Hartland Quay Fishing

Summary

Hartland Quay sits on a rugged, high-energy stretch of North Devon’s Atlantic coast, a dramatic, folded-rock headland that screams wild shore fishing. It rewards confident rock anglers with bass, wrasse, pollack (often catch-and-release), bull huss and conger in powerful seas. It’s not a beginner’s venue, but on the right day it’s one of the most exciting rough-ground marks in the South West.

Location and Access

Set on the Hartland peninsula south of Hartland Point, the quay is reached down a steep private road to the hotel and car park (satnav: EX39 6DU). Access to the fishing is via boulder fields and kelp-covered rock platforms either side of the small cove.

• Approach from the A39, then follow signs to Hartland village and on to Hartland Quay; narrow lanes for the final miles.
• Paid parking at the Hartland Quay Hotel car park; seasonal attendants and charges apply.
• The tarmac road down is steep; the final approach to marks is a rock scramble with uneven, slippery ground.
• Most anglers fish the ledges north and south of the cove; some platforms get swamped in swell and/or cut off by the tide—recon at low water first.
• Access is on private estate land that is generally permissive; obey any estate signage or temporary closures in storms.

Seasons

This is a classic rough-ground venue with seasonal variety. Expect hard-fighting rock species and opportunist predators in lively water.

• Spring (Apr–Jun):
  • Bass; first wrasse; pollack (often C&R); early garfish; first mackerel in late spring.
• Summer (Jul–Sep):
  • Ballan and cuckoo wrasse; bass; pollack (often C&R); mackerel; scad; garfish; occasional triggerfish in warm spells.
• Autumn (Oct–Nov):
  • Bass; pollack (often C&R); bull huss; conger; late mackerel/scad on mild evenings; very occasional codling.
• Winter (Dec–Mar):
  • Bull huss; conger; pout; rockling; odd whiting; rare codling on a northerly blow with coloured water.

Methods

Rough-ground tactics dominate. Think abrasion resistance, strong leaders and rigs that minimise snagging.

• Lure fishing:
  • Weedless soft plastics (15–30 g heads) and paddletails for bass/pollack; surface lures at dawn/dusk over foamy gullies.
  • Metals (20–40 g) when mackerel/scad show; long casts along the line of kelp beds and ledges.
  • Use 20–30 lb braid with 40–60 lb fluorocarbon/mono leader for abrasion resistance.
• Float fishing:
  • Rag, crab, prawn or strips of sandeel/mackerel for wrasse, pollack (often C&R) and garfish.
  • Set the float to fish 1–3 m down along rock faces and drop-offs.
• Bottom fishing (ledger):
  • Pulley pennel or up-and-over with a weak-link/rotten-bottom to save leads; 4/0–6/0 hooks for huss/conger, size 1–2/0 for mixed fish.
  • Best baits: peeler crab, whole sandeel, large mackerel or squid baits after dark; crab/worm cocktails for mixed bags.
• Timing:
  • Dawn/dusk for bass and lure work; into darkness for huss and conger.
  • Float/soft plastics shine on neap tides with manageable swell and decent visibility.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and swell call the shots here. Pick windows with safe swell and workable water clarity.

• Tide states:
  • Often best from mid-flood to high and the first 2–3 hours of the ebb; some wrasse spots fish well around low, working the gullies.
• Sea conditions:
  • Light to moderate swell with a bit of fizz for bass; greener/clear water for wrasse and pollack.
  • Long-period W–NW groundswell is dangerous even at modest heights—avoid.
• Wind:
  • Offshore or light E/SE winds give cleaner water and safer surfaces; strong W/NW winds quickly make it unfishable.
• Seasonality:
  • May–October is prime for lures and float; late autumn/winter better for big baits after dark if conditions allow.

Safety

This is a serious rock mark on a very exposed coast. Treat it with utmost respect and don’t fish it in marginal swell.

• Footing and waves:
  • Slippery, weeded rocks; sudden surges and rogue waves. Never turn your back to the sea.
• Cut-off risk:
  • Some ledges and boulder routes are tide-sensitive—plan exit routes and time your session.
• Gear and PPE:
  • Wear a modern inflatable lifejacket, studded boots/cleats, helmet if you have one, and carry a throw line. Headtorch with spare batteries for any dusk/night session.
• Swell checks:
  • Check multiple forecasts and the swell period; long-period swell (e.g., 12–16 s) is especially hazardous here.
• Companions and comms:
  • Do not fish alone; mobile signal is patchy—tell someone your plan and ETA. VHF handheld adds a layer of safety.
• Accessibility:
  • Not suitable for limited mobility. Steep road down, then scrambling over uneven rocks. Children and dogs are not advised on the ledges.
• Restrictions:
  • Estate may restrict lower access in severe weather—observe any closures or warning signs.

Facilities

You’re fishing beside a small hotel complex in a wild location; services are limited outside peak season.

• Parking: Pay-and-display by Hartland Quay Hotel; limited spaces in peak season—arrive early.
• Toilets: Usually available near the hotel during daytime/seasonal hours; may be closed off-season.
• Food/drink: Hotel bar and seasonal café options when open; carry water and snacks outside opening times.
• Tackle/bait: No tackle shop on site. Nearest options are in Bideford/Westward Ho! to the east and Bude to the south-west—buy bait before you travel.
• Phone signal: Intermittent in the cove and on ledges; generally better higher up the road.
• Lighting/lifeguards: No artificial lighting and no lifeguard cover.

Tips

Hartland Quay has quirks that regulars work with rather than fight. Little tweaks save end tackle and put more fish on the rocks.

• Use a weak-link/rotten-bottom (10–20 lb mono) below your sinker to lose the lead, not the rig, when snagged.
• A 50–60 lb mono leader resists kelp and slate edges; keep it long enough to have knots outside the tip when playing fish near rocks.
• For wrasse, fresh crab and prawns outfish most baits; strike firmly and bully them up before they bury you.
• Work lures across tide lines and the edges of white water; bass often sit in the seams between foam and clearer water.
• Carry spare leads and a long-handled glove or rock gaff for safe landings; time lifts with the surge and avoid kneeling near edges.
• Seals patrol the area—expect the odd ‘tax’ on hooked fish; move marks if one becomes persistent.
• Summer evenings can see mackerel/scad push bait tight to the rocks—keep a small metal or sabiki to hand, but avoid feathering in big swell.
• Parking fills fast on sunny weekends; a dawn start beats both the crowds and the wind.

Regulations

Rules change—always check current national and local byelaws before you go. The mark lies within the Devon and Severn IFCA district and within the Hartland Point to Tintagel MCZ.

• Bass (England, ICES area 7):
  • As last widely published (2024): 2 fish per angler per day allowed 1 March–30 November; catch-and-release only December–February; minimum size 42 cm. Verify latest rules before retaining any bass.
• Pollack:
  • In 2024, recreational retention was prohibited (catch-and-release only) due to stock concerns. Check the current position for 2025+ before keeping pollack.
• MCZ/MPA:
  • Hook-and-line shore angling is generally permitted in the Hartland Point to Tintagel MCZ, but certain damaging methods are restricted. Do not collect from living rock features or disturb protected habitats.
• Local byelaws:
  • Devon & Severn IFCA size limits and bait/netting byelaws apply; see the IFCA website for up-to-date details.
• Protected species and good practice:
  • Return wrasse in good condition (popular conservation practice here). Handle all fish with wet hands and avoid dragging over barnacles.
• Private estate:
  • Observe any estate signage regarding access hours, parking, and storm closures; no fires or camping on the rocks.
• Licensing:
  • No licence needed for sea angling in England (except migratory salmonids in freshwater/estuarine limits). Check any estuary-specific rules if you move to sheltered marks nearby.