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Devon

Livermead Beach

6.7 · Beach · Devon

Livermead Beach in Torquay (Tor Bay) is a sheltered, gently shelving sandy beach bordered by low rocky headlands and a sea wall along the seafront road. The middle ground is clean sand for flatfish and dogfish, with wrasse and rock species around the rough, weedy edges. It fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk and the first of the ebb. Summer brings shoaling mackerel, garfish and scad to small lures, while mullet patrol tight to the wall; nights in late summer–autumn can turn up sole and the odd ray. Winter sees whiting and pouting. Easy roadside access and nearby facilities, but it’s a busy bathing beach in season—fish early/late and watch for weed, swell on easterlies, and lesser weever fish in warmer months.

Should you fish Livermead Beach?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Mackerel and Ballan Wrasse

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

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:02

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Livermead 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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Livermead is a sheltered Tor Bay beach that rewards light, tidy tactics rather than power casting. The clean middle sand is the safer bet for dogfish, whiting, plaice, sole chances and occasional ray, while the rough, weedy edges near the headlands are the more tactical ground for bass, wrasse, garfish, mackerel and scad. The key decision is whether to fish the clean central gutter line on the flood, or move tight to the rocks and wall edges when the tide gives enough water and the conditions are calm enough.

  • Know when to fish clean sand instead of the rocky margins.
  • Pick the flood window that suits dogfish, bass or wrasse.
  • Use Livermead’s short-cast gutters instead of overcasting fish.
  • Avoid the weed-and-swell conditions that spoil this shallow beach.
  • Have a nearby backup plan before the tide window passes.

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Torquay 0.9 mi Paignton 1.8 mi Marldon 2.3 mi Kingskerswell 3.4 mi Collaton St Mary 3.6 mi

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

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

Overall rating

6.7 /10

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

Category scores

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

Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
Tip: Night over clean sand; small mackerel or squid baits on 2-hook flappers at 30-60 m. Best on the flood into first of the ebb.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Dusk/dawn or after dark; lures or crab/worm baits along rough ground and gullies on a flooding tide, especially with a bit of swell.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer to early autumn; cast small metals or feathers near the rocky points at mid-high water in clear, moving water.
Whiting 6/10
Tip: Winter nights over sand; small mackerel or lug strips on 2-3 hook flappers. Best on the flood and around high.
Ballan Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Fish peeler/soft crab or rag tight to the rocks at either end on the flood; short casts and strong tackle.
Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
Tip: Calm summer evenings; tiny rag or sandeel slivers on size 8-10 hooks in the surf line. Stealthy approach on a rising tide.
Plaice 5/10
Tip: Spring and autumn; long casts over clean patches with blinged flappers and ragworm/sandeel. Daylight on a building tide.
Smoothhound 5/10
Tip: Late spring to early autumn; peeler crab at 30-80 m over clean sand. Evening flood into dusk is best.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Late summer nights; small spinners or baited size 6 sabikis worked midwater on a flooding tide. Keep a steady retrieve.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Late spring to autumn; float-fish thin mackerel strips 2-6 ft down over clear water near high. Keep the bait moving.

Local knowledge

Livermead Beach fishing guide

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

Livermead Beach sits on Torquay’s seafront between Corbyn Head and the headlands that lead towards Hollicombe. It’s a compact sand-and-shingle strip with fringing rock ledges and shallow, tide-washed ground.

For anglers it offers easy-access sessions for mackerel, garfish, wrasse and school bass in settled weather, with comfortable options for light lure, float and gentle bottom fishing.

Access to Livermead is straightforward from the Torbay Road seafront, with the promenade and multiple short paths leading down to the sand and adjacent rock platforms. Use the Livermead House/Cliff hotels as an easy sat-nav landmark and aim for on-street or seafront car parks.

  • Approach via A379/Torbay Road; the beach is immediately below the promenade between Corbyn Head and the hotels
  • Parking: pay-and-display along the seafront and larger car parks by Torre Abbey/Abbey Park (10–15 minutes’ walk); limited roadside bays near the hotels get busy in summer
  • Public transport: frequent Torbay seafront buses stop by the hotels/promenade
  • Access: steps and sloped paths to the beach; short, easy walk once parked
  • Terrain: firm sand with patches of shingle; low-tide rock shelves and kelp gullies around the headlands

This is a mixed, generally shallow mark that shines in late spring to early autumn. Expect smaller stamp fish with the chance of a surprise bass or ray on the sand.

  • Spring (Apr–May): school bass, flounder/dab on the clean sand; early wrasse and pollack around the rocks; odd plaice on fresh rag if water is clear
  • Summer (Jun–Sep): mackerel and garfish at dawn/dusk; ballan and corkwing wrasse; small pollack; scad (horse mackerel) after dark; school bass in the surf and along the gutters
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): mackerel tail-end runs, scad in numbers at night, wrasse until the first real chills; increasing whiting and pout after dark
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting and pout on small baits at night; the odd dab and school bass during mild spells
  • Occasional: dogfish on sandeel after dark; a surprise thornback ray from the cleaner patches if you reach the sand beyond the weed line

Light, tidy tactics produce best here, with minimal lead and simple rigs to dodge snags. Lure and float fishing are ideal in clear, calm water; switch to small baits after dark or in coloured seas.

  • Lures: 20–30 g metals for mackerel/scad; small diving minnows and 3–4 inch soft plastics for school bass and pollack; weedless soft plastics around kelp edges to limit snagging
  • Float fishing: size 6–10 hooks with slivers of mackerel or sandeel for garfish/mackerel; rag/lug or prawn for wrasse along rocky margins
  • Bottom tactics: 2-hook flapper (size 2–4) with rag/lug, small squid strips or sandeel for flats, whiting and pout; use a weak/rotten-bottom link if casting near rough ground
  • Distance and weight: 1–2 oz leads often suffice; you rarely need to belt it—fish run the gutters at mid-to-high water
  • Timing: first and last light for mackerel/garfish and bass; darkness for scad, whiting and pout; wrasse best from low to mid-flood probing rock gullies

Depth is modest, so tide state and clarity matter. The bay is sheltered from many westerlies; easterlies put a push on and can bring surf and weed.

  • Best tide states: mid-flood to high water for beach species and roaming bass; low to mid-flood for wrasse/pollack along the rocks
  • Conditions: clear, calm or light swell for lures and float; a gentle onshore push (especially after an easterly blow) can spur bass in the gutters
  • Light levels: dawn/dusk for mackerel, garfish and bass; full darkness for scad/whiting
  • Springs vs neaps: springs uncover more reef at low; neaps give easier presentation in kelp-lined gullies and less drag on light gear

This is generally a friendly, open beach, but the surrounding ledges can be slippery and certain spots can become cut off. Summer bathing is intense—fish well away from swimmers and watercraft.

  • Slippery rock: weeded ledges around Corbyn Head and by the hotels are greasy—wear good-grip footwear
  • Cut-off risk: some rock tongues flood behind you on the push; plan an exit and check the tide before stepping down
  • Swell and wash: reflected waves off walls/ledges can knock you off balance—stay back in any swell
  • Crowds: avoid fishing among bathers or inside any flagged swimming zones in season
  • Night fishing: bring a headtorch, spare light and a reflective vest; keep your area tidy to avoid trip hazards
  • Accessibility: promenade is flat; beach access via steps/slopes (not ideal for wheelchairs); consider a personal flotation device if working the rock edges

You’re on Torquay’s seafront, so amenities are close. Expect seasonal crowds and early fill-ups for parking on hot days.

  • Toilets: public conveniences at Torre Abbey/Abbey Park and further along the seafront (seasonal opening hours)
  • Food and drink: hotels, cafés and kiosks on the promenade within a short walk
  • Tackle and bait: several tackle shops in Torquay/Paignton within a 10–15 minute drive; seafront kiosks often sell basic end tackle in summer
  • Bins: promenade/litter bins available—take all line and bait waste home if full
  • Mobile signal: generally strong across the seafront
  • Public transport: frequent buses along Torbay Road with stops adjacent to the mark

Livermead rewards stealth and light gear. Think finesse around the rocks and short, accurate casts to fish the gutters instead of launching to the horizon.

  • Work the gutter: as the tide pushes, fish track the first depth change—stand back and fan casts along the lip
  • Scale down: small hooks (size 8–10) and fluorocarbon tippets boost bites from garfish, scad and finicky wrasse
  • Move for mackerel: if they’re not on the beach line at first light, try the points around Corbyn Head to intercept passing shoals
  • Weed watch: after easterlies the weed line can be heavy—shift 50–100 m to find clearer water rather than fight it
  • Mullet spotting: calm, clear mornings often reveal cruising mullet tight to walls—bread flake under a small float and quiet footing help
  • Rotten-bottoms: if ledgering near kelp, use a weak link to save rigs; keep leads cheap and simple
  • Courtesy: summer is busy—early and late sessions avoid crowds and keep anglers welcome

This coastline falls within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and Tor Bay Harbour Authority area. Rules can change—always check current notices before you go.

  • Bass: UK recreational bass rules (MMO/DEFRA) typically allow a 2-fish daily bag, minimum 42 cm, from 1 March to 30 November, with catch-and-release only outside those dates; confirm current year regulations before retaining any bass
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes: adhere to national MCRS for species such as mackerel, pollack, whiting, plaice, etc. (check latest DEFRA tables)
  • Local bylaws: fishing is usually permitted from the beach, but do not fish within any marked/flagged bathing zones and obey any seasonal notices from Torbay Council/Harbour Authority
  • Protected habitats: parts of Tor Bay contain sensitive seagrass/reef—avoid anchoring/dislodging weed beds and follow any posted restrictions
  • General: no littering; responsibly dispose of line and hooks; respect private property and hotel frontage when accessing the rocks