, rugged headland near Mortehoe with rock ledges and kelp-filled gullies dropping into deep, fast-moving Bristol Channel water. It fishes best on a flooding tide and at dusk or after dark, with summer bringing mackerel, garfish and scad, and year-round potential for pollack, wrasse and pouting. Expect heavy ground and strong tidal pull; use abrasion-resistant leaders and rotten-bottom rigs. Access is via the coast path by the lighthouse with a committed scramble to the ledges. Swell can be dangerous and escape routes can cut off at higher states of tide—plan carefully and wear appropriate safety gear.

Should you fish Bull Point?

53 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 5 mph Rain 19% High tide 11:39

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Bull Point — 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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Bull Point is a serious, exposed North Devon rock mark where deep water, kelp gullies and strong Bristol Channel tide create good sport for pollack, wrasse, mackerel, huss and conger. It is usually best treated as a flooding-tide venue, with lures and floats in clear water and stout rough-ground bait gear after dark. The mark can fish very well, but swell, tide run and awkward ledges mean conditions matter as much as tackle choice.

  • Know when the flood is worth the walk to Bull Point
  • Pick the kelp edges, gullies or tide seams with a purpose
  • Match pollack, wrasse, huss and conger tactics to the tide
  • Avoid the swell and spring-tide traps that spoil this mark
  • Have nearby backup options before you commit

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Woolacombe 1.9 mi Ilfracombe 3.9 mi Chambercombe 4.1 mi Georgeham 4.4 mi Croyde 4.9 mi

Explore nearby towns: Woolacombe · Ilfracombe · Chambercombe · Georgeham · Croyde

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

Overall rating

6.7 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 4/10

Pollack 9/10
Tip: Work metal jigs or weedless soft plastics along kelp edges on the flood; dusk best. 20-40g lures, long leaders. Fish the tide run off the point in settled seas with a manageable swell.
Mackerel 8/10
Tip: Summer shoals on calm evenings. Spin 20-40g metals from higher ledges on the flood or slack. Fast retrieve to avoid kelp and snags.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float-fish crab or rag tight to rock gullies on the flood. Daytime, summer-early autumn. 20-30lb leader and firm drag to keep fish out of kelp.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Work surface or soft lures through white water and tide rips on a flooding spring at dawn/dusk or after a blow. Crab or live sandeel in gullies.
Bull Huss 7/10
Tip: Big mackerel or squid baits to rough ground after dark, best on neaps. Cast downtide along kelp lines. Use 40-60lb trace to beat abrasion.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: Night fishing with whole mackerel or big squid dropped into deep gullies at slack to first of the flood. 80lb mono trace and strong gear.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Small hooks baited with rag or squid strips into deeper holes at dusk and after dark, best on the flood. Peaks in winter and late summer.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: Small fish or squid baits on the bottom over mixed rough ground, most tides after dark. Use grippy leads and simple rigs to reduce snagging.
Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
Tip: Low-light or night with worm baits flicked into kelpy gullies on the flood. Short casts and keep line tight to limit snags.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Autumn nights. Small sabikis or 1-2g metals worked midwater along tide lines on the flood. Keep retrieves steady.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Late summer-autumn on clear seas. Float-fish small sandeel strips or spin tiny metals high in the water on the flood off the point.

Local knowledge

Bull Point fishing guide

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

Bull Point is a dramatic rock mark on the North Devon coast between Morte Point and Ilfracombe, dominated by the Bull Point Lighthouse. Deep water close in, powerful tides and kelp-strewn ledges make it a serious but rewarding venue for experienced shore anglers. Expect quality pollack and wrasse on lures, night-time conger and huss, and seasonal bass, mackerel and scad.

Getting there and general access Bull Point sits on the South West Coast Path just north of Mortehoe. Access is on foot only; the lighthouse access road is private and not for public parking.

  • Park in Mortehoe village (Pay & Display; around postcode EX34 7DT) and follow signed coast path towards Bull Point Lighthouse
  • Allow 20–35 minutes’ walk each way; the path is undulating with stony sections and some short steep bits
  • Final approaches to fishing ledges are on sheep tracks over uneven, sloping grass and rock; expect scrambling
  • Do not attempt to drive down the lighthouse lane or block farm/campsite gates; enforcement is active
  • Alternative approach along the coast path from the Ilfracombe direction is longer and more strenuous
  • Surfaces are exposed, slippery in wet weather, and often muddy after rain; stout boots with good grip are essential

What you can catch and when The headland offers mixed rough ground and tide-washed gullies. Species shift with season and water clarity.

  • Spring (Mar–May): pollack, ballan/corkwing wrasse, early bass in calmer spells, dogfish; chance of bull huss on bigger baits
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (at dusk/night), pollack, wrasse, bass in low light, strap conger at night, bull huss
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak pollack, bass after a blow and as the sea settles, scad in numbers after dark, mackerel tailing off, conger and huss steady; occasional spurdog on neaps
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): conger, bull huss, whiting on some tides, rockling; rare codling in cold snaps; spurdog possible some winters
  • Year-round visitors: seals are common; they can disturb shoals and raid hooked fish

Effective approaches and tackle Deep, kelpy ledges suit lures, float tactics in clear water, and stout bottom gear after dark. Scale your approach to the tide run.

  • Lure fishing (pollack/bass): 4–6 inch soft plastics (paddle/needle/twitch baits) on 15–30 g heads or weedless Texas/Chebs; 20–40 g metals when mackerel/scad are present
  • Lure rods and lines: 9–10 ft lure rod, 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader; work edges and gullies on the flood, dawn/dusk best
  • Float fishing: cigar or crystal floats with ragworm, sandeel or strip; set 3–6 m deep and explore the tide seams for pollack/garfish
  • Bottom fishing (rough ground): 20–30 lb mono or 40–50 lb braid mainline, 60–80 lb abrasion leaders; pulley or pulley‑dropper rigs with a weak link/rotten‑bottom
  • Leads and hooks: 4–6 oz (120–170 g) grippers on springs; 2–4 oz on neaps; 3/0–5/0 strong circles or forged J hooks for huss/conger
  • Baits: mackerel or squid cocktails, whole sandeel, crab for bass in season, big oily sections for conger/huss; tip worm baits with fish for whiting/scad in winter/autumn
  • Night sessions: head torches with spare batteries, isotopes on tips, and a simple two‑rod max approach; big fish baits close to structure for eels/huss

When it fishes best Tide strength is significant here; plan around it for both safety and presentation.

  • Tide state: flooding tide fishes well for pollack/wrasse; 2 hours up to an hour after high often prime for lures
  • Neaps vs springs: neaps are more manageable for bottom gear; springs can be unfishable on the deck due to tide run
  • Sea state: slight colour and a gentle roll can switch bass on; heavy long‑period swell makes the ledges dangerous and kills presentation
  • Wind: easterly/SE winds flatten the water; W/NW winds raise swell and backwash—exercise caution or avoid
  • Light: dawn and dusk are standout windows for pollack and bass; after-dark for conger/huss and scad
  • Water clarity: clear to lightly tinted for lures/float; after a big blow let it settle 24–48 hours

Hazards and precautions This is an exposed, committing rock mark with surge, backwash and sheer drops. It is not suitable for beginners or anyone unsteady on their feet.

  • Wear a modern, auto‑inflating lifejacket and use studded boots or rock‑cleats; a wading staff helps on weeded rock
  • Check swell height and period, not just wind; long‑period swell can wash platforms unexpectedly even on calm days
  • Pre‑plan your retreat route; some lower ledges become hazardous near high water in a swell
  • Keep well back from the edge; never turn your back on the sea; avoid fishing alone and leave a shore contact plan
  • Head torches for night, plus spare light and charged phone; signal can be patchy in dips
  • The lighthouse compound and access road are private—do not climb fences or obstruct gates
  • Not accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs; long, uneven walk with steep sections

What’s nearby (or not) There are no facilities at the mark itself; treat it as a remote session.

  • Parking: Pay & Display car parks in Mortehoe village (around EX34 7DT); no public parking at the lighthouse
  • Toilets: seasonal public toilets in Mortehoe; none on the headland
  • Food and drink: pubs and cafés in Mortehoe and Woolacombe; carry water and snacks
  • Tackle and bait: High Street Tackle (Ilfracombe) for lures/terminal; broader selections in Barnstaple and Westward Ho!; bring bait as supply can be variable
  • Mobile signal: variable; generally better on higher ground, unreliable near ledges
  • No lighting, shelter or bins—pack out all litter and used line

Hard‑won advice from regulars Small adjustments make a big difference at Bull Point.

  • Use a rotten‑bottom link on every bottom rig; you will snag—plan to lose the lead, not the fish
  • Cast slightly uptide and let the gear settle; a steady bow of line helps hold in fierce run
  • Keep lures high in the water over the kelp early in the flood; drop deeper as tide eases
  • If seals are working the headland, switch to fast‑moving metals or relocate a short distance to a quieter gully
  • Circle hooks reduce deep‑hooking on conger/huss and can lift fish clear of snags more cleanly
  • Travel light and tidy—one rucksack, one lure roll or a compact bait wallet; clutter gets lost or washed
  • Check the forecast swell period; locals often skip anything over ~10 seconds from a westerly here
  • Respect nesting birds and the cliff SSSI—stay on the coast path until you drop to established ledges

Rules and conservation notes As with any North Devon rock mark, regulations can change—check current notices before you go.

  • General access: shore angling from the rocks is permitted; keep to public rights of way; the lighthouse compound/road is private
  • Management area: within Devon & Severn IFCA district—see their website for local byelaws and Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes
  • European seabass: as of 2024, open season 1 March–30 November with a 2‑fish daily bag limit at 42 cm minimum; catch‑and‑release only in Dec–Feb (check latest DEFRA updates before retaining bass)
  • Pollack: as of 2024 in ICES Area 7 (this coast), recreational retention is prohibited (bag limit 0); catch‑and‑release only unless rules change—verify current status before keeping any
  • Protected/pressure species: consider releasing tope, spurdog and big wrasse; some species have specific protections and/or sale prohibitions—check UK Gov and IFCA guidance
  • Foraging/bait: observe any local SSSI/NT guidance; avoid damaging vegetation and do not dig or hammer reef without explicit permission
  • Always carry and use a measuring device; ignorance of sizes or seasons is not a defence