Summary
Daddyhole is a striking limestone headland and cove on Torquay’s Meadfoot side, set within Torbay’s sheltered waters. Steep cliffs drop into relatively deep, kelp-fringed ground that holds wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics. It’s a scenic but serious rock mark that rewards careful planning and tidy technique.
Location and Access
Daddyhole sits between Torquay Harbour and Meadfoot Beach on the South West Coast Path. Most anglers base themselves at the clifftop green (Daddyhole Plain) and pick carefully down to ledges, or work nearby, easier ground at Meadfoot in rough weather.
- Parking: Use Daddyhole Plain car park on Daddyhole Road/Ilsham Marine Drive (signposted), or Meadfoot Beach car parks a short drive away.
- Approach: From the car park, follow the coast path; informal side tracks lead to viewpoints and rocky spurs. Any descent to lower ledges is steep, uneven and sometimes loose underfoot.
- Terrain: Limestone rock, gullies and weed beds with deep water close in; very snaggy ground in places. Not suitable for those with limited mobility.
- Public transport: Torquay buses stop within walking distance; allow extra time for the uphill return.
- Night access: Feasible for experienced rock anglers only; navigation is tricky without prior daylight recce.
Seasons
This is classic Torbay rough ground with year-round residents and strong summer visitors. Expect variety but mind the snags.
- Spring (Mar–May): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, garfish late spring, early mackerel runs in May, occasional bass on a lift, rock gobies and blennies for LRF.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Mackerel, garfish, scad at night, black bream patches some years, wrasse at their peak, schoolie-to-mid bass on moody days, pout/poor cod, occasional squid/cuttle late summer evenings.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Pollack improve at dusk, scad shoals after dark, mackerel tails off by late Oct, bream linger in settled spells, conger from rough holes after dark, chance of a better bass in on colour.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Pollack on lures in low light, pout/poor cod, conger at night; wrasse largely quiet in cold snaps. Odd whiting in onshore blows.
Methods
Clear water, depth and kelp dictate finesse by day and abrasion resistance by night. Travel light, and expect to lose gear without snag precautions.
- Float fishing: Excellent for garfish, mackerel and pollack. Set 8–15 ft over depth; baits include slivers of mackerel, sandeel, prawn or rag. Drifting along the rock face works well at dawn/dusk.
- Spinning/soft plastics: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; 4–6 inch weedless soft shads on 20–30 g heads or weighted Texas rigs for pollack and bass. Work parallel to the kelp line.
- Bottom fishing: Short-snood 1–2 hook flappers for wrasse/pout; pulley/pulley-dropper with a weak/rotten-bottom link for conger or when casting into rough. Baits: crab (peeler/softy), rag/lug, prawn, squid, mackerel strip.
- LRF: Size 10–14 hooks, 2–6 g jigheads and isome/gulp for mini-species around weed fringes and rock pools in calm seas.
- Tackle notes: 30–50 lb abrasion-resistant leader for lures near kelp; 50–80 lb trace for conger. Always use a weak link to the lead; carry spare weights, clips and leaders.
Tides and Conditions
Torbay shelters Daddyhole from prevailing south-westerlies, but easterlies and ground swell make it dangerous and often unfishable. Water clarity swings quickly with wind direction.
- Best tide: Mid-flood to high and first of the ebb for wrasse and general sport; dusk flood for pollack/garfish; neaps help reduce kelp drag and snags.
- Wind/sea: Fish well in W–SW winds (sheltered water). Avoid strong E/NE winds or any significant easterly swell that can surge onto ledges.
- Light levels: Dawn and dusk are prime for pollack, mackerel and garfish. Night brings scad, pout and conger; use red light where possible to keep shoals on the feed.
- Seasonality: Peak mixed fishing June–September; winter sessions are shorter and more focused on pollack/conger in settled windows.
Safety
This is a cliff and rock mark with real hazards. Plan conservatively, recce by daylight, and turn back if swell or footing feels marginal.
- Steep/loose descents: Some goat tracks are exposed and slippery in wet weather; wear grippy footwear and keep hands free.
- Swell and surge: Easterly groundswell can wash ledges; never fish with waves breaking onto your platform. Watch a full set before committing.
- Rockfall: Limestone faces shed small debris, especially after heavy rain and winter frosts; avoid standing directly under overhangs.
- Tidal awareness: A few lower gullies flood or become awkward to escape at higher states; note your exit route.
- Kit and comms: Belt-worn or auto lifejacket strongly advised; headtorch with spare batteries; phone signal is good atop but can dip in the cove.
- Buddy system: Fish with a partner where possible and let someone know your plan.
Facilities
You’re close to Torquay amenities, but the ledges themselves are wild. Prepare as if fully self-sufficient.
- Parking: Daddyhole Plain car park (pay-and-display hours vary seasonally); additional parking at Meadfoot Beach.
- Toilets: Seasonal facilities at Meadfoot Beach; none at the ledges.
- Food/drink: Meadfoot Beach café (seasonal) and Torquay town cafés/shops within a short drive.
- Tackle/bait: Several tackle shops in Torquay/Paignton stock bait and lure gear; ring ahead for fresh rag/lug and peeler availability.
- Lighting: No lighting on paths or ledges; robust headtorch essential after dark.
- Signal: Generally good on the headland; patchier down in the cove.
Tips
Torbay water is often gin-clear; subtlety outfishes brute force here. Watch the birds and bait rather than the clock.
- Scale down by day: Fluorocarbon snoods (10–15 lb for float/lure), smaller hooks and natural baits get more takes in clear water.
- Burley smartly: A light mash of bread/fish oil keeps garfish and mackerel around without overfeeding; drip it, don’t dump it.
- Lure angles: Cast along the rock line and let shads swing with the tide; many pollack hits come as the lure rises off kelp at your feet.
- Wrasse etiquette: Quick photos and release; they’re slow-growing and key to the inshore reef ecosystem.
- Be considerate: This is a residential area above the cliffs—keep noise down at night and pack out all litter. Council rangers do patrol periodically.
- Shared water: Expect kayakers, swimmers and divers in settled summer spells near Meadfoot—choose casting angles accordingly.
Regulations
Angling is generally permitted from the shore here. The headland and surrounding coast sit within protected designations, so follow local signage and national fishery rules.
- Conservation areas: The coastline forms part of the Hope’s Nose–Walls Hill SSSI and lies within the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone. Do not damage rock features, remove plants, light fires or camp; stick to established paths.
- Bass rules: Check current UK recreational bass regulations before you go. As of 2024, retention was limited to 2 fish per angler per day at a 42 cm minimum size, open 1 March–30 November, with catch-and-release only outside those dates. Rules can change annually.
- Minimum sizes/bag limits: Observe UK MMO/IFCA sizes for common species (bream, wrasse, pollack, mackerel, etc.) and release undersize fish.
- No-netting/harbour byelaws: Outside harbour limits, shore angling with rod and line is allowed; do not set nets or pots from the shore without permits. Check Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws for updates.
- Access restrictions: Temporary path closures or nesting bird protections may be posted seasonally—comply with any on-site notices.
