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Devon

Burgh Island

6.9 · Rocks · Devon

Tidal rocky island off Bigbury-on-Sea with kelp-filled gullies, ledges and broken ground dropping onto sand. Strong tide run around headlands and a surfy causeway race make it a productive summer mark for wrasse, pollack, bass and mackerel; nights can produce pouting and conger from deeper holes. Access is via the causeway at low water only, so timing is crucial. Exposed to swell and south-westerlies; pick settled days and fish light to moderate seas.

Should you fish Burgh Island?

58 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 4 mph Rain 4% High tide 11:40

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Burgh Island — 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.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Burgh Island is a mobile rough-ground mark where timing and sea state matter more than distance casting. The best fishing usually comes from matching the tide to the feature: first-flood surf and current seams for bass, kelp-fringed ledges and drop-offs for wrasse and pollack, and deeper rough gullies after dark for pouting, conger and occasional huss. Neap to mid-range tides are the most manageable; big springs and exposed south-westerly swell can quickly turn the mark from productive to unsafe.

  • Know when to fish the causeway surf instead of the rocky ledges.
  • Pick the tide window that gives movement without dangerous race conditions.
  • Target wrasse, pollack and bass from the right feature, not just the nearest rock.
  • Avoid the spring-tide and swell traps that can ruin this mark.
  • Have a realistic backup plan before the causeway window closes.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Bigbury-on-Sea 0.5 mi Thurlestone 1.9 mi Inner Hope 3.3 mi South Milton 3.4 mi Aveton Gifford 3.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Bigbury-on-Sea · Thurlestone · Inner Hope · South Milton · Aveton Gifford

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

Overall rating

6.9 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Lures or peeler crab into surf/white water off the causeway and ledges; best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide after a blow, but only with safe swell.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or metals along kelp-fringed drop-offs; dusk into dark on the flood. Long leaders to ride above kelp.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float-fished crab or rag tight to kelp and boulders; mid-flood to high in summer. Strong tackle to bully fish from snags.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals around the ledges; small metals or sabikis. Best in clear water with tide run; keep back from the edge in swell.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Small fish/squid baits near the bottom around snags; reliable after dark. Size 2–1/0 hooks on simple paternoster.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late-summer nights; small jigs or sabikis worked midwater in the tide. A light can draw them in.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark, drop large fish baits into rough gullies; last of the ebb into first of the flood. Heavy mono rubbing trace for kelp.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Float a sliver of mackerel or sandeel shallow over clean patches by tide rips; bright days on a flooding tide, late spring–autumn.
Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Small ragworm or prawn under a float inches from kelp; daylight, calm seas, short casts along weed lines.
Bull Huss 4/10
Tip: Big fish baits on pulley rigs into rough ground after dark; neaps and first of the flood. Expect heavy snags.

Local knowledge

Burgh Island fishing guide

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

Burgh Island sits just off Bigbury-on-Sea on Devon’s south coast, linked by a tidal causeway and famed for its Art Deco hotel and the historic Pilchard Inn. For sea anglers, the island’s rocky ledges, kelp gullies and tide-swept points create classic rough-ground sport alongside a productive surf line on the causeway. Access is tide-dependent, the ground is snaggy, and conditions can be lively—perfect for lure fishing bass, wrasse and pollack when it all lines up.

This is a tidal-access mark reached from Bigbury-on-Sea; plan around the tide or you will be cut off. The foreshore is public, but the island itself includes private land—stick to the shoreline below the high-water mark and heed any signage near the hotel and sea-tractor landings.

  • Drive to Bigbury-on-Sea and use the signed pay-and-display beach car park; arrive early in summer or weekends as spaces fill fast.
  • Cross the tidal causeway on firm sand at low tide; at high water the hotel-operated sea tractor may run (weather/operational dependent, fee payable). Do not rely on it as your sole exit plan.
  • Terrain is mixed: sandy bar on the causeway, then barnacle-covered boulders, uneven rock platforms and kelp-fringed gullies. Good boots with grip are essential.
  • Respect private areas around the Burgh Island Hotel and Pilchard Inn; do not fish from hotel terraces or near guest areas. Keep to the foreshore and obvious rocky ledges away from buildings.
  • Expect a short, easy walk to the island at low tide; once there, moving between ledges can involve mild scrambling and wet, slippery rock.

The island offers classic South Devon rough-ground species through spring to autumn, with limited but worthwhile winter options in weather windows.

  • Spring (Apr–May):
    • Bass (schoolies building into better fish as temps rise)
    • Pollack (increasingly active at dawn/dusk)
    • Ballan and corkwing wrasse (from late spring)
    • Garfish on calmer, clearer days
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Bass (surf on the causeway and along the points)
    • Pollack (lures and float)
    • Ballan wrasse (many kelp gullies)
    • Mackerel and scad (evenings), garfish
    • Conger eel after dark from deeper holes
    • Occasional gilt-head bream on the sandy fringes during heatwaves (uncommon)
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Larger bass (blowy, stirring conditions often best)
    • Pollack (peak lure fishing at dusk)
    • Scad (night), mackerel tapering off
    • Conger, bull huss in rougher ground at night
  • Winter (Dec–Feb, only in calm spells):
    • Pollack, pout, whiting from deeper edges
    • Conger in the dark
    • Rockling; codling are very rare here

Rough ground and fast water favour mobile lure work and snag-conscious rigs. Match methods to the side you fish and the state of tide.

  • Lure fishing:
    • Bass: 12–20 g weedless soft plastics (paddletails/slug-go) and small surface/subsurface hard baits on the flooding or ebbing tide; fish the causeway surf line and current seams off the points.
    • Pollack: 10–20 g jigheads with slim soft plastics, worked mid-water at dawn/dusk; long leaders and steady retrieve along drop-offs.
    • Wrasse: weedless creature baits/crabs on cheb/Texas rigs; work close to kelp edges; expect brutal first runs.
    • Mackerel/scad/gar: small metals (10–28 g) or sabikis under a 1–2 oz sinker; evenings are prime.
  • Float fishing:
    • Ragworm, prawn or strips of sandeel for wrasse and pollack along rock faces; set depth 8–15 ft and adjust for gullies.
  • Bottom fishing (snaggy):
    • Use strong gear (30–50 lb leaders) and a rotten-bottom/weak link for leads to save tackle.
    • Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) with fish baits for bass/huss; large single hook for conger at night.
    • Keep traces short to reduce tangles in kelp; lift and wind decisively once hooked.
  • Tackle notes:
    • Lure rods 8’6”–9’6” (10–35 g) for bass/pollack; heavier 20–60 g if working metals in tide.
    • Bottom rods 12–13 ft, 4–6 oz rating, with 0.35–0.40 mm mono or 30–40 lb braid and abrasion-resistant leaders.
    • Bring spare leads, clips and soft plastics—losses are normal here.

Tide movement is essential, but big springs can create fierce races around the island’s corners. Choose manageable movement and safe swell.

  • Best tide states:
    • 2 hours either side of high water for most ledges; first of the flood across the causeway surf for bass.
    • Neap to mid-range tides are easier and safer on the rocks; springs can be too fast and cut you off quickly.
  • Sea conditions:
    • Light to moderate SW–S swell with some colour lifts bass fishing; too much swell/wind from the south or southwest can make ledges dangerous.
    • Clear, calm evenings suit pollack, garfish, scad and mackerel on lures/float.
  • Time of day/season:
    • Dawn and dusk are prime; night sessions produce conger, huss and better pollack in settled weather.
    • Peak season runs June–October; spring can be excellent in the right weather windows.

This is an exposed, tidal rock mark with real cut-off and swell risk. Treat it like remote rock fishing even though it’s close to a beach.

  • Tidal cut-off: know your tide times; the causeway floods quickly. Have a firm exit plan—never gamble on the sea tractor operating.
  • Swell and wash: Atlantic groundswell wraps the island; rogue waves are possible even in modest forecasts. If swell is hitting the ledge, don’t fish it.
  • Footing: barnacles, weed and uneven rock demand grippy boots and careful movement; consider studs or cleats.
  • Edges: some drops are abrupt; keep low, wear a buoyancy aid/lifejacket, and avoid fishing alone.
  • Snaggy ground: expect gear losses; avoid overhanging lines when people are on the shoreline below.
  • Accessibility: not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility; access involves soft sand and slippery rock.
  • Wildlife and nesting birds: keep clear of roped-off areas and avoid cliff-top disturbance in nesting season.
  • Private property: do not climb fences or fish from hotel structures/terraces; obey any on-the-spot “No Fishing” signs.

Despite the island’s remote feel, you’re next to a popular family beach with seasonal amenities. Plan self-sufficiently for evening or off-season sessions.

  • Parking: large pay-and-display at Bigbury-on-Sea; arrive early in peak season.
  • Toilets: public toilets by the beach car park (seasonal opening hours may apply).
  • Food/drink: beach café at Bigbury-on-Sea (seasonal); the Pilchard Inn on the island operates limited hours—anglers aren’t guaranteed entry.
  • Tackle/bait: nearest options in Kingsbridge, Modbury and Plymouth; buy bait en route, as there’s none on the beach.
  • Mobile signal: generally fair on higher ground; patchy in gullies—carry a charged phone and offline tide info.
  • Lighting/water: no lighting on the rocks and no fresh water—bring headtorch, spares and supplies.

Treat Burgh Island as a mobile, opportunistic venue—read the water and move. Small changes in position can dramatically change your drift and depth.

  • Use a rotten-bottom for leads and abrasion-resistant leaders; kelp and rock will punish light gear.
  • The causeway surf at first flood often holds bass—keep a shallow-diver or topwater handy.
  • Work lures up-tide to down-tide to keep contact; pollack frequently hit as the lure swings and rises.
  • Wrasse will brick you instantly—lock up for the first seconds, then bully them clear of the kelp.
  • Dusk into dark can see scad and better pollack switch on; downsize metals and add a small stinger or single assist.
  • Crowds thin rapidly after the beachgoers leave—great for evening bites but increases isolation: tell someone your plan.
  • Grey seals patrol the area; if one starts shadowing you, move marks rather than feeding it fish.
  • After heavy rain, the bay can colour up—great for bass, poorer for visual wrasse work. Adjust lure profiles accordingly.

There is no general shore-angling ban at Burgh Island, but you must respect private property and any on-site “No Fishing” signage near hotel facilities. Normal national and local fisheries rules apply.

  • Sea bass: minimum size 42 cm; recent years have included seasonal catch-and-release periods and daily bag limits for retention. Check current MMO/DEFRA announcements before your session.
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS): know sizes for common species (bass, wrasse not currently an MCRS species for retention but consider ethical release, pollack, mackerel, etc.). Use an up-to-date size chart.
  • Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws: consult for any local restrictions, including estuarine nursery protections (the nearby Avon Estuary is a designated bass nursery area with method restrictions—mainly relevant to boat/net activity).
  • Marine protected areas: the coast sits within/near designated sites (e.g., Start Point to Plymouth Sound & Eddystone SAC; Skerries Bank & Surrounds MCZ). Recreational hook-and-line from the shore is generally permitted, but avoid damaging sensitive habitats (e.g., seagrass) and adhere to any posted local guidance.
  • Bait collection: responsible, small-scale gathering on open foreshore is typically allowed; do not dig in vegetated dunes or seagrass beds, and fill holes back in.
  • Access: the island has private landholdings—staying below the high-water mark and obeying signage is essential. If staff request you move on from a particular spot, comply politely.