Summary
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.
Location and Access
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
Seasons
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
Methods
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
Tides and Conditions
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
Safety
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
Facilities
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
Tips
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
Regulations
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