Churston Cove Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Churston Cove Fishing Map

Compact shingle cove with kelp-fringed rock ledges either side and quick depth close in. Access is via a steep woodland path and steps from the Fishcombe/Churston car park, so travel light and use sturdy footwear. The ground is rough with boulders, kelp and ledges; a rotten-bottom/weak-link is advisable. Best in calm to moderate seas with clear water; it is fairly sheltered from W–NW winds but exposed to E–NE which can push swell and weed. Productive from late spring through autumn for wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish and scad; nights can produce conger and pouting year-round. Float fishing and light lure tactics excel along the kelp lines; ledgering with strong gear works after dark. Aim for the flood into dusk on neap to mid-range tides for easier presentation and fewer snags.

Ratings

⭐ 6.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Churston Cove

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm on strong gear; float or simple ledger tight to kelp-covered rocks. Best mid-flood to high, Apr-Oct. Keep rigs short to limit snags.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work surface or soft-plastic lures in the rough ground and wash on a rising tide, dusk into dark. Big crab or sandeel baits after a blow.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Dawn or dusk; cast soft plastics or small metals along the headland and kelp edges. Retrieve mid-water. Best on a flooding tide with a little swell.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark, short casts with small strips of mackerel or squid over rough ground. Use light leads and a rotten-bottom to reduce losses. Tide not critical.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer evenings in clear water; small metals or light feathers from the deeper side. Best on the flood when bait shoals push tight to the cove.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Size 4-6 hooks; ragworm or prawn close to kelp and boulders. Float or light ledger. Summer months, best mid-flood to high.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float fish small slivers of mackerel or sandeel on a long trace; keep baits near the surface. Summer, daylight or dusk on a flood.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Night ledger with fish or squid baits onto cleaner patches between rocks. Summer-autumn, first half of the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer nights; small sabikis or size 8 hooks tipped with fish, slow retrieve under a float light. Best on the flood when flow picks up.
🐟 Long-spined Sea Scorpion 5/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks and worm or prawn baits lowered into rock gullies. Keep line short to avoid snags. Best around high water.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark; big mackerel or squid baits on heavy gear lowered beside the rocks. Use a rotten-bottom. Best on the last of the flood into high water.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, clear days; bread flake under a float along the margins. Groundbait sparingly with mash. Slack water to first of the flood.

Churston Cove Fishing

Summary

Churston Cove is a small, steep-sided shingle cove on the Brixham side of Tor Bay, Devon. Clear water, kelp-fringed reefs and tucked-away ledges make it a rewarding, quietly scenic alternative to the busier breakwaters nearby.

Location and Access

Reaching the cove involves a short coastal walk and a steep descent, so plan light and wear good footwear. It sits between Fishcombe Cove and Elberry Cove on the South West Coast Path.

Seasons

The cove’s mixed ground holds a good spread of inshore species. Expect more variety in late spring to early autumn when the water is clear and baitfish are present.

Methods

Mixed, snaggy ground rewards mobile, finesse approaches by day and stronger end tackle after dark. Clear water often calls for stealth and lighter lines.

Tides and Conditions

The cove fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk, with conditions dictating species. Tor Bay is generally sheltered from westerlies but exposed to easterlies.

Safety

This is a steep, natural cove with ledges, shingle and kelp—treat it with respect. There is no easy access for those with limited mobility.

Facilities

Facilities are modest at the cove itself; most amenities are in Brixham. Plan ahead for bait and toilets out of season.

Tips

Approach it like a rock mark rather than a typical beach: keep mobile, read the kelp lines and don’t overcast. Small details make big differences here.

Regulations

Angling is commonly practiced at Churston Cove and there is no widely posted local ban, but you are within Tor Bay and must follow national and IFCA rules. Always check current notices before you go, as details can change year to year.