Grunta Beach Fishing

Summary

Grunta Beach is a small, west-facing cove tucked between Barricane Beach and the Morte Point headland on the north Devon coast. Sheltered from some winds yet open to Atlantic swell, it offers classic mixed-ground rock fishing with kelp-fringed gullies and pockets of clean sand. It’s a tidy, small-scale mark that rewards mobility, careful timing and finesse.

Location and Access

Set on the edge of Woolacombe and Mortehoe, Grunta is reached either from the village side at low water or via the coast path above the cove. Expect a short but uneven approach and plan your exit around the tide.

• Drive via the A361 to Woolacombe; park in the seafront car parks or along Marine Drive (pay-and-display; follow local signage from the B3343). For sat nav, use a central Woolacombe postcode (EX34 area) then follow signs to the seafront or Marine Drive rather than relying on a cliff-top destination.
• Foot access options:
  • From Woolacombe/Barricane: at lower tides you can pick your way across rocks north from Barricane into Grunta. Do not attempt on a flooding tide; you can be cut off.
  • From the coast path: signed paths lead from the Mortehoe/Morte Point section down to the cove via steep steps and worn earth tracks. This is the safer all-tide exit route.
• Walk time: 5–15 minutes from parking depending on your chosen car park and path. The last section is steep and can be slick after rain.
• Ground: rough, kelpy rock ledges and boulders with sandy patches in the cove. Casting room is limited at high water.

Seasons

Grunta fishes like a classic North Devon rock mark, with wrasse and pollack in summer and bass when there’s life in the surf. Expect small species for light lure tactics and the odd bigger surprise after dark.

• Spring (Apr–May):
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse as temps rise
  • Pollack in the deeper gullies
  • Early bass on mild, stirred days
  • Pouting and rockling on baits
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Wrasse (ballan dominant) among kelp
  • Pollack to lures and float-fished sandeel
  • Bass on a push of tide and light surf
  • Mackerel and garfish on calm evenings
  • Scad at dusk, occasional mullet in the backwash
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass time on building seas
  • Pollack remain good; bigger fish at dusk
  • Bull huss and conger after dark
  • Last of the mackerel/garfish runs
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Conger eel and bull huss on bigger baits after dark
  • Whiting and pouting on smaller baits
  • Occasional codling in rough, cold snaps (rare)
• Occasional visitors: thick-lipped mullet in calm spells; small-eyed ray are more a feature of the adjacent beaches rather than this rough cove.

Methods

Compact, snag-resistant approaches shine here. Travel light, move between ledges, and fish with tackle you can afford to lose.

• Lures:
  • Soft plastics (weedless paddletails 10–20 g) for bass and pollack; work the edges and gullies on a flooding tide.
  • Metals and casting jigs for mackerel/scad on calm, clear evenings; switch to smaller profiles at dusk.
• Float fishing:
  • Set 8–15 ft for pollack/wrasse over kelp. Baits: ragworm, prawn, sandeel or small strips of mackerel.
  • Use a sliding float, 20–25 lb fluorocarbon trace, size 1–2/0 hooks.
• Bottom fishing (rough ground):
  • Pulley or pulley dropper with a weak-link/rotten-bottom to the lead. 30–50 lb mono leaders; 20–30 lb mainline (braid if you prefer feel, with a rubbing leader).
  • Baits: peeler crab, squid, cut mackerel, sandeel. Big cocktail baits after dark for huss/conger.
• Light lure/LRF:
  • Tiny jigheads and creature baits will find corkwing, small pollack and scorpionfish in daylight; ideal for kids and short sessions.
• Timing:
  • Dawn and dusk are prime. Bass feed best with movement in the water; wrasse and pollack are reliable through the flood in moderate swell.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and sea state call the shots here. Aim for movement without dangerous swell, and use the flooding tide to bring fish tight to the rocks.

• Tides:
  • Flooding tide is generally best; last two hours of the flood into high water push fish into the cove edges.
  • Early ebb can still fish but expect snags as lines drop into kelp.
  • Springs open more ground at low but increase surge; neaps are kinder for float and LRF.
• Conditions:
  • Bass: a moderate W–NW swell with some colour in the water, overcast skies, and onshore breeze.
  • Wrasse/pollack: clearer water with a light swell; too much white water shuts wrasse down.
  • Calm, clear evenings bring mackerel/garfish and scad to lures.
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn/dusk year-round; summer evenings for surface life; autumn lows with building swell for bass.

Safety

This is a rough-ground, small cove with steep approaches and serious surge on big Atlantic swells. Treat it with respect and always have a retreat plan.

• Slippery weeded rock, uneven boulders and steep steps: sturdy footwear and hands-free headtorch essential.
• Cut-off risk if you enter from Barricane at low tide; only do so with a falling tide and leave ample time to return, or use the cliff path/steps so you have an all-tide exit.
• Atlantic surge and rogue waves around Morte Point: avoid ledges close to the water on big swells; keep well back at high water.
• Use a lifejacket when rock fishing and fish with a partner where possible.
• Snaggy ground: employ weak-link leads and keep rod tips high to steer fish over kelp.
• Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs; the final approach is steep and can be muddy.
• Seals frequent the headland; give them space and move if they’re working the cove.
• Mobile signal is usually good on the cliff, patchier down in the cove.

Facilities

Grunta itself has no facilities; plan to be self-sufficient and use village amenities before you descend.

• Public toilets, cafés and shops in Woolacombe (seafront and village centre); seasonal hut at Barricane operates in summer.
• Pay-and-display parking on the Esplanade and along Marine Drive; seasonal charges apply.
• Nearest full tackle shops are in Ilfracombe and Braunton; limited seasonal bait in Woolacombe at times.
• No lighting on paths; bring a headtorch if fishing dawn/dusk or after dark.

Tips

Treat Grunta as a series of micro-marks. Ten yards can be the difference between blanks and bites.

• Prospect first: at lower water, map the gullies and kelp lines you’ll fish on the flood; note safe perches with a clean lift for netting/landing.
• Weedless soft plastics save gear and catch fish; add a belly-weighted hook to cut through crosswinds.
• For wrasse, fresh peeler crab outfishes most; failing that, prawn or rag tipped with a sliver of squid stays on better.
• Run a short fluorocarbon rubbing leader even with braid; pollack and kelp are unforgiving.
• If seals show repeatedly, move marks rather than wait it out.
• After dark, scale up hooks (3/0–5/0) and use a proper weak-link to the lead; huss and conger will find big, static baits.
• Summer evenings can be busy with swimmers; keep casts controlled and communicate with water users.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted here; no local permit is required. National and regional rules still apply, and they change—check the latest guidance before your trip.

• European seabass (recreational): in 2024 the open retention period was Mar–Nov inclusive with a daily bag limit of two fish at a minimum size of 42 cm; outside that, catch-and-release only. Regulations are reviewed annually—confirm current rules with the UK government/MMO before retaining bass.
• Minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) apply to many species (e.g., bass 42 cm). If in doubt, release fish.
• Devon and Severn IFCA byelaws apply along this coast. Rod-and-line anglers are generally unaffected by netting permits, but be aware of restrictions on the removal of shellfish and berried crabs/lobsters (illegal to take berried lobsters or crawfish; MLS applies to crustaceans).
• Some cliff sections are National Trust land; respect access signage, bird nesting exclusions, and no-collecting notices (especially at Barricane’s shell beach).
• No bait collection in SSSIs where prohibited; elsewhere follow sustainable practices and local codes of conduct.
• Beach and access bylaws (dogs, fires, drones) are enforced seasonally in Woolacombe—check current notices and fish considerately around bathers and surfers.