Summary
Chit Rocks is the set of intertidal ledges at the western end of Sidmouth beach, Devon, tucked below Connaught Gardens and Jacob’s Ladder. It’s a classic rough-ground mark for close‑quarters work in the gullies, offering summer wrasse and pollack on lures or float, with bass prospects at dawn and dusk.
Location and Access
Set beneath Sidmouth’s promenade, Chit Rocks is easy to reach but the final approach is over steps and uneven, weeded rock. Plan around the tide so you can get on and, crucially, off the ledges safely.
- Head for Sidmouth seafront and walk to the western end by Jacob’s Ladder; descend the steps to the beach and bear west onto the exposed rock platforms known locally as Chit Rocks.
- Parking is available in town pay‑and‑display car parks and along parts of the Esplanade (time/season dependent). The hill‑top car park above Jacob’s Ladder is a popular option; access is via paths through Connaught Gardens and the steps.
- The walk is short (5–10 minutes from most parking) but involves steep steps and clambering over shingle/ledges; footwear with good grip is essential.
- Terrain is rough, kelp‑covered reef with gullies and boulders, interspersed with shingle patches. Expect snags.
Seasons
This is primarily a rough‑ground summer mark with occasional surprises. Winter sport is possible but less consistent than the adjacent shingle beach.
- Spring (Apr–May): School bass nosing along the ledges on flooding tides; early wrasse and pollack as the water clears; odd plaice/dab from nearby sand patches.
- Summer (Jun–Sep): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad on warm evenings; mullet mooching round the weed fringes; the odd black bream in calm, clear spells; conger after dark.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Better‑stamp bass in lively seas, scad and mackerel into dusk, wrasse until the first cold snaps; conger and pout at night.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and pout from adjacent shingle, rockling in the gullies, conger on big baits; bass possible in mild, coloured seas after a blow.
Methods
Close‑range presentation beats range casting; most fish come from under your feet in the gullies. Fish light, fish mobile, and expect to lose end tackle.
- Lures (HRF/LRF): 3–5 inch weedless soft plastics (paddle/creature baits) for wrasse and pollack; small metals and slim spoons for mackerel/scad; surface/sub‑surface hard lures at dawn/dusk for bass on a flooding tide.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, prawn or crab for wrasse; mackerel strip/sandeel for pollack; tiny slivers under a pencil float for garfish. Set depth to just clear the kelp.
- Bottom fishing: Short‑range pulley or pulley‑dropper with a weak‑link/rotten‑bottom for leads. 30–50 lb mono snoods for conger; size 1–2 for mixed fish, 3/0–5/0 patterns for bass/conger. Keep snoods short (15–30 cm) to reduce snags.
- Baits: Peeler crab, ragworm, prawn, hardback crab, squid/mackerel cocktail. For bass, sandeel or head‑hooked mackerel fillet presented cleanly.
- Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rods cover most daylight work; a 10–12 ft mixed‑ground rod for baiting the gullies. Use abrasion‑resistant leaders and carry spare leads/hooklengths.
Tides and Conditions
Tide timing and sea state make or break this mark. The ledges fish best with movement but become hazardous in swell.
- Best states: Flooding tide through to high water for wrasse/pollack; last two hours of the flood and first of the ebb for bass along the edges.
- Conditions: Clear to lightly tinged water for wrasse/pollack; a bit of colour and a pushing sea for bass. Avoid big south‑westerly swell which drowns the ledges and rebounds off the sea wall.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk are prime for bass, pollack and mackerel; bright middays in clear water suit wrasse under the kelp canopy.
- Seasonality: Peak sport June–September; autumn blows can bring the better bass tight to the reef.
Safety
This is an exposed, intertidal rock mark with genuine hazards. Treat it with respect and plan your session around a safe exit.
- Slippery ledges and kelp: Wear grippy boots or studs; a wading staff helps when stepping between weeded slabs.
- Tidal cut‑off: The flood can isolate platforms quickly; identify and rehearse your retreat route before you start fishing.
- Swell and backwash: Even modest swell can surge over the reef and rebound off the shingle/sea wall—keep well back and don’t fish it in heavy seas.
- Cliffs and rockfall: Do not sit under the red sandstone cliffs; observe local warning signage.
- Night fishing: Steps and ledges are unlit—carry a headtorch plus spare; fish with a partner where possible.
- Lifejacket: Strongly recommended for all rock marks.
- Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs or anglers with limited mobility due to steep steps and uneven ground.
Facilities
Sidmouth is a full‑service seaside town, so facilities are close at hand, especially around the Esplanade and Jacob’s Ladder.
- Toilets: Public toilets on/near the seafront and by Jacob’s Ladder (seasonal opening hours may apply).
- Food and drink: Cafés, pubs and kiosks along the promenade and in town; ice cream and coffee at Connaught Gardens in season.
- Tackle and bait: Limited in Sidmouth itself—most anglers source bait/tackle in Exmouth, Seaton or Honiton before arriving.
- Parking: Multiple pay‑and‑display options near the seafront and above Jacob’s Ladder (height/seasonal limits may apply).
- Mobile signal: Generally good on the promenade and beach, but can be patchy right under the cliff.
- Bins: Use seafront bins; take all line/lead fragments home.
Tips
Little tweaks go a long way on these ledges. Travel light, keep moving, and present baits precisely into the fish‑holding slots.
- Use a weak‑link (lighter line) to your lead so snags sacrifice the weight, not the whole rig.
- Weedless hooks and Texas‑rigged soft plastics massively reduce hang‑ups in kelp.
- Float rigs: A slim pencil float, size 6–1 hooks, and a BB–Sg shot pattern keeps bait riding above snags.
- Keep snoods short in tide; lengthen a touch only when fish are finicky and the kelp is slack.
- Carry polaroids at low water to map the gullies you’ll fish once the tide floods over them.
- Mackerel and garfish often push right to the wall at dusk—don’t cast over them; fish under the rod tip.
- Crabs can be relentless in summer—use squid, toughened baits and bait elastic.
- Respect rockpoolers and swimmers on hot days; early mornings and evenings are calmer and fish better.
Regulations
Rules change—always check current notices on the promenade and consult official sources before you go. Shore angling is generally permitted here, but a few local and national regulations apply.
- Marine Conservation Zone: The area off Sidmouth forms part of a designated MCZ/SSSI/World Heritage coastline. Recreational angling from the shore is allowed, but avoid damaging or removing intertidal flora/fauna and do not hammer or lever living rock.
- Beach materials: It is illegal to remove pebbles from Sidmouth beaches; local council enforcement applies.
- Bait collection: Keep it minimal and responsible; some protected features restrict turning boulders or removing wildlife. Observe on‑site signage and the Rockpool Code.
- Bass regulations: Subject to annual review. At the time of writing (2024 rules), recreational anglers in this area may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day at a minimum size of 42 cm between 1 March and 30 November; outside these dates catch‑and‑release only. Check MMO/IFCA updates before fishing.
- IFCA byelaws: Devon & Severn IFCA manages local sea fisheries. A permit is required for recreational pots/nets/longlines; rod‑and‑line angling does not require a permit. National/IFCA MLS and protections apply (e.g., no taking of berried or v‑notched lobsters, crawfish protections).
- Closed areas/seasons: None specific to shore angling on Chit Rocks are signposted at the time of writing, but obey any temporary safety closures after cliff falls or severe weather.
- General: Use barbless or semi‑barbed hooks where practical, handle fish wet and quickly, and release undersized or non‑target species.
