Summary
Hope Cove, tucked between Bolt Tail and Thurlestone on Devon’s south coast, offers a mix of sandy beaches, a small harbour and rugged rock ledges within a compact, picturesque village. It’s a versatile shore mark where you can lure-fish the reefs, float-fish around the harbour, or bottom-fish into clean and mixed ground. The setting is beautiful, the walks are short, and the fishing can be excellent when tides and weather line up.
Location and Access
Hope Cove consists of two adjoining villages and beaches: Outer Hope (Mouthwell Sands) and Inner Hope (the harbour/slip area). Access is straightforward but lanes are narrow, so take your time in peak season.
- Driving: From the A381 (Kingsbridge–Salcombe), turn off at Malborough and follow signs for Hope Cove. Expect single-track sections with passing places.
- Parking: Pay-and-display car parks at Outer Hope (by Mouthwell Sands) and Inner Hope (near the slip/harbour). Nearest general postcode that gets you into the village is TQ7 3HQ; follow local signs to your chosen car park.
- Walk-in: Beaches are a short, easy walk from the car parks. Rock marks west towards Bolt Tail require firm footwear, some scrambling and use of the coast path.
- Terrain: Sand, shingle and low rock platforms inside the coves; rougher, kelpier ledges and gullies the further you head towards Bolt Tail.
Seasons
Hope Cove produces a classic South Devon species mix, with summer variety and simpler winter fishing. Expect more options from late spring to autumn.
- Spring (Apr–May): School and early better bass, wrasse, pollack, occasional mackerel runs late May, garfish, thick-lipped mullet in the harbour.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass, pollack, wrasse (corkwing and ballan), mackerel, garfish, scad, pouting; occasional black bream and gilt-head bream on the mixed ground; mullet in calm water; chance of smoothhound at night on crab baits.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass time, good pollack at dusk, wrasse until the first cold snaps, mackerel/scad into September, garfish, increasing pouting and the odd ray over cleaner patches.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and pouting on night tides, rockling, conger from the rougher ledges, dogfish; rare codling in big easterlies; fewer lure opportunities.
Methods
A mix of rock and beach tactics work. Lure fishing shines in clear, settled seas; bait fishing scores after a bit of movement.
- Lures for bass/pollack: 20–40 g metal jigs, 12–20 cm soft plastics (paddle or straight tails) on weedless hooks; dive minnows around dusk. Work reef edges near Bolt Tail and broken ground at first/last light.
- Float fishing: Bread or small rag for mullet in the harbour; mackerel strip/rag for garfish and mackerel along rock points; set the float shallow (1–2 m) over kelp fringes.
- Bottom fishing (rough/mixed ground): Pulley or pulley-dropper with size 2/0–4/0 hooks; abrasion-resistant leaders; rotten-bottom (weak link) for leads. Baits: peeler/hard crab, squid/sandeel, mackerel strip. Good for bass, huss, conger, wrasse (catch-and-release recommended).
- Bottom fishing (cleaner patches/beach): 2-hook flapper or clipped-down rigs with size 1–2 hooks; ragworm, lug, sandeel for whiting, flats and the odd ray; fresh peeler for smoothhound.
- LRF/UL spin: Small metals and isome-style worms around the harbour and boulders produce scad, pollack, blennies and mini-wrasse; perfect in summer evenings.
- Mullet: Stalk quietly with bread flake on size 8–10 hooks, light line, and steady groundbaiting. Fish best in calm, clear water inside Inner Hope.
Tides and Conditions
Tide state and water clarity make or break this mark. Aim for moving water with either calm clarity for lures or a modest stir for bait.
- Best tide windows: Two hours either side of high water on the beaches/harbour; for rock ledges, last of the flood and first of the ebb often switch fish on.
- Sea state: Clear, settled seas suit lures for bass/pollack/gar. A light, milky push after a SW blow wakes up the bait fishing for bass, dogfish and huss; avoid heavy swell on exposed ledges.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk are standout for bass and pollack. Night tides bring whiting, pout, dogfish and conger closer.
- Seasonality: May–October offers the broadest species list; late September–November is prime for better bass on both bait and lures.
- Wind: Northerlies and easterlies can flatten and clear the water; strong SW–W brings surge and colour—great for surfy bass on the beach but risky on rocks.
Safety
Conditions can change quickly on this open coast. Choose conservative positions, watch the swell, and plan your exit around the tide.
- Swell and surge: Even modest SW groundswell can surge onto low rock platforms and harbour steps; keep well back and never turn your back on the sea.
- Tidal cut-off: Some ledges towards Bolt Tail flood from behind—know your tide times and retreat routes.
- Footing: Kelp-covered rocks are extremely slippery. Use grippy boots/cleats; carry a headtorch for any session near dusk or after dark.
- Lifejacket: A modern PFD is strongly recommended on all rock marks.
- Harbour/slip: Expect boat launching and water users; local signage may restrict fishing on or near the slip/inside the harbour during busy periods—give way and keep casting clear of swimmers and craft.
- Accessibility: Beaches and the Inner Hope slip are the most accessible options. Rock marks require good mobility and should be avoided in swell or rain.
- Communications: Phone signal is generally fine on higher ground but can be patchy at the water’s edge; tell someone your plan and dial 999 for Coastguard in an emergency.
Facilities
Hope Cove is well-served for a small village, especially in summer. Plan bait and tackle ahead in case local shops are limited.
- Parking: Pay-and-display car parks at Outer and Inner Hope (arrive early in peak season).
- Toilets: Public toilets near the main car parks; often open year-round or seasonally extended—carry change just in case.
- Food & drink: Pubs, cafés and seasonal kiosks close to the beaches; hot food and coffee available most of the year.
- Tackle & bait: No dedicated tackle shop in the village. Nearest options are typically in Kingsbridge or Salcombe—call ahead for fresh bait.
- Lifeguards: Main beaches are usually lifeguarded in high summer; keep clear of flagged bathing areas and heed any directions.
- Mobile signal: Generally good on the cliff top; variable down in the coves.
Tips
Small details matter here—read the water, fish the right windows, and travel light.
- Work the edges: Bass patrol the seams where sand meets reef; cast lures diagonally along these lines at first light.
- Keep gear sacrificial: Use rotten-bottoms and tough leaders; the local kelp and granite will test your tackle.
- Mullet patience: Pre-feed with mashed bread and wait—casting too soon spooks the shoal. A single well-placed flake often out-fishes spinners.
- Clear-water strategy: On gin-clear days, downsize leaders (12–15 lb fluoro), use natural-colour soft plastics and slow your retrieve.
- Busy-beach workaround: In school holidays, fish dawn or after dark to avoid swimmers and paddlecraft.
- After a blow: As the sea drops and holds a light colour, switch to crab and sandeel baits for bass; avoid the most exposed ledges until fully settled.
- Wildlife: Expect seals and diving birds—keep lures low and be ready to pause or stop the retrieve to avoid foul-hooking.
Regulations
Check the latest rules before you go; they can change mid-season. The area falls under Devon & Severn IFCA and national MMO/DEFRA regulations.
- European seabass: As of the latest guidance, recreational anglers may retain a limited number of bass only during the open retention season with a 42 cm minimum size. Outside that window, bass fishing is catch-and-release only. Always verify current dates and daily limits with DEFRA/MMO before your trip.
- Minimum sizes: Observe national and IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes where applicable (e.g., adopt 42 cm for bass). Many species (wrasse, smoothhound) lack statutory MLS—release larger brood fish and anything doubtful.
- Protected species: Spurdog and some skates/rays have complex or changing protections—treat as catch-and-release unless you’ve confirmed up-to-date rules.
- Local byelaws: Devon & Severn IFCA has netting and potting byelaws and gear marking rules for static gear; these mainly affect boat or shore-set nets/pots, not rod-and-line.
- Beach/harbour use: Obey any local signage around the slip and lifeguarded bathing zones; you may be asked to stop or relocate when launches, swimmers, or events are underway.
- General good practice: No gaffs on bass, use barbless/micro-barb where possible, handle wrasse over weeded water and release quickly, and take all litter—including line and hooks—home.
