Greencliff Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Greencliff Fishing Map

A rugged North Devon rock mark beneath the Greencliff/Abbotsham cliffs. You fish from low-tide rock platforms and boulder scars into kelp-filled gullies that drop into mixed rough with clean sand patches. It’s a classic summer–autumn venue for wrasse, pollack, bass, mackerel and garfish; after dark it can throw up conger and bull huss. Winter brings pouting and the odd rockling or codling in a big sea. Best with a flooding tide into dusk and a light to moderate swell with clear or clearing water. Access is via the SW Coast Path from the Greencliff (National Trust) parking area, then a 15–25 minute walk and a steep, sometimes slippery scramble to the ledges. Beware swell, surges and tide cut-off on springs; use strong tackle and rotten-bottom rigs. Cleated boots and a PFD are strongly advised.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Greencliff

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 9/10
🎯 Tip: Rough kelp/reef. Fish crab or hardback or rag close to rock ledges. Best May–Sep, mid–flood to high. Use strong gear, rotten-bottom to beat snags.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work weedless soft plastics or surface lures through surfy gullies on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk. After blow, fish peeler/crab baits. Summer–autumn.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Distance not needed; cast soft plastics or metal jigs along kelp edges at dusk on the flood. Long leaders/weedless hooks. Spring–autumn.
🐟 Bull Huss 7/10
🎯 Tip: Large fish/squid baits dropped into gullies after dark, 2 hrs either side of high on neap tides. 40–60lb trace, rotten-bottom. Year-round, best late spring–autumn.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small strips of mackerel/squid on size 2–4s at night, cast to scoured channels. Flood to first of ebb. Year-round, peak autumn/winter.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals on flood; metals or small feathers from higher rock points. Best evening into dusk on clear water. Watch swell.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small ragworm or prawn under a float tight to kelp. Flood to high, May–Sep. Keep baits moving to avoid snags.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night over rough ground; whole mackerel/squid on strong gear. Fish the last of the flood/high from secure rock platforms. Best summer–autumn.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small fish or squid baits onto cleaner patches at night, 2 hrs either side of high. Year-round; avoid heavy kelp to reduce snags.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float fish thin strips of mackerel or small sandeels mid-water on flooding evening tides in late spring–autumn; clear water helps.

Greencliff Fishing

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.