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Devon

Corbyn Head

7.1 · Rocks · Devon

Rocky headland between Torquay’s Torre Abbey Sands and Livermead, offering mixed rough-to-clean ground with kelp beds, ledges and quick access to 4–10 m of water on the flood. Productive in summer and early autumn for lure and float fishing; night tides can produce larger fish on bottom rigs. Sheltered from prevailing westerlies but exposed to easterlies. Expect snags—use abrasion-resistant leaders and a weak-link sinker. Best around a flooding tide into dusk with clear-to-moderate water.

Should you fish Corbyn Head?

54 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

Fair conditions. Best available around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Pollack.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:02

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Corbyn Head — 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.

Saturday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Corbyn Head is a compact Torbay rock mark where the best decisions are usually about ground choice: kelp gullies and ledges for wrasse and pollack, deeper water off the point for summer shoals, and rough-to-sand fringes or sand patches for bass and night bottom fishing. It is strongest from late spring through early autumn, especially on a flooding tide into dusk, but it is snaggy and becomes a poor choice in E/NE wind or swell.

  • Know whether to fish kelp, point water or sand patches.
  • Time the flood-to-high window instead of guessing.
  • Pick the right Corbyn Head tactic for bass, wrasse or pollack.
  • Avoid the easterly conditions that can ruin this rock mark.
  • Use a backup plan when the ledges are unsafe or too busy.

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Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Torquay 0.7 mi Paignton 2.0 mi Marldon 2.5 mi Kingskerswell 3.3 mi Collaton St Mary 3.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Torquay · Paignton · Marldon · Kingskerswell · Collaton St Mary

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

Overall rating

7.1 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or metals tight to kelp edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Use a long leader; retrieve just above the weed.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Kelp-lined rock gullies; float or freelined crab/rag. Best mid–late flood, summer–autumn. Tackle up and keep pressure on to beat snags.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Rising tide with a bit of surf over rough-to-sand fringes. Shallow plugs/soft plastics at first and last light; peeler crab after a blow.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals on the flood; cast feathers/sabikis into deeper water off the point. Downsize to size 4–6 when fish are small.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: After dark over rough ground; small mackerel/squid strips on two-hook flappers. Little-and-often chopped bait can hold fish.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Dusk into dark in late summer/autumn. Small metals or sabikis with a glow bead; slow, steady retrieve mid-water.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Tight to rock/kelp; small hooks and ragworm. Short casts on the flood, summer. Lift bites—strike early to avoid snags.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn. Float small mackerel strips or sandeel slivers near the surface over clear water on a making tide.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
Tip: Night casts to sand patches; small oily fish baits on a simple ledger. Keep baits hard on the deck. Best late spring to autumn.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: Night over foul ground; big fish baits on strong pulley rigs. Best on the flood; keep fish high to clear kelp and ledges.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
Tip: Calm mornings along Corbyn's beach/rock margins. Free-line bread flake; trickle feed mashed bread. Summer to early autumn.
Whiting 4/10
Tip: Winter nights; cast small fish or squid strips towards adjacent sand patches on a gentle flood. Long snoods pick out better fish.

Local knowledge

Corbyn Head fishing guide

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

Corbyn Head is a compact rocky headland on Torquay’s seafront between Corbyn Beach and Livermead, offering easy-access rock and mixed-ground fishing right in the heart of Torbay. It’s a versatile mark where you can reach reef, kelp gullies, and adjacent sand without a long hike. Expect classic Torbay species with good summer sport for wrasse, mackerel, garfish and bass, plus night fishing for pout, whiting and conger.

Set alongside the Torbay Road seafront in Torquay, Corbyn Head is one of the most accessible rock marks in the bay. You’re fishing within minutes of leaving the car and can pick from several ledges facing different directions.

  • Access via the promenade footpath on Torbay Road; signed paths and steps lead down to the headland viewpoints and rock ledges.
  • Parking: pay-and-display bays along the seafront and larger car parks near Torre Abbey/Princess Theatre; arrive early in peak season and evenings to secure a spot.
  • The walk-in is short (5–10 minutes) on paved paths, followed by a brief rocky scramble to chosen ledges.
  • Terrain: flat rock shelves with weeded sections, shallow kelp gullies, and casts into mixed sand/rock; choose your platform with the tide in mind.

Corbyn Head produces a typical Torbay mix with reef and sand options. Seasonality matters, with summer surface action and winter bottom fishing.

  • Spring (Mar–May): ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, early garfish, chance of plaice on nearby sand, bass in settled water.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, wrasse in numbers, bass on lures, occasional black bream, dogfish on the sand, odd smoothhound and small spotted/small-eyed ray after dark.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass and pollack on lures, late mackerel/scad shoals, squid possible at dusk, plaice/dab on sand patches, conger and pouting at night.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting, rockling, conger from the rough ground, dabs and the odd plaice on the cleaner patches.

You can fish Corbyn Head with floats, lures, or bottom tactics depending on tide and target. Keep tackle robust—there’s kelp and barnacle-covered rock.

  • Lures for bass/pollack: 20–40 g metals, small shallow-diving plugs, and 10–20 g weedless soft plastics; best at dawn/dusk on flooding tide.
  • Float fishing: set floats 6–12 ft for mackerel/garfish (strips of mackerel, sandeel, or size 6–8 hooks with slivers), and ragworm or prawn for wrasse tight to the rocks.
  • Bottom fishing (mixed-to-sand): two-hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks for plaice/dab/whiting; pulley or pulley dropper with 3/0–4/0 for rays/dogfish. Baits: ragworm, lugworm, sandeel, squid, peeler crab.
  • Wrasse tactics: strong abrasion-resistant leaders (40–60 lb), size 2–1/0 hooks, rag/crab baits lowered into gullies; avoid long casts—fish under your feet.
  • Conger after dark: heavy mono or wire trace, 5/0 hooks, mackerel or squid flank baits lowered into holes and channels.
  • LRF finesse: 1–7 g jigheads with isome/shrimps for blennies, gobies, mini-wrasse; micro metals for scad after dusk.

Depth is your friend here—many ledges fish best with a bit of water on them. Torbay’s shelter helps in westerlies but easterlies can make it lively.

  • Tide: the last 2 hours of the flood through high water and first hour of the ebb are prime for most species; neaps for wrasse/lures, springs for rays/dogfish on the sand.
  • Wind/sea state: generally sheltered in SW–W winds; exposed and potentially dangerous in E–NE winds which push swell onto the rocks and colour the water.
  • Water clarity: clear, settled seas favour lures, garfish and wrasse; a little colour suits bass and bottom fishing.
  • Time of day: dawn/dusk for bass/pollack; summer evenings for mackerel/garfish/scad; full dark for conger, pout and whiting.
  • Seasonality: peak mixed fishing June–October; winter leans to bottom fishing on calmer nights.

Although close to the road, Corbyn Head is still a rock mark—treat it with the same respect you would any rough ground venue.

  • Slippery weeded ledges and barnacles: wear grippy boots/cleats; test footing before committing weight.
  • Tide awareness: some lower ledges become awkward or risky at mid-to-high springs; choose higher platforms to avoid cut-off and splash-over.
  • Swell: avoid strong E/NE winds or swell forecasts; rogue waves can wash the platforms.
  • Night fishing: carry a headtorch, spare light, and consider a personal flotation device; a drop-net or long-handled net helps safe landing.
  • Accessibility: short paved approach but final access is uneven rock—unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for limited mobility.
  • Bathing areas: in summer, expect swimmers on adjacent beaches; never cast across flagged swim zones or near water users.

You’re on the Torquay seafront, so facilities are close at hand. Peak-season crowds can be heavy.

  • Parking: seafront pay-and-display bays and nearby public car parks by Torre Abbey/Princess Theatre.
  • Toilets: public conveniences along Abbey Sands/Princess Gardens (check seasonal opening hours).
  • Food/drink: cafés, bars and takeaways on the promenade within a short walk.
  • Tackle/bait: multiple tackle shops in Torquay/Paignton are a short drive; frozen bait often available from local convenience stores.
  • Mobile signal: generally strong across the headland.
  • Bins: seafront litter bins nearby—pack out waste if they’re full or closed.

Small tweaks make a big difference at Corbyn Head—reading the ground at low water pays off.

  • Recce at low tide to mark sand tongues and gullies, then fish them on the flood for plaice, rays and bass.
  • For plaice, use long snoods, small size 2 hooks, bright beads/spoons and ragworm or crab cocktails.
  • Keep mackerel/gar sessions courteous: single-hook metals or small floats instead of big feather rigs when the promenade is busy.
  • For wrasse, fish down the side with minimal lead; move spots every 10–15 minutes until you find them.
  • Scad often arrive at dusk: tiny metals or sabikis under a small float work—swap to barbless to unhook quickly.
  • After blowy spells, give it 24–48 hours for the water to clear before committing to lure work.
  • Bring a drop-net for safe landing; the rock lip can make hand-lining risky on bigger fish.

There is no general ban on fishing from Corbyn Head, but you must respect beach users and any seasonal lifeguard instructions. Check current rules before you go.

  • Beach/lifeguard zones: do not fish between red/yellow bathing flags on adjacent beaches; heed any Torbay Council or RNLI signage on the promenade.
  • Bass regulations (recreational): subject to annual national rules—commonly a closed period in winter and a bag/size limit the rest of the year. Check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice before retaining bass.
  • Minimum sizes: observe the UK minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for species such as bass, plaice, rays and pollack; Devon & Severn IFCA publishes regional information.
  • Bait collection: avoid prising limpets or damaging rocky habitats; some areas of Torbay carry environmental designations—only collect bait where it’s permitted and sustainable.
  • Night fishing and public order: be considerate with lights and noise near hotels/apartments; take all litter, line and hooks home.
  • If unsure about any local byelaws or seasonal restrictions, contact Torbay Council or Devon & Severn IFCA for clarification.