Summary
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.
Location and Access
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.
Seasons
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.
Methods
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.
Tides and Conditions
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.
Safety
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.
Facilities
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.
Tips
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.
Regulations
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.
