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Devon

Freshwater Quarry

6.8 · Rocks · Devon

Steep limestone ledges from an old coastal quarry on the east side of Brixham (between Shoalstone and Berry Head). Deep water is close in with kelp-filled gullies, rock walls and scours meeting cleaner ground further out. Productive on a flooding tide and around dusk into night. Summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish tight to the face; daylight over rough ground yields wrasse and pollack; after dark expect pouting and conger. Space is limited and uneven with drops to the water—best in settled seas with a northerly or westerly wind and a sensible swell. Parking is usually at or near Shoalstone; access involves a short but steep walk over uneven paths.

Should you fish Freshwater Quarry?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Pollack

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

W 3 mph Rain 4% High tide 12:06

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Freshwater Quarry — 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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Freshwater Quarry is best treated as a timing and ground-choice mark. The supplied notes point to two useful fishing characters here: rough limestone ledges with kelp gullies and deep water close in, plus nearby harbour-side quay/railings where permitted. The strongest pattern is a flooding tide, especially the last few hours into high, with daylight rough-ground fishing for wrasse and pollack, then a dusk/night switch to mackerel, scad, pouting, conger and autumn squid where suitable areas and lighting are available.

  • Know whether to fish the rock face or the harbour-side option.
  • Use the flood to time wrasse, pollack, bass and surface fish.
  • Pick the right close-range tactic for kelp, gullies and scours.
  • Avoid wasting the prime dusk window on the wrong species.
  • Have a safer fallback when swell makes the ledges a poor call.

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

Brixham 2.6 mi Paignton 3.2 mi Dittisham 3.9 mi Torquay 4.2 mi Kingswear 4.3 mi

Explore nearby towns: Brixham · Paignton · Dittisham · Torquay · Kingswear

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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 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Ballan Wrasse 9/10
Tip: Kelp-covered rough ground; fish daylight on flooding tide. Float fish or ledger crab, prawn or rag tight to rocks. Use strong gear and rotten-bottoms.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Work metal jigs or soft shads at dawn/dusk along the ledges on a flooding tide. Keep lures deep, parallel to the rockface.
Bass 7/10
Tip: After swell or at first light; plug or soft plastics in the gullies on a flooding tide. Also freelined crab in white water.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals; spin small metals or float fish strip at range on the flood, best at dusk.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: After dark over rough ground; small fish baits or rag on size 2 hooks. Keep gear above snags; short casts.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Smaller wrasse tight to kelp; float ragworm or small crab around boulders mid-tide.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark into boulders; strong tackle, wire/mono trace and big mackerel/flake baits. Neap tides safer; use rotten-bottom.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float fish small slivers of mackerel with long trace near the surface over clean patches, best on a rising tide.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Late summer nights; small metals or sabikis worked mid-water. Try on the flood at dusk.
Rock Goby 5/10
Tip: Abundant in holes; tiny hooks with rag or prawn fished under a float tight to the rocks, any state of tide.

Local knowledge

Freshwater Quarry fishing guide

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

Freshwater Quarry is the town‑centre car park and quay-side stretch that overlooks Brixham Harbour in Torbay, Devon. It’s a sheltered, easy-access spot best known for mullet and occasional bass, with seasonal mackerel, garfish and autumn squid under the harbour lights.

This mark refers to the quay and railings below/near the Freshwater Quarry car park in Brixham, a short walk from the inner harbour and fish quay. Access is straightforward on pavements and concrete, but do respect any Tor Bay Harbour Authority no‑fishing signs around commercial areas.

  • Parking: Torbay Council pay‑and‑display at Freshwater Quarry car park (clearly signposted in Brixham town centre); also other harbour car parks nearby.
  • Approach: 1–5 minutes’ walk from the car park to the railings/harbour edge; mostly level ground with some steps to lower levels.
  • Terrain: Concrete quay, railings, and pontoons nearby; high wall in places—bring a drop net.
  • Public transport: Regular buses serve Brixham town centre; short walk to the harbour.

This is a classic harbour mark with year‑round mullet interest and summer visitors. Expect better variety in warm months and during dusk/night sessions.

  • Spring–Autumn (prime): Thick‑lipped grey mullet, golden‑grey mullet (summer), bass (mostly schoolies), mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel) after dark.
  • Summer: Pollack around structure at dawn/dusk; wrasse on rougher edges nearer the outer walls; occasional black bream closer to the Breakwater.
  • Autumn: Squid under lights in the evening; mackerel/scad shoals at dusk.
  • Winter: Mullet still possible in mild spells (bright, calm days); odd pollack/pouting after dark inside the harbour.
  • Occasional: Ray or dogfish from the outer arm/Breakwater end rather than right inside; bonus bass on a building tide.

Light, stealthy presentation is key inside the harbour, with heavier gear reserved for the outer edges or the Breakwater. Start simple and scale down lines and hooks for mullet.

  • Mullet: 4–8 lb mainline to 4–6 lb fluoro hooklength; size 8–12 hooks; small crystal waggler or bubble float; bread flake or crust; drip in bread mash as groundbait.
  • Bass: Early/late on the flood with small surface/sub‑surface lures (pencil walkers, 90–120 mm minnows) or free‑lined prawn/sandeel; keep casts controlled to avoid boats.
  • Mackerel/gar/scad: Small metal lures, float‑fished strips, or single‑hook sabiki pieces (avoid full strings in tight harbour spaces).
  • LRF: 1–5 g jigheads and isome/gulp worms for scad, pout, small pollack; drop‑shot along shadow lines and ladders.
  • Squid (autumn): Size 2.5–3.5 egi jigs under lights at dusk into full dark; slow lifts and pauses.
  • Handling/landing: Use a drop net from high walls; barbless or crushed barbs help with quick release near the public.

Being inside Tor Bay, this mark is fairly sheltered, but water clarity and light levels strongly influence results—especially for mullet and squid.

  • Best tide: Flooding tide, particularly the last 3 hours into high, and the first hour of ebb for bass passes and mullet patrols.
  • Springs vs neaps: Springs move bait and can lift bass activity; neaps often suit finicky mullet in clearer water.
  • Time of day: Dawn for bass/pollack; late afternoon into dusk for mullet; dusk to full dark for scad and squid.
  • Sea state/wind: Easterlies can rough up Tor Bay but the inner harbour often remains fishable; clarity after 24–48 hrs of calm boosts mullet and squid.
  • Seasonality: April–October for variety; peak July–September for surface life and night action; winter is quieter but still worth a mullet look on bright, calm days.

This is an active, working harbour—safety and courtesy come first. Expect moving vessels, lines, and busy quaysides, and obey all local signage.

  • Working harbour: Do not obstruct moorings, steps, ladders, or fairways; stop fishing when vessels are manoeuvring.
  • Height/edges: Some sections are high above the water; use a drop net and wear a personal flotation device, especially at night.
  • Surfaces: Algae and spray make lower steps slippery—non‑slip footwear essential.
  • Casting: Controlled, low casts only; never cast across channels or over pontoon approaches.
  • Families/mobility: Pavement access is good but some productive spots have steps and high walls; supervision required for children.
  • Restrictions: Parts of the inner/working harbour are signed No Fishing—these are enforced by the Harbour Authority; times/areas may change seasonally.

One advantage here is proximity to Brixham’s amenities—ideal for short sessions or mixed family days.

  • Toilets: Public conveniences near the harbour and at nearby car parks.
  • Food/drink: Numerous cafés, pubs, and fish‑and‑chip shops around the Quay.
  • Tackle/bait: Bait and tackle available in Brixham and elsewhere in Torbay; check opening hours, especially off‑season.
  • Lighting: Harbour lighting aids evening sessions and squid; still bring a headtorch.
  • Phone signal: Generally good around the town and harbour.
  • Waste: Use bins provided; take all line and offcuts home.

Treat it like a sight‑fishing venue for mullet and a timing game for bass and squid. Little details make a big difference here.

  • Bread mash: A palm‑sized bag of liquidised bread, fed little and often, will hold mullet; avoid over‑feeding.
  • Stealth: Keep low and back from the edge—mullet spook at footfall and silhouettes.
  • Change of light: A 60–90 minute window around dusk often flips the switch for scad, garfish and squid.
  • Lure choice: Small, subtle lures out‑fish big metals inside the harbour; reserve heavier gear for the outer wall/Breakwater.
  • Drop net: Essential for safe landing and release from high walls—don’t handline fish up.
  • Seals and birds: Expect a nosy seal and plenty of gulls; keep your catch and bait covered.
  • Crowds/boats: Fish early or late to avoid traffic; never fish the fish‑quay/ferry berths if signage prohibits it.

Rules can change—always follow posted Harbour Authority instructions on the day. This area falls under Tor Bay Harbour Authority and the Devon & Severn IFCA for sea fisheries management.

  • Harbour byelaws: No fishing in designated no‑fishing zones, on or across fairways, or within prohibited distances of slipways/steps/berths; obey all signage and staff directions.
  • Working areas: The fish quay, ferry berths and certain pontoons are typically out of bounds to anglers.
  • Casting conduct: No feathering/full string sabikis where the public walk; keep casting under control.
  • Size/bag limits: National/regional MLS and daily limits apply (e.g., bass seasonal/bag rules). Check current MMO and Devon & Severn IFCA notices before your trip.
  • Squid/cuttle: No specific recreational limits locally, but respect other harbour users and keep decks clean.
  • Conservation: Consider releasing large mullet (slow‑growing) and use barbless hooks where practical.