Combe Martin Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Combe Martin Beach Fishing Map

A sheltered, sand-and-shingle cove flanked by kelpy rock ledges, Combe Martin Beach offers mixed-ground fishing with a very large Bristol Channel tidal range. Access is straightforward via the village car park and slipway. Wrasse and pollack dominate around the rocky margins on the flood in clear water; summer also brings mackerel, garfish and scad into the bay mouth. After dark, dogfish, bull huss and pouting work the sand patches, with occasional conger from the rougher edges. Thick‑lipped mullet frequent the stream/inner beach on calm days. Best results typically come on a flooding tide, particularly the last two hours up and first hour down, with a light northerly or calm conditions. Hazards include fast-flooding tides that can cut off rock platforms, slippery weeded boulders, and swell rebound near the headlands.

Ratings

⭐ 7.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Combe Martin Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Work surface or soft-plastic lures along the right-hand reef and surf line; or fish peeler crab or sandeel into the gullies after a blow.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
🎯 Tip: Very common over sand patches at night. Cast small fish/squid baits 30–60m on neap tides and keep baits static.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Evenings and low light. Cast metal jigs or weedless soft plastics from the rock points at mid to high water; let lures sink and sweep past kelp edges.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn. Fish crab or rag tight to kelp-covered rocks either side of the bay. Short traces, rotten-bottom leads; move between gullies on mid–high tide.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Regular after dark around rough ground. Small fish baits or rag on two-hook flappers into reef edges at mid–high water.
🐟 Bull Huss 6/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional but decent fish at night from rough ground. Big mackerel/squid baits into deeper gullies on a rising tide; strong abrasion-resistant gear.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals on the flood, evenings best. Float strips or cast small metals from the headlands; mind swimmers in daylight.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, clear days. Free-line bread flake or small bread mash feeder by the stream and wall on the flood; stealth and light gear.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months in weed beds. Small hooks and ragworm or fish strips under a float close to rock faces; keep baits just off bottom around high water.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Night sessions from rock ledges. Large fish baits into kelp-filled holes on a neap flood; lock up and use a rotten-bottom to reduce snags.

Combe Martin Beach Fishing

Summary

Combe Martin Beach sits in a narrow, picturesque cove on North Devon’s coast between Ilfracombe and the Exmoor cliffs. It’s a mixed sand-and-reef venue that can fish very well for bass, wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics, with proper rough-ground options for huss and conger after dark.

Location and Access

Set at the heart of Combe Martin village on the A399, the beach is one of the easiest North Devon rock-and-sand marks to reach. Access is straightforward to the sand; the rock ledges either side of the cove require care.

Seasons

This cove holds a useful mix of resident rough-ground fish and seasonal visitors. Summer brings the most variety; autumn and winter favour nocturnal rough-ground targets when seas permit.

Methods

Combe Martin fishes best with a two-pronged approach: light, mobile lure/float work over the reefs by day, and robust bottom tactics into darkness. Expect snags on the rough ground and rig accordingly.

Tides and Conditions

This is a high tidal-range venue influenced by the Bristol Channel; water movement and swell dictate how it fishes. Plan around the state of tide and recent weather, and be conservative with cut-off risks.

Safety

Treat Combe Martin as a serious rough-ground venue once you step off the sand. The tidal range, kelp, and rebound swell demand vigilance and the right kit.

Facilities

The village sits directly behind the beach, so amenities are close at hand. Tackle supplies are available in nearby towns.

Tips

A few small tweaks can make a big difference at this mixed ground mark. Think stealth, elevation, and sensible tackle losses.

Regulations

Combe Martin lies within the Devon and Severn IFCA district and the Bideford to Foreland Point Marine Conservation Zone. Recreational rod-and-line angling is permitted here, but local rules and seasonal measures can apply.