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Devon

Coleton Fishacre

6.8 · Rocks · Devon

Steep, rough-ground rock ledges beneath the National Trust gardens at Coleton Fishacre around Pudcombe Cove and toward Froward Point. Deep water is close in with kelp beds, boulder gullies, and tidal run, making it a classic South Devon rock mark for lures, float-fished baits, and night fishing. Best in settled seas with a northerly or westerly wind; avoid big southerly swell. Access is via the South West Coast Path from the Coleton Fishacre car park with a steep descent and return. Use strong tackle and rotten-bottom links to cope with snags.

Should you fish Coleton Fishacre?

60 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Tompot Blenny

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Tompot Blenny.

NW 3 mph Rain 4% High tide 11:47

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Coleton Fishacre — 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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Coleton Fishacre is a demanding South Devon rough-ground rock mark where the key decisions are swell, tide, and how close you can safely work the kelp edges. It fishes best in settled conditions, especially with northerly or westerly wind, with the flood to high water the main window for wrasse, pollack, bass, mackerel, garfish and scad. The ground is snaggy and steep, so travel light, fish strong, and avoid committing to low platforms when swell or spring highs threaten.

  • Know whether to work the kelp edges or deeper ledges first.
  • Time the flood-to-high window for pollack, wrasse and bass.
  • Avoid the swell states that make Coleton unfishable.
  • Pick the right rig before the rough ground eats your gear.
  • Use a clear backup plan if Pudcombe Cove is unsafe.

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Kingswear 1.8 mi Dartmouth 2.3 mi Stoke Fleming 3.2 mi Brixham 4.0 mi Dittisham 4.1 mi

Explore nearby towns: Kingswear · Dartmouth · Stoke Fleming · Brixham · Dittisham

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

Overall rating

6.8 /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 4/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work 20–40 g metals or soft shads along kelp edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Float-fished sandeel or mackerel strip tight to rough ground also scores.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Kelp-filled gullies; float or light ledger with peeler crab or big rag. Best on the flood, May–Oct. Use strong abrasion-resistant gear tight to rock.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Flooding tide with some surf; shallow-diving lures at first/last light, or crab/sandeel into gullies. Keep mobile to find fizzing water.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Jun–Sep shoals; spin from deeper ledges on the flood or feather at dusk. Use light leads and keep rigs high to avoid snags.
Rock Goby 7/10
Tip: Very close to weeded rock; size 12–16 hooks, small worm/shrimp baits. Productive on a flooding tide in clear conditions.
Tompot Blenny 7/10
Tip: LRF in rock holes and under ledges; tiny hooks with prawn/rag bits. Best in calm, clear water at any tide state.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: After dark from deep rock ledges; ledger whole mackerel or squid on strong gear. Fish gullies on neap–mid tides to manage swell and snags.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Evenings/nights over rough ground; small worm or fish strips on short snoods. Let rigs just touch bottom and keep moving to reduce snags.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late summer nights; small metals or sabikis with a glow bead, under a float or slow retrieve. Best at dusk on the flood.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Smaller wrasse in kelp; fish small rag or crab under a float tight to rock. Flooding tide, May–Sep.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float a small mackerel strip mid-water over kelp edges on the flood, especially bright, calm evenings.
Black Bream 5/10
Tip: Occasional in calm, clear summer spells; small strips of squid/prawn on light gear over mixed ground, often mid-water under a float.

Local knowledge

Coleton Fishacre fishing guide

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

Coleton Fishacre sits on a wild, rock-fringed stretch of coast between Kingswear and Brixham in South Devon, with access to the small, picturesque Pudcombe Cove. It’s a classic rough-ground mark for wrasse, pollack and bass, and in summer the clear water often brings garfish, scad and mackerel tight to the rocks.

This mark is reached via the National Trust estate at Coleton Fishacre, linking into the South West Coast Path and a steep descent to the foreshore. Expect a beautiful but demanding approach, and plan your climb back up before dark.

  • Parking: National Trust Coleton Fishacre car park (TQ6 0EQ); charges apply for non-members; seasonal opening hours.
  • Approach: Follow estate paths to meet the South West Coast Path, then take signed paths/steps down towards Pudcombe Cove; the final section is steep with many steps.
  • Alternative access: Coast Path from the Brownstone/Froward Point direction is possible but longer and equally steep in places.
  • Terrain: Kelp-covered rock platforms, boulders and shingle; very slippery after rain or swell.
  • Night access: Garden gates may be locked out of hours; use the Coast Path rather than garden routes. Always check NT notices for any temporary closures after storms or rockfalls.

The area fishes like classic South Devon rough ground, with a strong summer showing and selective winter options. Expect clear water tactics from late spring to autumn.

  • Spring (Apr–Jun): Ball and cuckoo wrasse, pollack, early bass, garfish (from late spring), first mackerel.
  • Summer (Jul–Sep): Mackerel, scad, garfish, wrasse (peak), pollack, bass; mullet mooching in calm, bright spells.
  • Autumn (Oct–Nov): Better-sized pollack at dusk, bass after a blow, scad into dark, whiting and pout starting to appear; conger and bull huss at night.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pout, dogfish, rockling; conger after dark on the rougher ledges; the odd codling is rare nowadays.

Think rough-ground rock-fishing: float gear for wrasse/gar/pollack, lures for pollack and bass, and stout bottom rigs if you’re bait fishing after dark.

  • Lure fishing:
    • 20–40 g metals and slim jigs for mackerel/scad; work mid-water on the flood.
    • 12–20 cm soft plastics on 15–30 g heads for pollack at dawn/dusk; go weedless Texas-rig around kelp gullies.
    • Surface and shallow-diving hard lures for bass in calm, clear water at first and last light.
  • Float fishing:
    • Set 8–15 ft for wrasse and pollack over kelp; use ragworm, prawn, sandeel or mackerel strip.
    • Small slivers or bread flake for garfish when they’re showing high in the water.
  • Bottom fishing:
    • 4–5 oz leads with a pulley/dropper and a weak-link (rotten-bottom) to beat snags.
    • Baits: peeler crab, squid, sandeel, mackerel. Big cocktails or a flapper after dark for huss/conger.
    • 30–50 lb mono leader; abrasion is severe around barnacled ledges.
  • LRF/HRF:
    • Small metals and isome-style worms pick up mini species and occasional bonus wrasse/scad.
  • Hardware:
    • Rock spike rather than a tripod on cramped ledges; a drop-net helps land and release better fish without climbing.

Tide flow and water clarity dictate results. Wrasse and pollack love the flood and the dusk switch-on; bass often respond to a bit of movement and oxygenated water.

  • Tide: Flood to high water is the prime window; first of the ebb can stay productive for pollack. Avoid being cut off on small platforms near the cove.
  • Conditions:
    • Clear to lightly coloured water suits wrasse, gar and lure fishing.
    • A modest, rolling swell can switch bass on; heavy swell makes it dangerous and unfishable.
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk for pollack, bass and mackerel; bright middays can still score on wrasse tight to kelp.
  • Seasonality: Late spring to early autumn is peak; winter is mainly a night bait venue for pout/whiting/dogs and conger.

This is a steep, serious rock mark with slippery ground and swell rebound—treat it with full respect. It is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

  • Descent/ascent: Long, steep steps; allow time and fitness for the climb back. Carry light; wear grippy boots.
  • Slippery terrain: Kelp and weeded boulders are treacherous—test every step.
  • Swell: Surges rebound off the cliffs; never fish near the waterline in a groundswell. Keep well back and watch sets for 10+ minutes before committing.
  • Cut-off risk: Some ledges pinch out on spring highs—plan an escape route.
  • Rockfall: Do not linger directly below unstable faces; avoid pulling from undercuts when snagged.
  • Lifejacket: A self-inflating PFD and cleated boots strongly recommended.
  • Communication: Phone signal can be patchy in the cove; tell someone your plan and carry a whistle/headtorch.
  • National Trust estate: Respect signage, nesting-bird buffers and any temporary path closures. No fires or camping.

You’re on a scenic but basic rock mark; bring what you need and pack it all out. Estate facilities are daytime-only.

  • Toilets/café: At the National Trust car park/visitor area during opening hours (seasonal). None at the cove.
  • Shops/bait: Nearest full tackle and bait options are in Brixham, Paignton and Torquay; limited options in Dartmouth—check hours before travel.
  • Water/lighting: No fresh water or lighting at the mark; reliable headtorch essential for any dusk return.
  • Mobile signal: Intermittent down in the cove; generally better on the Coast Path.
  • Bins: None at shore level—take all litter and line home.

Coleton rewards stealth and tidy presentation. Think clear water, finesse, and working the kelp edges.

  • Natural baits: Peeled prawn and soft crab are killer wrasse baits when they’re wary of worm.
  • Weedless wins: Texas-rigged paddletails cut losses and extract pollack from gnarly gullies.
  • Groundbaiting: A light slick of mashed mackerel can pull in gar/scad at dusk; keep it minimal to avoid crab soup.
  • Timing: Avoid peak visitor hours in summer—dawn sessions fish better and keep you clear of swimmers near the old tidal pool.
  • Sea pool note: The historic tidal pool on the east side is a heritage feature; don’t fish into it or disturb bathers.
  • Etiquette: This is National Trust coastline—keep noise down, pack out line snips, and discourage rock turning.
  • Wildlife: Porpoises and seals patrol this stretch; a seal in the bay usually kills the bite—move rather than wait it out.

Angling is generally permitted from the foreshore here, but you are on National Trust land—observe estate rules and any on-site signage. Always check current national and IFCA byelaws before you go.

  • Bass (recreational): Seasonal catch-and-release/retention rules and a 42 cm minimum size apply in ICES area 7—check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice for dates and daily bag limits before retaining any fish.
  • Devon & Severn IFCA: Local byelaws apply on size limits and protected species; pots/nets require permits. Do not remove berried (egg-bearing) lobsters or crabs.
  • Marine protected areas: This coastline falls within wider MCZ designations offshore; rod-and-line angling is allowed, but do not damage or remove protected features (e.g., pink sea fans) and avoid anchoring/ground disturbance.
  • Birds and seals: Respect seasonal nesting restrictions on cliffs and keep distance from hauled-out seals.
  • National Trust: No fires, no camping, keep dogs on leads near cliffs/livestock, and follow any temporary path closures after landslips/storms.
  • Tidal rights: Stay aware of the tide—access above mean high water may cross NT land with restricted hours; the foreshore below MHWS is generally accessible, but your approach route must remain lawful and open at the time you go.