Summary
Greencliff sits between Abbotsham and Westward Ho! on North Devon’s rugged Bideford Bay, where tilted rock ledges and kelp-filled gullies meet sand patches. It’s a classic rough-ground mark for bass, wrasse and huss, with atmospheric sunsets and big Bristol Channel tides that switch the venue on and off in minutes.
Location and Access
Overview: Access is via the South West Coast Path with options from Abbotsham or Westward Ho!. Expect a steep field path and a cobble/rock shoreline; plan your load and footwear accordingly.
- Approach from Abbotsham: follow Greencliff Lane to the coast path; very limited roadside spaces—do not block gates or tracks (nearest village postcode: EX39 5AP). Obey any local parking signs.
- Approach from Westward Ho!: use seafront or Kipling Tors car parks (around EX39 1HN) and walk the coast path west 20–35 minutes to Greencliff.
- Terrain: steep grassy descent that can be muddy, then a storm pebble ridge and extensive, weeded rock platforms with gullies; not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- Footing: rock is glassy when wet or algal; studded boots or rock boots strongly recommended.
- Night access: feasible for experienced anglers but navigation is tricky—recce in daylight first.
Seasons
What you can expect: Greencliff is primarily a rough-ground venue. Bass headline the warmer months; wrasse and pollack add sport in daylight, with huss and conger after dark.
- Spring (Apr–May): school and early bass, pollack, wrasse starting, rockling; spider crabs arrive and peelers become prime bait.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (including better fish at dusk), wrasse, pollack, garfish, mackerel shoals on calm evenings, smoothhound on peeler, dogfish; occasional bull huss.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass months, wrasse to first frosts, bigger pollack at dusk, bull huss, conger at night; odd codling possible after heavy blows but not reliable.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): conger, bull huss, rockling, dogfish; whiting if you can reach nearby sand patches on the right tide; codling remain occasional bonuses.
Methods
How to fish it: Think snag-resistant tactics close to structure on a flooding tide, with mobile lure work in calmer water and beefed-up bottom gear for the rough stuff.
- Lure fishing for bass: weedless soft plastics (4–6 in) on weighted belly hooks; surface walkers and shallow divers over the flooding tide, especially at dawn/dusk in a light onshore ripple.
- Float fishing: ragworm or crab for wrasse tight to kelp edges; sandeel or strips of mackerel for pollack along the drop-offs at dusk.
- Bottom fishing: pulley/pulley pennel (rotten-bottom link) with 4–5 oz leads; 30–50 lb leader; big mackerel, squid or bluey for huss/conger after dark; peeler crab or fresh lug/sandeel for bass over sandy tongues between ledges.
- Smoothhound tactics (summer): peeler crab on a 3/0–4/0 strong hook, 20–30 lb snood, fish into slightly cleaner ground on the first half of the flood.
- Distance vs accuracy: long casts are less important than placing baits in gullies/edges; move frequently until you find fish.
- Terminal tweaks: always use a weak-link (sacrificial) weight clip; consider single-hook rigs and short snoods to reduce snagging.
Tides and Conditions
When it fishes: The Bristol Channel’s range and residual swell dictate everything. Aim for a manageable swell with some colour and fish the flood.
- Best tide: mid to large floods; 2 hours before to 1 hour after high water is prime for bass. Neaps can be excellent for lures thanks to reduced weed.
- Sea state: a light onshore push with fizz and 1–3 ft swell puts bass on the ledges; too much swell and it becomes unfishable and unsafe.
- Water clarity: a slight tea-stain colour is ideal. Gin-clear suits wrasse and lure pollack; chocolate brown limits success.
- Time of day: dawn and dusk shine for bass and pollack; wrasse prefer daylight with some movement; huss and conger peak after dark.
- Wind: W–NW can create swell; E/SE gives calmer surfaces for lures but can be very clear—downsize and go subtle.
Safety
Hazards to respect: This is a committing rough-ground venue with fast tides, slippery rock and real cut-off potential. Treat it like a low-tide reef.
- Slippery ledges and kelp: wear studs/felts and move deliberately; avoid green, glassy patches.
- Tidal cut-off: study the reef layout at low water; do not fish gullies that flood behind you—always leave an escape route.
- Swell and surges: rogue waves can sweep platforms; keep back from edges and never turn your back on the sea.
- Cliffs and falls: avoid standing beneath crumbly faces; do not descend unofficial scrambles.
- Night fishing: only for experienced parties with headtorches and backups; mark exits; carry a charged phone and consider a PFD.
- Weather and signal: phone coverage can be patchy; tell someone your plan and check a reliable local tide table for Bideford Bay.
- Livestock and access: keep dogs on leads, leave gates as found, and stick to signed public rights of way.
Facilities
What’s nearby: The mark itself is wild with no amenities on the shore. Plan to be self-sufficient.
- Parking: limited roadside near Greencliff lane end (respect residents) or formal car parks at Westward Ho! (around EX39 1HN).
- Toilets and food: public facilities, cafés and takeaways in Westward Ho!; The Thatched Inn at Abbotsham for food/drink (EX39 5AP area).
- Tackle and bait: Summerlands Tackle in Westward Ho! stocks bait, lures and rough-ground gear.
- Mobile signal: intermittent by the water; generally better up on the coast path.
- Water and shelter: none on site; bring water, warm layers and a dry bag.
Tips
Hard-won lessons: Greencliff rewards tidy, mobile fishing and punishes laziness. Travel light, read the water, and expect to lose some gear.
- Use a rotten-bottom every cast; carry pre-tied rigs and spare leads.
- After a blow, give it 24–48 hours for the colour to fine down—bass love the residual fizz.
- Work the flood: start on the outer edges at low, then step back as the water climbs, re-finding ambush points each session.
- May rot/weed: expect suspended weed on big spring floods—switch to weedless lures or fish baits in clearer side gullies.
- Wrasse etiquette: release big females; small, barbless or crushed barbs make unhooking easier around kelp.
- Visual cues: any bird fuss over bait shoals can herald a brief mackerel/garfish window—keep a small metal ready.
- Quiet counts: keep footsteps light on shallow ledges; bass in skinny water spook easily.
Regulations
Know the rules: This coastline falls within the Devon and Severn IFCA district. Shore angling is permitted, but specific protections and seasons apply and can change.
- European seabass: regulations are reviewed annually. As of 2024 guidance, minimum size 42 cm with a restricted open season and daily bag limit; check the latest DEFRA/IFCA notice before retaining any bass.
- IFCA byelaws: hand-gathering, bait digging and crustacean conservation byelaws apply; do not take berried or undersized crabs/lobsters and follow any local restrictions on gathering.
- Protected sites: much of the coast is within AONB/SSSI designations—angling from the shore is allowed, but do not hammer rocks for bait or damage geology or wildlife.
- General: take only what you’ll eat, use a fish-measure, and dispose of line/lead responsibly. If in doubt, practice catch and release and check Devon and Severn IFCA for current rules.
