Summary
Goodrington Sands sits between Paignton and Broadsands on the sheltered curve of Tor Bay, offering a wide, gently shelving sandy beach with rocky ground at both ends. It’s an easy, comfortable venue that fishes best early and late or after dark, with flatties and rays over the sand and wrasse, pollack and bass from the adjacent rocks. In summer it’s busy with bathers and watersports, so treat it as an evening and winter mark for the most relaxed sessions.
Location and Access
Getting there is straightforward, and access is among the easiest on the South Devon coast. Parking, amenities and level paths make the main beach convenient, while the rock fringes require a short scramble.
- Location: South side of Paignton within Tor Bay; follow signs for Goodrington from the A3022 (Brixham Road) and Dartmouth Road.
- Parking: Large pay-and-display at Youngs Park by Splashdown Quaywest (postcode TQ4 6LN); additional parking above the beach around Cliff Park Road (arrive early on busy days).
- Public transport: Regular buses along Dartmouth Road; Paignton railway station is about a 20–25 minute walk.
- Approach: Level promenade and ramps to the sand; short, uneven paths to rocky platforms at the north (towards Roundham Head/Fairy Cove) and south (towards Saltern Cove).
- Terrain: Clean, gently shelving sand in the centre; mixed and rocky ground at both ends; a small stream outfall crosses the beach near Youngs Park.
Seasons
A mixed venue with classic sandy-beach species plus rock-mark regulars. Expect different fishing depending on whether you target the central sand or the rough ends.
- Spring (Mar–May): Plaice, dab, school bass, garfish; wrasse and pollack reappear on the rocks; occasional smoothhound.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (especially after a blow), garfish, mackerel and scad at dawn/dusk, golden grey mullet in calm periods, wrasse, pollack; dogfish common; chance of thornback or small-eyed ray after dark.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass at their best with some colour; rays, gurnard over sand; mackerel/scad linger into October; pout and whiting start showing.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pouting, dab, the odd sole on milder nights; small conger from the rocks; bass possible in rough, coloured water after storms.
- Occasional: Smoothhound (summer), turbot/brill (rare), black bream on mixed ground in settled, clear spells, small tope pup at range in late summer.
Methods
Match your approach to the ground: light scratching over clean sand, stronger tackle for the rough. Short evening sessions on the flood are especially productive.
- Beach ledgering (sand): 2-hook flapper or 1-up/1-down with size 2–1 hooks; long snoods and a few coloured beads/spoons for plaice. Baits: ragworm, lugworm, rag/squid tip, mussel; sandeel for rays/bass.
- Distance work (rays/bass): Clip-down pulley or pulley pennel with 3–5 oz grip lead; sandeel, bluey, squid or squid/sandeel wraps; peeler or soft crab for bass over the fringes.
- Rock marks: Float-fish rag/crab for wrasse; small metals/soft plastics for pollack and garfish at dusk; freelined bread flake or small baits for mullet in calm water around the outflow.
- Night tactics: Scale down for whiting/dab/sole on small hooks and delicate bites; step up to a pulley for a ray rod set further out.
- Lure fishing: Dawn/dusk surface and sub-surface lures for bass along the gutters; 10–20 g metals for mackerel/scad when they’re in.
- Tackle notes: 12–13 ft surf rods and 5000–6500 reels for beach work; shorter 9–10 ft lure rods around the rocks; 20–30 lb leader on lures near rough ground; 60 lb shock leader for 5 oz leads.
Tides and Conditions
The beach fishes reliably on the flood and into the first of the ebb, with dusk and darkness key in summer. Small surf or coloured water often kick-starts the bass and ray fishing.
- Best tide: Mid-flood to high and the first hour of ebb; springs help for rays and bass pushes; neaps favour scratching for plaice/sole.
- Conditions: A light onshore (E/SE) ripple adds colour and oxygen for bass; very clear, flat water suits garfish, mackerel and wrasse.
- Time of day: Dawn for mackerel/garfish; dusk into night for bass, rays, whiting and soles.
- Watercraft: Target gutters and darker seams on the flood; fish just beyond the first bar at medium range for flatties; cast to the sand–rock edge at either end for bass.
- After rain: The stream mouth can draw baitfish and bass—fish it on the first of the flood as colour spreads along the shore.
Safety
This is a family beach first and foremost—keep clear of bathers and watercraft and plan rock sessions with the tide in mind. In season the RNLI lifeguards operate swimming zones where fishing is not permitted.
- Do not fish between the red/yellow bathing flags or near launched craft; choose quiet corners or fish outside lifeguard hours.
- Rocks at both ends are slippery with weed; use studded footwear and a personal flotation device if fishing off the ledges.
- Tide awareness: Sections of the rocky fringes can be cut off—identify exit routes and avoid setting up low on a big flood.
- Ledges and mixed ground can be snaggy; use weaker links on leads.
- Accessibility: Ramps and level promenades suit trolleys and mobility aids to the sand; the rock marks are not suitable for limited mobility.
- General: Headtorch, spare light and warm layers recommended for night sessions; keep clear of the stream in spate after heavy rain.
Facilities
Goodrington is well served for amenities, making it ideal for comfortable sessions with family in tow. Most facilities are seasonal but extensive in summer.
- Toilets: Public toilets near Youngs Park/Quaywest (seasonal opening hours).
- Food and drink: Cafés, kiosks and pubs around Youngs Park and the promenade (open most of the year, peak in summer).
- Parking: Large pay-and-display at TQ4 6LN beside Splashdown Quaywest; additional car parks/roadside bays above the beach.
- Tackle/bait: Tackle shops in Paignton and Torquay for bait and gear (check opening times, especially off-season).
- Connectivity: Generally strong mobile signal; promenade lighting in places but bring a headtorch for the beach.
- Extras: RNLI lifeguards usually operate in peak season; paddle-craft and watersports hire present—another reason to fish evenings.
Tips
A few local wrinkles help turn picky sessions into productive ones. Small refinements and positioning matter on this gently shelving beach.
- Plaice love movement: add a small spoon or beads to a long-trace flapper and keep the lead just light enough to creep.
- Target the stream mouth on the push with sandeel or crab for schoolies—and a bigger bass after rough weather.
- For rays, fish 1–2 hours either side of high on springs with whole sandeel or squid/sandeel wraps; use a pulley pennel and let the rod fish.
- Work the sand–rock edge at the south end with soft plastics at dusk for pollack and bonus bass.
- Use 4–5 oz grip leads—too heavy and you bury in soft sand; too light and you’ll trundle through other lines on a busy beach.
- Night “two-rod” approach: one light scratching rig close in for soles/whiting, one heavier ray/bass outfit cast longer.
- After prolonged calm, scale down to smaller hooks and thinner snoods; in colour, step up baits (squid/crab) and present a bigger scent trail.
Regulations
Know the local rules and national sea angling regulations before you set up. Rules change, so check authoritative sources before your trip.
- Bathing zones: Do not fish within RNLI red/yellow-flagged swimming areas or where local signage prohibits angling (typically daytime in peak season). Comply with any requests from lifeguards or council officers.
- Bass (recreational) 2024: Minimum size 42 cm; 2 fish per angler per day from 1 March–30 November; catch-and-release only in December–February. Always verify current rules on GOV.UK as they can change annually.
- Minimum sizes: Devon & Severn IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes apply to many species (e.g., wrasse, rays, flatfish, etc.). Measure your fish and return any undersized specimens—see the D&S IFCA website for the current list.
- Protected areas/species: If any local conservation designations or seasonal restrictions are signposted on-site (e.g., around rock pools or nature reserve sections), follow them and avoid turning rocks or disturbing features.
- General: No licence is required for sea angling from the shore in England; dispose of line and litter responsibly and avoid obstructing access or emergency vehicles.
