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Devon

Hollicombe Beach

6.8 · Beach · Devon

A small red-sand cove in Torbay between Preston Sands and Livermead, with clean sand in the middle and kelpy, boulder-strewn rocks at both ends. It fishes well for LRF and wrasse around the rough ground and for pelagics and small species along the beach in summer. Nights and winter bring pouting and whiting, with dogfish over the sandy centre. Best two hours either side of high water, especially at dusk. Sheltered from prevailing westerlies; easterlies push in swell and colour, often improving fishing but making the rocky corners hazardous. Access is via a path through Hollicombe Park and a tunnel under the railway; limited nearby street parking. Watch for rebound swell on easterlies, slippery weeded rocks, small rockfalls from the soft cliffs, and the tide pinching off the rock ends on bigger highs.

Should you fish Hollicombe Beach?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:02

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Hollicombe Beach — 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.

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· 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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Hollicombe is a compact red-sand Torbay cove that rewards choosing the right part of the beach rather than simply casting straight out. The clean sandy middle is the safer, simpler choice for after-dark dogfish, whiting, pouting and possible rays, while the kelpy, boulder-strewn ends are the productive ground for wrasse, pollack, garfish, mackerel and LRF tactics. The main window is mid-tide up to high water, especially around dusk, with the first of the ebb also worth staying for. Easterly wind and swell can add colour and improve bass fishing, but the same conditions make the rock corners and under-cliff pockets more hazardous.

  • Know when to fish the sand and when to work the rocky flanks
  • Time the high-water window instead of wasting the shallow lull
  • Use easterly colour for bass without getting caught on unsafe corners
  • Pick the right short-range rigs for wrasse, pollack and LRF
  • Have a simple fallback if Hollicombe is crowded or swelling up

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Paignton 1.2 mi Torquay 1.5 mi Marldon 2.0 mi Collaton St Mary 3.0 mi Kingskerswell 3.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Paignton · Torquay · Marldon · Collaton St Mary · Kingskerswell

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

Overall rating

6.8 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

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

Bass 8/10
Tip: Dawn or dusk on a flooding tide; work lures or peeler/sandeel along the surf gutters and rocky corners.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: After dark over the sand; 2-hook flappers with mackerel or sandeel, gentle lobs just beyond the surf; avoid rocky ends.
Ballan Wrasse 7/10
Tip: Mid to high tide in daylight; drop crab or rag into rocky margins either side; strong gear, short casts.
Pollack 6/10
Tip: Dusk to dark; retrieve small soft plastics or metals tight to kelp and rock flanks at mid to high water.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Dusk into dark near boulders; small hooks with rag or squid strips on simple 2-hook rigs, short casts.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Summer, clear calm evenings; float thin strips or cast small metals from the rocky points on a rising tide.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Flood tide; size 4-6 hooks with rag, prawn or small crab into weedy holes around the rocks; quick bites.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Late spring to autumn; shallow float with rag or mackerel sliver along rocky edges on the flood.
Golden-grey Mullet 5/10
Tip: Calm summer evenings over sand; tiny hooks and light rigs with rag or isome in the surf line; keep quiet.
Plaice 4/10
Tip: Spring in clear water; long snoods with beads/spoons and rag or sandeel, cast to clean patches at range on the flood.

Local knowledge

Hollicombe Beach fishing guide

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

Hollicombe Beach (Hollicombe Sands) sits between Torquay and Paignton in sheltered Torbay, a compact red-sand cove with rocky flanks and deeper seams beyond the sand. It’s a quietly productive mark for bass on a blow, wrasse from the rock ends, and night-time dogs, rays and the odd smoothhound in summer. The stream outflow also draws mullet in warm, calm weather.

This is an easily reached urban mark just off the A3022 (Torbay Road) between Preston Sands (Paignton) and Livermead (Torquay). Expect a short walk via a pedestrian tunnel beneath the railway and a flight of steps to the beach.

  • Approach via Torbay Road; look for Hollicombe Park and signed pedestrian access to the beach
  • Limited on-street/lay-by parking along Torbay Road and nearby residential roads by Hollicombe Park; arrive early in summer
  • Beach access is through the underpass under the railway and down steps; no direct vehicular access
  • Public transport is excellent: frequent buses run along Torbay Road, and both Paignton and Torquay stations are within a 20–30 minute walk
  • Terrain: firm red sand in the middle with rocky platforms/ledges at both ends; mixed ground patches and weed beds beyond the sand line

This small bay offers a good mixed-bag potential with seasonality typical of Torbay. The rocky ends add wrasse/pollack options, while the sandy centre draws flatfish, rays and winter whiting.

  • Spring (Mar–May): school bass, pollack at dusk, early wrasse, thick- and thin-lipped mullet around the stream, occasional plaice/dab
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): wrasse, mackerel and garfish in clear water, scad at dusk/dark, smoothhound on crab, bass on a bit of surf, dogfish, chance of small thornback ray
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass in onshore easterlies, mackerel/gar tailing off, rays on sandeel/squid, whiting arrive, conger from the rougher fringes after dark
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting and dogfish on the sand, the occasional dab/plaice; pollack possible from the rocks on calm, clear evenings
  • Year-round extras: rockling on rough patches, occasional gurnard on sand; mullet in warm spells near the freshwater outflow

You can fish the beach with standard clean-ground tactics, then switch to rock-end approaches if you want wrasse, pollack or a float session for gar/mackerel.

  • Beach ledgering: 2-hook flapper (size 2–1) for whiting/dabs; long-snood clip-down with size 1/1o for plaice/rays; pulley dropper (4–5 oz) for bass/rays
  • Baits: ragworm and lug for flats/wrasse; peeler crab (spring/summer) for bass and smoothhound; sandeel, squid or bluey for rays; mackerel strip for whiting/gar/scad
  • Rock ends: float-fish rag/sandeel for wrasse/gar in clear water; LRF metals/jigs (5–15 g) for scad/mackerel; soft plastics (7–14 cm) for pollack/bass at dusk
  • Surf bassing: after an easterly blow, fish big crab/sandeel/squid heads in the churn; keep leads light enough to roll slightly and cover ground
  • Mullet: freelined bread flake or small bread/harbour rag under a delicate float around the stream plume on calm, bright days

Hollicombe is shallow and benefits from water movement; time your sessions for the push and/or the dark. Torbay faces east, so wind and swell from the east colour it nicely for bass.

  • Tide: mid-tide up to high water is the banker on the sand; first of the ebb can also fish well
  • Conditions: easterly onshore wind builds surf and colour for bass; in calm/clear spells, switch to wrasse/gar/pollack on the rock ends or fish after dark
  • Seasonality: summer–autumn evenings and nights for mixed bags; winter evenings for whiting/pouting; rays/smoothhounds show on warmer neap-to-mid tides
  • Clarity: bright and clear water often suits float/lure work; coloured water favours bait-led bass and ray fishing
  • Light levels: dawn/dusk for mackerel/gar/pollack; full dark for dogs, whiting, conger and rays

This is an accessible urban cove, but it’s still a proper sea mark—treat the rock ends and easterly swells with respect. Access involves steps and uneven ground.

  • Slippery rocks: weeded ledges at both ends are slick; wear grippy footwear and consider a lifejacket if fishing the rocks
  • Swell and set: an easterly can push shore-breaks up the beach—keep kit high and don’t fish tight under the cliffs at high water
  • Cliff/railway: avoid standing directly under crumbly red-sandstone faces; respect rail property and use the designated tunnel
  • Cut-off risk: at very high tides with swell, some ledges and under-cliff pockets can be pinched—plan an exit route
  • Night fishing: bring a headlamp and spare light; the beach is unlit once you’re down the steps
  • Accessibility: steps through the underpass make this unsuitable for wheelchairs or anglers with limited mobility
  • Summer crowds: expect swimmers and inflatables—fish away from bathers and heed any lifeguard/bathing-zone advice or signage

You’re between Torquay and Paignton, so amenities are close, though not directly on the beach. Plan ahead for toilets and bait.

  • Toilets: none on Hollicombe Beach; public toilets typically available at Preston Sands/Paignton seafront and toward Livermead (check seasonal opening times)
  • Food & drink: cafés, takeaways and shops along Torbay Road, in Preston and Paignton; more options in Torquay
  • Tackle/bait: several tackle shops around Paignton, Torquay and Brixham (10–20 minutes by car); some garages sell frozen bait
  • Phone signal: generally good 4G/5G coverage along Torbay Road and on the beach
  • Lighting: promenade/road lighting nearby only; the beach itself is dark after dusk

Hollicombe rewards a mobile, observant approach—read the small features and you’ll find fish. The bay’s red sand and stream add a couple of quirks.

  • Find the seams: gentle cross-shore gutters form after blows—drop a rolling lead with crab or sandeel into the slightly darker seams
  • Work the edges: the boundary where clean sand meets rough patches often holds bass and rays at night
  • Stream plume: mullet and schoolie bass nose along the freshwater plume on calm days—scale down and be stealthy
  • Clear-water plan: float-fish the rock ends with rag or sandeel for wrasse/gar; add a tiny wire trace only if the wrasse are biting you off
  • After-dark metals: small 7–10 g metals or 2–3 inch soft plastics score for scad under the rod tip on warm summer nights
  • Crab pressure: shore crabs are busy here in spring—use tougher baits (squid wraps) or frequent rebaits
  • Keep it tidy: that Torbay red sand gets everywhere—bag your offcuts and rinse reels after sessions

There is no blanket ban on angling at Hollicombe Beach, but local beach management and national fisheries rules still apply. Always check current notices on-site and official sources before you go.

  • Beach use: during peak summer and any lifeguarded hours, fishing may be restricted near designated bathing zones—follow any Torbay Council signage and keep well clear of swimmers
  • Devon & Severn IFCA: local sea fisheries byelaws (netting, bait collection, protected species) apply—check the Devon & Severn IFCA website for up-to-date rules
  • Bass rules: UK recreational bass regulations (size, bag limits and open/closed periods) change from time to time—consult the UK Government/MMO guidance before retaining any bass
  • Minimum sizes and protected species: observe national minimum conservation reference sizes and return any protected or undersized fish immediately
  • Tidy angling: Torbay’s coastline sits within the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark—leave no litter, avoid damaging rock pools, and be considerate of other beach users