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Devon

Hartland Point

6.5 · Rocks · Devon

Hartland Point is an exposed Atlantic headland of rugged rock ledges with deep, tidally swept water tight to the shore. It’s a classic rough-ground mark: prolific for summer lure fishing and night bait sessions, but demanding in terms of access and safety. Expect strong tides, heavy kelp and snags, ocean swell, and long casts into fast water. Best results are at dawn/dusk or after dark on neap tides and settled westerlies. Wear a lifejacket, avoid big swells, and use rotten-bottom rigs for bait fishing.

Should you fish Hartland Point?

57 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.

NW 4 mph Rain 19% High tide 11:28

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Hartland Point — 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.

Wednesday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Hartland Point is a high-reward, high-consequence rock mark: deep water, hard tide, kelp, snags and Atlantic swell tight to the ledges. It is strongest when you match the method to the sea state — mobile lure fishing in clear, settled conditions; heavy rotten-bottom bait tactics after dark or when there is slight colour. Neap to moderate tides, dawn/dusk, and carefully chosen swell windows are the key decision points.

  • Know when Hartland Point is worth the walk — and when to leave it alone.
  • Pick the right window: neap tide, safe swell and the key high-water spell.
  • Target kelp edges, gullies and eddies instead of wasting casts in the main race.
  • Switch between lures, floats and rotten-bottom bait rigs based on water clarity and light.
  • Plan a safer backup before the Point becomes unfishable.

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

Hartland 2.8 mi Woolfardisworthy 7.5 mi Buck's Cross 7.8 mi Kilkhampton 10.3 mi Bradworthy 10.3 mi

Explore nearby towns: Hartland · Woolfardisworthy · Buck's Cross · Kilkhampton · Bradworthy

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.5 /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 3/10
Accessibility 3/10

Pollack 9/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or metal jigs along kelp edges from ledges on the flood, best at dawn/dusk; 20–40g; keep lures deep. Summer–autumn.
Bass 8/10
Tip: Rough seas and flooding tide; fish big baits (peeler crab/sandeel) into gullies or surface/sub-surface lures in the wash at first/last light. Late spring–autumn.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float-fish or ledger crab/worm into kelpy gullies 1–2 hrs either side of high on neap–mid tides; avoid slack water; summer–early autumn.
Bull Huss 7/10
Tip: Night ledger big mackerel/squid baits onto rough ground; clip down and use 80lb trace; fish first of the flood through mid-tide. Year-round with peaks spring/autumn.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals on flooding tides; chuck metals/feathers from the point when water clears; evenings best.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Dusk/night over rough ground with small fish baits or rag on flapper rigs; fish the flood. Year-round.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark, whole mackerel/squid on 150lb trace dropped into deep gullies; fish neaps or slackening tides to reduce snags. Best late spring–autumn.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; clear water; float a small strip of mackerel 3–6 ft under a float on the flood; try edges of tide race.
Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
Tip: Winter nights; small strips of fish or rag dropped into holes at your feet on light rigs during neaps.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
Tip: Small fish or worm baits on the bottom at night; target slacker water over patches of sand/gravel between rock fingers. Year-round.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Summer nights; small metals or sabikis worked mid-water in the tide run; best on the first of the flood.
Tompot Blenny 4/10
Tip: LRF tactics with tiny hooks/isome close to weeded ledges; fish the flood for movement; summer.

Local knowledge

Hartland Point fishing guide

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

Hartland Point is a dramatic, tide-scoured headland on North Devon’s Atlantic coast, a short hop north of Hartland Quay. Deep water meets savage tide rips here, producing powerful currents, fast-moving bait, and quality predators. It’s a rewarding but uncompromising rock mark best suited to experienced, well-equipped anglers.

Hartland Point sits at the far northwest corner of Devon, reached via narrow lanes from Hartland village. Access arrangements to the private road and car park by the Point can change, and sections may be closed due to landslips or estate operations, so check locally and obey all signage.

  • Drive via the A39 to Hartland, then follow signs for Hartland Quay or Hartland Point; roads are narrow with passing places.
  • Reliable parking is at Hartland Quay (EX39 6DU), with a steep section of the South West Coast Path leading north towards the Point; allow 45–90 minutes on rugged terrain.
  • When open, a private road leads to a seasonal pay-and-display near the Point, reducing the walk to 10–20 minutes on the coast path; opening hours and gates vary.
  • Reaching actual fishing ledges typically involves steep, uneven paths, kelp-covered rock, and occasionally hands-on scrambling; some ledges are only for very fit, experienced rock anglers.
  • Terrain is hard slates and tilted strata with deep gullies, barnacles, and boulders; grippy boots and minimal loads are essential.

This is a classic rough-ground, predator-friendly venue with seasonal variety. Expect lure fishing for pollack and bass in clear water, with big nocturnal eels and huss in the rough.

  • Spring (Apr–May): Pollack, early bass, ballan and corkwing wrasse; first mackerel shoals in late spring; occasional garfish in calmer spells.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Mackerel, garfish, pollack, bass, wrasse, bull huss; conger after dark; occasional scad. Rare but possible: triggerfish in hot spells.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass time in onshore blows, better stamp of pollack, fewer but larger mackerel, wrasse until the first cold snaps; huss and conger continue.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Huss, conger, pout, rockling; the odd codling or spurdog is possible but uncommon from the shore here.
  • Offshore visitors: Porpoise and the odd tuna or sunfish sighting in late summer indicate bait, but these are not shore targets.

Hartland Point rewards mobile lure fishing in clear seas and heavy-duty bottom tactics in low light or coloured water. Keep rigs simple and abrasion-resistant.

  • Lures: 20–60 g metals, casting jigs, and slim minnows for mackerel, pollack, and gar; 20–40 g weedless soft plastics (paddle or eel profiles) for bass and pollack along kelp lines and structure.
  • Float fishing: 12–18 ft below a sliding float with sandeel or mackerel strip for pollack; crab or prawn for wrasse tight to the rock face.
  • Bottom fishing: Strong gear with a 60–80 lb rubbing leader; pulley pennel (4/0–6/0) or pulley dropper with 125–170 g leads on a weak rotten-bottom link. Big squid, mackerel flapper, bluey, or sandeel for bass/huss; whole squid or half mackerel for conger after dark.
  • Traces: For conger use 100 lb mono or coated wire to a 6/0–8/0 pattern; for bass/pollack on lures, 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader is ample but add a short 40–60 lb abrasion section near the lure.
  • Presentation: Work lures downtide along edges and into eddies; avoid long bottom casts that only find snags—most bites are surprisingly close in.
  • Landing: High ledges demand a drop-net and teamwork; do not gaff protected or intended-for-release fish.

The race off the Point is fierce. Fish neap to moderate tides and pick your wind and swell carefully; big spring tides and long-period swells make many spots unsafe or unfishable.

  • Tide size: Neaps to mid-tides are prime; springs create brutal cross-runs that rip gear away and magnify swell.
  • Tide stage: Two hours up to high and the first hour down are productive on many ledges; work eddies on the turn. Some wrasse spots fish better mid-flood.
  • Sea state: Clear, settled water suits lures for pollack and mackerel; a slight colour and onshore push can switch on bass, but too much swell is dangerous.
  • Wind: Easterly to southeasterly winds flatten the sea; westerly and northwesterly generate swell and backwash on the rock faces—often a session killer.
  • Light: Dawn and dusk are standout for lures; full darkness brings huss and conger. Overcast days extend lure windows.

This is an extremely hazardous rock mark with serious exposure, slick weed, long drops, and sudden ground swell. It is not suitable for beginners or for anyone with mobility issues.

  • Always wear a modern auto-inflating lifejacket and grippy boots with studs or cleats; a helmet and gloves are sensible on the ledges.
  • Never fish alone; tell someone your exact plan and return time. Take two headtorches and spare batteries for any dusk/night session.
  • Check tide times, swell height, and period. Avoid long-period groundswell even when the sea looks calm—surge rebounds violently off these cliffs.
  • Some approaches involve steep scrambles; use ropes only if you are competent and the descent route is well known to you. Do not invent new paths or cut fences.
  • Beware rockfalls, especially after heavy rain or freeze-thaw; keep clear of cliff bases and hanging strata.
  • Mobile signal is patchy; carry a charged phone and call 999 and ask for the Coastguard in an emergency.
  • Sections of paths, gates, or the private road may be closed without notice for safety—if it’s taped or signed, do not proceed.

There are no facilities at the fishing spots themselves. Plan to be self-sufficient and pack out all litter.

  • Parking: Hartland Quay car park (EX39 6DU) is the most reliable; private Hartland Point parking is seasonal when open.
  • Toilets/refreshments: Available at Hartland Quay Hotel when open; pubs, shops, and fuel in Hartland village.
  • Tackle/bait: Head to Bude, Bideford, Appledore, or Barnstaple for tackle shops and fresh/frozen bait; limited or none on-site.
  • Phone signal: Intermittent; assume black spots around the cliffs.
  • No lighting, water, or shelter at marks—carry everything you need.

Think abrasion-proof and snag-smart. Keep moving until you find tide and bait, and fish short rather than blasting into the rough.

  • Use weedless soft plastics and keep retrieves slow and controlled along kelp edges; many pollack hit on the drop.
  • Add a weak snood or clip to your lead (rotten-bottom) to save rigs in the inevitable hang-ups.
  • For bass in lift and colour, try a large sandeel or whole squid on a pulley pennel, cast only as far as needed to find the first clean run beyond the weed line.
  • Carry a drop-net and plan a safe landing spot before you cast; some ledges give you no landing options at all.
  • Watch for bird activity and surface rip lines; the eddy lines off the Point often hold mackerel that draw in bass and pollack.
  • Access and parking arrangements change—ask at Hartland Quay for the latest on closures and sea state before committing to a long walk.

There is no general ban on angling here, but it crosses private land and sensitive cliffs—follow estate signage and the Coast Path waymarking. No sea angling licence is required in England.

  • Marine protected areas: This coastline lies within the Bideford to Foreland Point MCZ. Recreational angling is permitted, but avoid damaging intertidal habitats and leave no trace.
  • European seabass: Check current MMO/DEFRA rules before you go. As of 2024, recreational anglers in ICES area 7 may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day from 1 March–30 November (minimum size 42 cm); catch-and-release only outside those dates.
  • Tope: Under the Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 it is illegal to land tope caught from a boat in England. Shore-caught tope should be treated as catch-and-release; never sell or retain tope.
  • Minimum sizes: Follow recommended minimum sizes and local IFCA guidance for conservation; release large wrasse and any protected species immediately and unharmed.
  • Access: Parts of the private road or paths can be closed due to rockfall or estate work; parking gates may be locked at set times—check locally and do not bypass barriers.