Churston Cove

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.

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.

• Easiest approach: park in Brixham (e.g. town centre long-stay car parks) and walk through Battery Gardens to Fishcombe Cove, then continue 5–10 minutes to Churston Cove.
• Alternative: from the Broadsands/Elberry side via Churston Woods; longer but flatter until the final descent.
• Final access is via steep, uneven steps and a dirt path with tree roots; the beach is shingle/pebble with rocky margins.
• No vehicular access to the beach; carry only what you need. Headtorch essential for exits after dark.

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.

• Spring (Apr–Jun): wrasse (ball/corkwing), pollack, early garfish, occasional bass on the flood, first mackerel runs in settled spells.
• Summer (Jul–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, wrasse, black bream in calmer spells, thick‑lipped mullet in the shallows, nighttime pout and conger.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass with a bit of fizz on the water, scad and mackerel into October, pollack, lingering bream; chance of squid on calm, clear evenings.
• Winter (Dec–Mar): quieter; dogfish, pout, whiting on some nights, conger from the rougher corners; very occasional codling in hard winters.
• Occasional visitors: triggerfish in late hot summers, thornback ray if you can reach cleaner sand tongues, red mullet after dark on small baits.

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

• Float fishing: ragworm, prawn, peeler or hardback crab for wrasse and bream; small slivers of mackerel for garfish. Set 6–12 ft depending on ledge depth.
• Spinning/lure: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; slim sandeel lures and white soft plastics for pollack/bass. Weedless paddletails or creature baits for wrasse in kelp gullies.
• LRF/HRF: isome/gulp worms, tiny metals and micro-jigs for corkwing, pout, pollack and bonus bream.
• Bottom fishing (snag-aware): running ledger or short pulley with a rotten‑bottom clip; 30–50 lb abrasion‑resistant trace. Squid, mackerel, or bluey for conger/huss; peeler crab for wrasse/bream (release big wrasse if possible).
• Tackle notes: lure rod 9–10 ft, 10–35 g with 20 lb braid and 20–25 lb fluoro leader; ledgering rod 11–12 ft with 20–25 lb mono/30 lb braid and 60 lb rubbing leader for after dark.

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.

• Tide: mid-flood to high water is prime; neaps suit wrasse/bream in the gullies; springs can increase snags and surge.
• Wind/sea: W–NW winds give clear, calm water (good for wrasse, garfish, bream); E–SE winds can push swell straight in and make it unfishable from the rocks.
• Light: dawn/dusk for bass, pollack, mackerel; full dark for conger, scad, pout. Bright days favour float/lure in clear water.
• Seasonality: May–October is peak variety; winter sessions are more hit‑and‑miss and usually nocturnal.

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.

• Steep steps and uneven, often slippery paths; good boots required. Not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
• Rock ledges can be slimy with swell rebound; avoid the base of cliffs and beware of small rockfalls after heavy rain.
• Use a rotten‑bottom when ledgering; carry a headtorch, spare light and charged phone. Consider a personal flotation device if fishing off exposed rocks.
• In summer, swimmers and paddleboarders use the cove—fish the margins, ends of the beach, or outside busy hours.
• Mobile signal can be patchy in the notch of the cove; tell someone your plan and exit before heavy swell or spring highs in onshore winds.

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

• Seasonal café and toilets at nearby Fishcombe Cove (usually daytime, summer season). Public toilets and more cafés in Brixham.
• Parking: Brixham town car parks (e.g. long‑stay near the harbour); limited on‑street options around Furzeham. No parking at the cove.
• Tackle/bait: tackle shops in Brixham town centre; wider choice in Paignton/Torquay.
• No lighting on paths; carry a torch. Bins are limited—take litter and line home.

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.

• Find depth: fish along the rocky flanks where the kelp edge drops into 10–20 ft; pollack patrol these seams at dusk.
• Scale down in gin‑clear water: fluorocarbon leaders and smaller hooks (#2–#4) lift wrasse/bream takes. Up-gun after dark for conger.
• Chum lightly for garfish with mashed mackerel; keep baits moving under a float. A stinger hook increases hook‑ups.
• For bass, work soft plastics or small surface lures across the mouth of the cove on a flooding tide with a ruffled surface.
• Use a simple weak link (6–10 lb mono) to your lead when ledgering—expect to lose weights, not whole rigs.
• Mullet cruise tight to the shingle in calm weather; freelined bread flake or a stealthy float rig can save a slow session.
• If mackerel aren’t showing by day, return at last light—scad often arrive in numbers and keep sport going.

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.

• Management area: Devon & Severn IFCA (D&S IFCA) byelaws apply along with national MMO/DEFRA regulations. Tor Bay also contains a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ); rod‑and‑line angling is generally permitted, but do not damage or remove protected features (e.g. seagrass, pink sea fans) and avoid bait collection in sensitive areas.
• Bass fishery: the recreational bass fishery operates under seasonal openings, daily bag limits and a minimum conservation reference size. In recent years this has included a 42 cm size limit and a small daily bag during the open season—confirm the current year’s rules with the MMO before retaining any bass.
• Minimum sizes/bag limits: observe national/IFCA MLS and protections (e.g. no retaining berried lobsters/crabs; respect MLS for crab/lobster if foraging). There is no general MLS for wrasse or mullet, but voluntary catch‑and‑release for large wrasse is widely encouraged.
• Methods/areas: no netting from the beach for recreational anglers; heed any seasonal bathing-zone buoys or local signage that restricts casting near swimmers.
• General: carry a tape/measure; keep within local bylaws; take all litter and discarded line home. If unsure, contact D&S IFCA or the Harbour Authority for the latest guidance.