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Devon

Elphinstone Pier

7.3 · Pier · Devon

Compact stone pier beneath Plymouth Hoe with quick access to deep, clear water in Plymouth Sound. Mixed ground with kelp, rock and patches of cleaner sand/shingle; minimal casting is often enough. Best two hours either side of high water, with evenings and after dark most productive. Summer brings shoals of mackerel, scad and garfish under any ambient lighting; winter sees whiting and pouting. Wrasse, gobies and blennies hug the walls and boulders, and conger prowl after dark. Float fishing, sabikis, light LRF tactics and soft-plastic lures all work well; heavier gear is useful if targeting conger. Take a drop net for larger fish. Pay-and-display parking at Elphinstone is close by with steps down to the mark. It can be busy with swimmers in settled weather—avoid daytime peak bathing periods and beware swell and vessel wake; surfaces can be very slippery with weed.

Should you fish Elphinstone Pier?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Garfish

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

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:29

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Elphinstone Pier — 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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Elphinstone Pier is a compact Plymouth Sound pier where deep, clear water sits tight to the wall, so short-range fishing often beats long casting. The best plan is to fish the structure for wrasse, pollack, pouting and conger, then move to the pier end or open-facing positions when mackerel, garfish and scad are pushing through. The strongest all-round window is the last two hours of flood and first of the ebb, especially into evening or after dark.

  • Know when short drops beat long casts at Elphinstone.
  • Pick the pier end for shoals and the wall for wrasse, pollack and conger.
  • Time the flood and first ebb instead of guessing the session.
  • Switch tactics fast when mackerel, scad or garfish move through.
  • Avoid the easterly high-water trap and busy summer restrictions.

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Plymouth 0.9 mi Heybrook Bay 3.0 mi Torpoint 3.1 mi Sherford 3.5 mi Millbrook 3.6 mi

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

Overall rating

7.3 /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 8/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work small metal or soft-plastic lures tight to the wall and around eddies at dusk into dark on a flooding tide; keep lures midwater to avoid kelp.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Fish crab or ragworm down the wall and among kelp/rocks on the flood; daylight, calm to moderate swell. Use size 1-2 hooks and rotten-bottom rigs.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals on calm evenings; sabikis or 20-40g metals cast seaward from the pier end on the flood. Keep mobile and watch for birds.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
Tip: Late summer-autumn nights under shoreline lights; small sabikis or size 8 hooks tipped with fish strip. Slow retrieve midwater on the flood.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: After dark around boulders and the wall; whole squid or mackerel head on a strong trace dropped straight down. Best on the first of the flood or at slack.
Garfish 7/10
Tip: Late spring-autumn; float-fish thin mackerel strip 3-6 ft under a float, drifted along the wall on the flood. Best in clear water, bright days.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk on a building tide; shallow-diving plugs or sandeel baits worked along the edges and gullies. A blowy SW wind can switch them on.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Year-round, best after dark; small fish or squid baits on 2-hook flappers dropped into 20-40 ft close to the wall. Use light leads to feel bites.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Calm daylight; small ragworm or prawn on size 4-6 hooks lowered into kelp pockets on the flood. Keep tackle light.
Tompot Blenny 6/10
Tip: Very close to the wall among weed and crevices; tiny hooks with bits of worm or prawn. Good for LRF on the flood in clear water.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Late autumn-winter nights on the flood and first of the ebb; fish small strips of mackerel or worm at range or down the wall. Expect rattly bites.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
Tip: Clear, calm conditions; freeline bread or small bread flake under a float around the steps and eddies. Early morning on neap tides is best.

Local knowledge

Elphinstone Pier fishing guide

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

Elphinstone Pier sits below Plymouth Hoe on the eastern side of the waterfront, looking out over the sheltered waters of Plymouth Sound. It’s an easy, urban mark with deep water close in, making it a dependable spot for mackerel, garfish, pollack, wrasse and winter whiting. Convenient parking, railings and year‑round access make it popular with both casual and specialist anglers.

Set beneath the Hoe and the old fortifications, the Elphinstone waterfront is reached via the Hoe promenade and Elphinstone car park. The mark covers the small pier/landing and the adjacent rail‑railed sea wall and platforms near the Pier Master’s House.

  • Drive to the Hoe and use Elphinstone pay‑and‑display car park (signposted from Hoe Road; typical postcode area PL1). It’s a short walk down steps/ramps to the water.
  • Access is straightforward on paved paths; expect a couple of flights of steps to the lower level by the pier/landing stage.
  • Fishing positions include: the end and sides of the small pier/landing, the railings along the wall towards Tinside, and raised platforms with ladders to the water.
  • Terrain is concrete with railings; depth drops away quickly and there’s kelp‑covered rock and harbour wall structure.
  • The waterfront road can be closed or restricted during major events (e.g. British Firework Championships, Armed Forces Day) — plan parking and arrival accordingly.
  • Parts of the landing stages may be signed for vessels only; obey any local No Fishing signs and keep clear of active berths.

A mixed, year‑round venue with classic summer pelagics and winter mini‑species and whiting. Expect harbour‑wall regulars plus the odd surprise.

  • Spring (Mar–May): pollack (school fish), ballan and corkwing wrasse, flounder/plaice oddities, early garfish on warm spells, thick‑lipped mullet mooching the wall.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel, often at dusk), pollack, wrasse, bass on lures, mullet (thick‑ and thin‑lipped), sand smelt, gobies/blennies for LRF.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): mackerel (tail‑end runs), scad in numbers after dark, pollack, bass on onshore blows, wrasse until the first frosts.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting, poor cod, rockling, occasional conger after dark; school pollack on small lures; mullet linger in mild spells.
  • Occasional: squid on calm, clear autumn nights; small gurnard/plaice inside the Sound; dogfish on baits kicked into the tide run.

Deep water tight to structure lends itself to floats, metals and LRF, while simple bottom rigs pick up winter fish. Travel light so you can move with the shoals.

  • Lures: 20–40 g slim metals and casting jigs for mackerel/scad; small paddle‑tails or dart jigs (5–12 g) for pollack; surface/pencil lures at dawn/dusk for bass in a chop.
  • Float fishing: 6–10 ft below a sliding float with mackerel strip, sandeel or prawn for garfish and pollack; ragworm or prawn tight to the wall for wrasse.
  • Bottom tactics: 1–2 hook flappers (size 2–4) with ragworm, lug, squid or mackerel strips for whiting/pout/flatfish; a simple running ledger with whole squid/mackerel head for conger after dark.
  • LRF/HRF: isome/Gulp worms on size 8–12 hooks or 1–3 g jig heads for gobies, blennies, mini‑wrasse and bonus scad; step up to weedless 7–10 g Texas rigs for wrasse in kelp pockets.
  • Rigs and leads: short snoods near the wall reduce tangles; 2–3 oz usually holds unless tide rips; use a weak link/rotten‑bottom if casting beyond the wall into rough ground.
  • Hardware: a drop net is highly recommended for safe landing from height; replace multi‑hook sabikis with single hooks when crowded for safety.

Plymouth Breakwater knocks down swell, so Elphinstone often fishes in conditions that would shut other marks; tide flow and light become your main triggers.

  • Tide state: the last two hours of flood and first of the ebb are productive, pushing bait along the wall; neaps suit wrasse/LRF, springs help pelagics and bass.
  • Time of day: dawn for bass/pollack; late afternoon to two hours after dusk for scad, mackerel (on some tides) and whiting.
  • Sea state: calm to slight with clear water favours lures/float and mackerel/gar; a bit of colour after an easterly blow can switch on bass.
  • Seasonality: peak pelagic action Jun–Sep; scad best Aug–Oct nights; wrasse April–Oct; winter species arrive with the first frosts.
  • Wind: sheltered in prevailing SW; strong easterlies can push chop onto the wall and make it unfishable at high water.

This is an urban, railed venue, but it’s still a high, vertical wall with ladders, boat wash and slippery weed. Treat it like any harbour wall.

  • Stay behind railings; avoid leaning over ladders and never descend to weeded steps in swell.
  • Height to water can be significant at low tide — use a drop net, not hand‑lining.
  • Beware boat wash from ferries and RIBs; never fish from marked landing stages or obstruct access.
  • In summer there may be designated bathing areas near Tinside and swimmer traffic along the waterfront — if lifeguards or signage indicate no fishing, move.
  • Footing: algae and fish slime make surfaces slick; wear grippy footwear. Headtorch and PFD recommended for night sessions.
  • Accessibility: promenade level is wheelchair‑friendly; some rail‑side spots are accessible, but the lower platforms/pier require steps.

Elphinstone is one of the most convenient sea marks in Devon, with city amenities a short walk away and seasonal facilities on the Hoe.

  • Toilets: public facilities on the Hoe and at/near Tinside Lido (seasonal opening hours).
  • Food and drink: cafés and kiosks along the Hoe; the Pier Master’s House and other eateries nearby.
  • Tackle/bait: several tackle shops within a 5–15 minute drive in Plymouth for bait and end‑gear; some sell fresh/frozen baits daily.
  • Parking: pay‑and‑display at Elphinstone and along Hoe Road; check event closures.
  • Mobile signal: generally strong 4G/5G along the waterfront.
  • Lighting: promenade lighting, but bring a headtorch after dark.

Shoals move quickly; mobility and timing beat camping on one spot. Think small, neat presentations and use the structure to your advantage.

  • For scad at dusk, switch to tiny metals or size 6–8 single hooks tipped with slivers of mackerel under a light stick float.
  • Drop bread mash along the wall and sight‑fish mullet with small bread flake on size 10–12 hooks.
  • Work lures parallel to the wall on the flood for pollack; count them down and keep them moving just off the kelp.
  • Wrasse hug the steps and ladders at high water — present prawn or rag tight in and hold on.
  • Carry spare traces; the wall and kelp abrade leaders fast. 20–25 lb fluorocarbon helps around structure.
  • Summer evenings can be very busy with walkers and swimmers; fish earlier/later, or pick overcast days for more elbow room.
  • During major Hoe events, arrive early, park higher up, or pick another Sound mark to avoid closures.

Rules here are a mix of national angling regulations and local waterfront restrictions. Always check on‑site signage and Devon & Severn IFCA updates before you fish.

  • Pier/landing use: some sections are active landing stages — where signed No Fishing or reserved for vessels, fishing is prohibited. Do not obstruct ladders or emergency access.
  • Bathing zones: in summer, lifeguarded bathing areas near Tinside may exclude fishing; comply with any seasonal restrictions and lifeguard directions.
  • European seabass (England, 2024): recreational anglers may retain up to 2 bass per person per day from 1 March–30 November; minimum size 42 cm; catch‑and‑release only in December–February.
  • Pollack (2024 advisory): due to stock concerns, DEFRA asked recreational anglers to release all pollack in 2024 — consider practicing catch‑and‑release until official guidance changes.
  • Bluefin tuna: if encountered, they are strictly catch‑and‑release only and may not be targeted without an authorised permit; not a realistic target from this mark.
  • General: observe minimum conservation reference sizes, no retention of berried crabs/lobsters, and local byelaws under Devon & Severn IFCA. Plymouth Sound and Estuaries is a protected area, but shore angling is generally permitted.
  • Waste and conduct: take all litter and line home; avoid foul‑hooking shoals with multi‑hook feathers in crowded conditions — single hooks are safer.

If in doubt, consult current DEFRA/MMO notices and Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws before your trip, as rules can change season‑to‑season.