Hollicombe Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Hollicombe Beach Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Hollicombe Beach

🐟 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.

Hollicombe Beach Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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.

Methods

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.

Tides and Conditions

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.

Safety

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.

Facilities

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

Tips

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.

Regulations

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.