Holcombe Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Holcombe Beach Fishing Map

Steep shingle-and-sand beach beneath the sea wall and cliffs between Teignmouth and Dawlish at Holcombe. Mixed-to-clean ground in the middle with rougher patches and boulders toward the ends. Best on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad close in; bass patrol the surf after onshore blows. Winter produces pouting, whiting and dabs, with the chance of a flattie or occasional ray over the sand. Wrasse and scorpionfish show from the rockier corners, and conger after dark. Access is via steep steps at Smugglers Lane; space can be limited at high water and swell can rebound off the wall—avoid in heavy seas and never cross the railway except via designated access.

Ratings

⭐ 6/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Holcombe Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Best in surf after a blow; fish the flood into dusk. Crab, rag or sandeel in the gutter, or metal/surface lures along the edges. Keep mobile to find channels.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights on the flood. 2–3 hook flappers with lug, mackerel or sandeel; cast 40–80 m onto clean sand.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer on clear water; feathers or small metals at range on the flooding tide, dawn/dusk. Keep moving to locate shoals.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, warm nights May–Oct; last 3 hrs of flood best. Size 4–6 hooks with rag/lug or maddies; short lob 15–30 m onto sand between shingle patches.
🐟 Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Jun–Sep evenings with peeler or hardback crab on a running ledger or pulley. Cast to sand gullies just beyond the surf line on the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm nights Aug–Oct. Small sabikis or size 6–8 hooks with thin fish strips; add a glow bead and retrieve slowly on the flood into first ebb.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn. Float a sandeel/mackerel strip 1–2 m deep; work the flooding tide at dawn or dusk, drifting parallel to the beach.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn on settled seas. Sandeel or sandeel/squid on pulley pennel; aim for clean sand. Best last 2 hrs of the flood into dusk.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Common on warm, calm days over clean sand. Small worm baits on size 6–8 hooks close in when scratching. Handle carefully—spines sting.
🐟 Plaice 4/10
🎯 Tip: March–May on bright days with light swell. Long casts over sand; use beads/spoons with lug/rag to draw bites. Softer tides fish best.

Holcombe Beach Fishing

Summary

Holcombe Beach sits between Dawlish and Teignmouth on South Devon’s red-sandstone coast, backed by cliffs and the iconic mainline railway. It’s a small, steeply shelving sand-and-shingle strand with clean ground and the odd patch of broken reef. For the mobile beach angler it offers classic surf bassing, summer rays and sole after dark, and prolific winter whiting when it’s calm.

Location and Access

Set on the A379 coast road corridor, Holcombe Beach is reached via the village of Holcombe and a short, steep lane to a tunnel beneath the railway. It’s straightforward for fit walkers, but not ideal for heavy barrows or limited mobility.

Seasons

Holcombe fishes like a classic South Devon surf beach, with bass and rays in warmth, and whiting in the colder months. Occasional oddities turn up when the water’s clear and mild.

Methods

Standard surf tactics cover nearly all bases here, with lighter rigs for flats/sole and clipped-down pulley gear for rays and bigger bass. Lures can shine at first and last light when there’s a bit of surf.

Tides and Conditions

Holcombe usually fishes best into dusk and after dark, with a push of tide and a manageable surf. The beach benefits from colour after southerly/easterly winds but can be unfishable in heavy onshore dumps.

Safety

This is an exposed, steeply shelving beach backed by unstable cliffs and the railway. Plan your session around tides/conditions and keep escape routes in mind.

Facilities

Holcombe is a simple, uncommercialised beach with minimal facilities right on the mark. Plan to be self-sufficient and use village/town amenities.

Tips

Small tweaks make a big difference on this short, feature-light stretch. Read the beach and work with the drift.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted, but you must follow national and local fisheries and safety rules. Regulations change—check current notices before you fish.